Análise de desempenho de medidores de energia ativa e reativa em condições não senoidais

Abstract

This work analyzes the performance of electricity meters when subjected to non-sinusoidal conditions, mainly caused by harmonic distortions from nonlinear loads. With the increasing use of electronic devices, such distortions have become more prevalent in power distribution networks, compromising the accuracy of active and reactive energy measurements. To assess these effects, eight laboratory tests were carried out with different distortion levels, using thirteen electronic meters from five different manufacturers. The results showed that, under ideal conditions, all meters presented errors within the permitted range (±1%). However, in scenarios with high distortion levels, measurement deviations increased significantly, reaching up to 86% error in active power and 19% in reactive power. It was also observed that some meters failed to register any readings under specific test conditions. These findings highlight the need to revise current technical standards and calibration criteria, particularly concerning which component of reactive power (fundamental or total) should be considered. The study emphasizes the urgency of adapting existing regulations to ensure more reliable and fair measurements for both consumers and utility companies in the context of modern electrical systems increasingly affected by non-linear behavior.