Experimental Characterization of Energy Efficiency and Aggregate Harmonic Performance in Heterogeneous Residential Loads under Conservation Voltage Reduction
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS, ss.1-38, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.118132
- Dergi Adı: ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO), Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Compendex, Environment Index, INSPEC, Public Affairs Index, Urban Studies Abstracts
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-38
- Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study investigates the impact of Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) on energy efficiency and aggregate harmonic performance in a heterogeneous residential load composition using high-resolution experimental data. Whereas CVR is predominantly evaluated from an energy-savings perspective, measurement-based analyses of the multidimensional power quality effects of voltage variation in real residential environments remain scarce, and existing studies largely rely on individual-appliance harmonics or simulation, which do not capture the aggregate behavior of numerous simultaneously operating non-linear loads. To address this gap, fully controlled measurements were conducted at a temporal resolution of 1 s on a realistic composition of 34 electrical appliances, at five voltage levels from 240 V to 200 V supplied by a regulated source. Active power, energy consumption, Total Demand Distortion (TDD), and the frequently overlooked distortion power (D) were quantified jointly. A net energy saving of approximately 10.38% is obtained in the transition from 240 V to 208 V. The principal contribution is the experimental validation of a paradoxical behavior: as voltage decreases, TDD increases while the absolute distortion power (D) decreases. Consequently, although the total harmonic pollution injected into the grid is reduced, relative indices (TDD, IDD) may indicate a misleading deterioration in standard compliance, establishing a fundamental distinction between ‘physical impact’ and ‘standard compliance’. For the investigated load structure, TDD remained within the safe zone at all voltage levels under the 15% limit; under the stricter 5% criterion, 208 V was identified as the ‘technical optimum’, maximizing energy savings while maintaining compliance within acceptable margins. Spectral analysis showed that low-order harmonics (h3, h5, h7) increased under voltage reduction, whereas high-order components generally decreased, indicating a voltage-driven spectral redistribution of the harmonic profile. These results demonstrate that CVR is a multidimensional optimization problem constrained not only by energy efficiency but also by physical harmonic emission and standard compliance, providing system-level empirical evidence for the integrated design of voltage optimization and power quality management in smart grids.