Reactive power/energy instruments in harmonically distorted conditions – analysis of different measuring algorithms’ response in relation to fundamental reactive power

Kiril Demerdziev, Vladimir Dimchev
Abstract:
The measurement of reactive power/energy in non-sinusoidal conditions presents several challenges. The primary issue is the ambiguous definition of reactive power in the presence of high order harmonics. International standard IEEE 1459 addresses this by emphasizing fundamental power components for system monitoring, even in polluted conditions. Another challenge is the existence of different measuring algorithms, implemented in modern devices, which yield consistent response for sinusoidal waveforms, but differ under harmonically distorted voltages and currents. This study experimentally verifies the readings of various meters for reactive power/energy against mathematically modeled outputs. The reference quantity for analysis is fundamental reactive power, as defined in Std. IEEE 1459. The experiments include both single-harmonic and randomly distorted signals, with error analysis based on the share of fundamental reactive power. To ensure high metrological accuracy, the study employs reference standards of the highest accuracy class, traceable to BIPM intrinsic standards.
Download:
IMEKO-TC8-11-24-2025-013.pdf
DOI:
10.21014/tc11-2025.013
Event details
IMEKO TC:
TC11
Event name:
IMEKO TC8, TC11 and TC24 Conference
Title:

Joint conference of the TCs ‘Traceability in Metrology’ (IMEKO TC8), ‘Measurement in Testing, Inspection and Certification’ (IMEKO TC11), and ‘Chemical Measurements’ (IMEKO TC24).

Place:
Torino, ITALY
Time:
14 September 2025 - 17 September 2025