Abstract:

The proliferation of non-linear power electronic devices and advanced metering infrastructure within modern smart grids is exacerbating the issue of conducted electromagnetic interference, specifically Supraharmonic distortion in the 2–150 kHz spectrum. This phenomenon is primarily driven by the increasing penetration of static converters employing high-frequency pulse-width modulation switching regimes and the concomitant deployment of power line communication systems, which utilize this spectral band for data transmission. The resultant Supraharmonic spectral pollution degrades power quality metrics, diminishes energy conversion efficiency, and induces deleterious effects on communication integrity, including inter-system interference and elevated bit-error-rates in power line communication. Presently, a regulatory and standardization gap exists, as international power quality standards provide insufficient coverage for this frequency range. Consequently, there is a recognized dearth of standardization, efficacious mitigation methodologies, underscoring the imperative for further research into Supraharmonic emission characterization, propagation modelling, and the development of advanced filtering and suppression techniques.