New Algorithms for the Evaluation of Flicker in the Context of Modern Electricity Grids

• Applicant: Dr.-Ing. Jan Meyer
• Subject Area: Electrical Energy Systems, Power Management, Power Electronics, Electrical Machines and Drives ; Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 471894171

The project is focused on the development of new algorithm to quantify the flicker severity from voltage measurements in electricity distribution grids. The present flicker severity metric was developed decades ago. It estimates the irritation of human observer by the light flicker of a reference incandescent lamp. The algorithm was optimized for disturbances generated by arc furnaces and adapted to the limited computational capabilities in the past. Recent fundamental changes in terms of lamp types (e.g. light emitting diode based lamps), common disturbance sources (e.g. photovoltaic installations) and instrumentation capabilities raise concerns about the suitability of the present algorithm. This project identifies the most common disturbance patterns in present electricity grids caused by modern power electronic equipment, how human observers are irritated by them considering modern illumination systems and develop new lamp and observation-irritation models. Based on such holistic analysis, a novel algorithm to evaluate flicker disturbances in modern electricity grids is developed.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Czech Republic
• Cooperation Partners: Dr.-Ing. Jiri Drapela; Dr.-Ing. Leos Oldrich Kukacka, Ph.D.