Recognition of Power Quality Issues Associated With Grid Integrated Solar Photovoltaic Plant in Experimental Framework

Enhancement in solar energy (SE) injection into the power system network creates power quality (PQ) issues in the supply. This article presents an approach supported by Stockwell transform (
$S$
-transform) for assessment of PQ issues related with the grid interfaced solar photovoltaic (SPV) system under various operating conditions. This will help to enhance the SE integration level into the utility grid. The set up, to perform assessment of the PQ issues includes an emulated SPV system interfaced with the utility at the point of common coupling (PCC). Measurements of voltage and current signals are performed by utilizing power network analyzer. The captured voltage signals are analyzed using
$S$
-transform for the detection of a variety of PQ problems associated with the grid interfacing and outage of the SPV system. Effects on PQ due to presence of the various types of loads at PCC have also been investigated under the same operating conditions. Effect of partial shading of SPV plates on the PQ is also investigated. Harmonic analysis is performed for all the investigated events. The proposed algorithm proved to be successful for detecting different PQ disturbances under all the investigated operating conditions.