Intelligent Assessment of Harmonic Distortion Compliance in Reverse Osmosis Systems
Intelligent Assessment of Harmonic Distortion Compliance in Reverse Osmosis Systems
Corresponding Author:
Cherki Lahlou
Department of Industrial Engineering and Surface Engineering
Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University
B.P. 523, 23000, Beni Mellal, Morocco
Email: cherki.lahlou@gmail.com
1. INTRODUCTION
The rise of reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants represents a significant trend in engineering
over the last few decades, addressing the increasing demand for freshwater. By 2022, operational seawater
desalination plants worldwide exceeded 21,000, nearly double the figure recorded a decade ago [1].
Centrifugal high-pressure pumps (HPP) are critical components in RO systems, and their performance, such
as operating pressure, flow rate, feed pressure, and energy efficiency, directly impacts freshwater production
and the overall reliability of the desalination process [2]. These pumps, or pump-motor units, are typically
powered by electric motors, often three-phase or single-phase induction motors, coupled with static power
converters like variable frequency drives (VFD) to regulate speed and pressure [3]. Due to the nonlinear
nature of HPP, harmonic phenomena are frequently observed in electrical systems [4]. The severity of these
harmonic disturbances in current signals is quantified by the total harmonic distortion of current (THDi).
When harmonic currents circulate through a finite system impedance, the vector sum of all individual voltage
drops leads to an increase in the total harmonic distortion of voltage (THDu) [5].
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how we monitor and optimize
complex systems. Machine learning (ML), a subset of AI, has demonstrated remarkable success in modeling
nonlinear systems across diverse fields, including healthcare, sports, industry, environmental sciences, and
water treatment [6]–[15]. AI techniques hold immense potential for tackling complex, nonlinear challenges,
particularly in studies related to water treatment processes and beyond.
Over the past few decades, the issue of total harmonic distortion (THD) has become a critical
concern in industrial power systems, particularly in RO desalination plants. The increasing reliance on
high-power equipment, such as HPP, has led to significant harmonic distortions, adversely affecting power
quality and operational efficiency [16]. Ensuring compliance with international standards like IEC 61000,
IEEE 519, and EN 50160 is essential to mitigate these challenges and maintain reliable plant operations
[17], [18]. Recent studies have emphasized the significant impact of harmonics in industrial systems, where
the increasing use of non-linear loads and high-power equipment has led to elevated levels of THD. These
distortions can severely affect power quality, causing issues such as equipment overheating, reduced
efficiency, and premature failure of electrical components. To address these challenges, researchers have
focused on developing advanced mitigation techniques, including active and passive filters, adaptive control
strategies, and AI-based solutions. These approaches aim to reduce harmonic distortions and ensure
compliance with international standards, such as IEEE 519 and IEC 61000, which set strict limits on THD
levels to maintain system reliability and performance [19], [20]. Traditional harmonic mitigation methods,
such as passive and active filters, require manual adjustments and struggle to adapt to dynamic operating
conditions [21]. Traditional monitoring systems also rely on fixed thresholds, making them ineffective in
detecting complex harmonic interactions in real time.
To address the challenges of THD in RO plants, this study leverages AI to automate the
classification and prediction of harmonic compliance, ensuring adherence to IEC 61000, IEEE 519, and
EN 50160 standards. Using advanced ML techniques such as decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), support
vector machine (SVM), and multi-layer perceptron (MLP), we analyze the impact of harmonic distortions on
plant performance and propose mitigation strategies. This study introduces a novel AI-based framework
specifically tailored to the dynamics of RO desalination systems, which have not been extensively explored
in the context of harmonic compliance. This AI-driven framework enhances real-time monitoring, improves
predictive accuracy, and enables adaptive control strategies, optimizing power quality and preventing
harmonic-related failures in industrial RO plants. Ultimately, this research highlights the potential of AI in
maintaining system reliability and advancing efficient energy management in desalination facilities.
2. METHOD
2.1. Electrical system under study
The RO system is powered through a high-voltage/low-voltage (HV/LV) transformer, supported by
a backup transformer, each with a capacity of 1,600 kVA. Additionally, a 40 kVAr self-anti-harmonic (SAH)
vacuum compensation system is connected to the grid via an 80 A circuit breaker installed on the low-voltage
side of each HV/LV transformer. The electrical network supplies four HPP (in a 3+1 configuration), which
are the plant's primary energy consumers. Each pump is driven by a 450 kW VFD motor. Figure 1 provides a
schematic diagram of the electrical system supplying the HHP in a desalination plant in Morocco.
Complementing this, Table 1 presents the technical characteristics of the 1,600 kVA transformers used in the
RO system, detailing key parameters such as rated power, voltage, current, losses, and winding configuration.
Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the electrical system supplying HPP in the RO plant
Table 3. Current harmonic limits for systems rated 120 V through 69 KV (IEEE 519)
𝐈𝐒𝐂 Maximum harmonic current distortion in percent of IL TDD required
𝐈𝐋 Individual harmonic order (odd harmonics)a, b
3≤h<11 11≤h<17 17≤h<23 23≤h<35 35≤h<50
<20c 4.0 2.0 1.5 0.6 0.3 5.0
20<50 7.0 3.5 2.5 1.0 .05 8.0
50<100 10.0 4.5 4.0 1.5 0.7 12.0
100<1,000 12.0 5.5 5.0 2.0 1.0 15.0
>1,000 15.0 7.0 6.0 2.5 1.4 20.0
a
Even harmonics are limited to 25% of the odd harmonic limits above.
b
Current distortions that result in a dc offset, e.g., half wave converters, are not allowed.
c 𝐈
All power generation equipment is limited to these values of current distortion, regardless of actual 𝐒𝐂
𝐈𝐋
Where, ISC maximum short circuit current at PCC, and IL maximum demand load current
Intelligent assessment of harmonic distortion compliance in reverse osmosis systems (Cherki Lahlou)
4374 ISSN: 2252-8938
Table 4. Harmonic voltage limits per IEC 61000-2-2 and 61000-2-12 standards
Odd harmonics (Not multiple of 3) Odd harmonics (Multiple of 3) Even harmonics
h Lh (%) h Lh (%) h Lh (%)
5 6 3 5 2 2
7 5 9 1.5 4 1
11 3.5 15 0.4 6 0.5
13 3 21 0.3 8 0.5
17 10
17<h≤49 2.27· − 0.27
h
21<h≤45 0.2 10<h≤50 0.25· h + 0.25
2.2.3. EN 50160
The EN 50160 standard sets limits for voltage harmonic amplitudes in low-, medium-, and
high-voltage networks under normal operating conditions [23]. These limits are designed to ensure the quality
and reliability of the power supply, thereby reducing potential disturbances in electrical equipment.
The individual harmonic voltage levels specified by this standard are presented in Table 5, which provides
detailed values for both odd and even harmonics up to the 25th order.
Table 2. Individual harmonic voltage values at supply terminals (orders up to 25, % of fundamental U1)
Odd harmonics
Even harmonics
Not multiple of 3 Multiple of 3
h Lh (%) h Lh (%) h Lh (%)
5 6.0 3 5.0 2 2.0
7 5.0 9 1.5 4 1.0
11 3.5 15 0.5 6< h ≤24 0.5
13 3.0 21 0.5
17 2.0
19 1.5
23 1.5
25 1.5
√∑𝐻 2
ℎ=2 𝐼ℎ
𝑇𝐻𝐷𝑖 = × 100%
𝐼1
Where, 𝐼ℎ represents the harmonic current of order h, 𝐼1 is the fundamental current (1st order) and H is
the maximum harmonic order measured (e.g., 25).
‒ THDu calculated as the ratio of the sum of the harmonic voltages to the fundamental voltage.
√∑𝐻 2
ℎ=2 𝑉ℎ
𝑇𝐻𝐷𝑢 = × 100%
𝑉1
Where, 𝑉ℎ represents the harmonic voltage of order h, 𝐼𝑉 is the fundamental voltage (1st order).
‒ Harmonic amplitudes, the amplitudes of harmonic currents and voltages, represent the magnitude of
each harmonic component relative to the fundamental.
𝐼ℎ 𝑉ℎ
𝐼ℎ (%) = × 100%, 𝑉ℎ (%) = × 100%
𝐼1 𝑉1
Intelligent assessment of harmonic distortion compliance in reverse osmosis systems (Cherki Lahlou)
4376 ISSN: 2252-8938
number of RO trains in service. The limits defined by IEC 61000, IEEE 519, and EN 50160 standards are
overlaid on the measurements to assess compliance.
Figure 2(a) displays the THDu under the four scenarios, that figure correspond to a specific
operating condition. The harmonic spectrum and standard limits (IEC 61000, IEEE 519, EN 50160) are
plotted to assess voltage distortion compliance. While all scenarios are within the IEC 61000 and EN 50160
thresholds at 22 kV, certain harmonic orders, particularly the 5th, 7th, and 11th, exceed IEEE 519
recommendations. At the 0.4 kV level, most values remain below the IEC limit, except for the 15th harmonic
in scenarios 2 and 4, indicating non-compliance in these specific cases. Figure 2(b) presents the THDi results
under the same four scenarios, that figure show current harmonic amplit.
(a)
(b)
Figure 2. Evolution of maximum harmonic voltage amplitudes across different operating scenarios of the RO
Plant at (a) high voltage (22 kV) and (b) low voltage (0.4 kV) levels
(a)
(b)
Figure 3. Evolution of maximum harmonic current amplitudes in different RO plant operating scenarios at
(a) high voltage (22 kV) and (b) low voltage (0.4 kV) levels
Intelligent assessment of harmonic distortion compliance in reverse osmosis systems (Cherki Lahlou)
4378 ISSN: 2252-8938
Figure 1. Precision-recall curves of the four ML models for harmonic compliance classification
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors want to thank the Maintenance and laboratory teams at the MAROC CENTRAL
demineralization station, Kasba Tadla, Morocco, for their invaluable help and support.
FUNDING INFORMATION
Authors state no funding involved.
Name of Author C M So Va Fo I R D O E Vi Su P Fu
Cherki Lahlou ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Belaid Bouikhalene ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Jamaa Bengourram ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Hassan Latrache ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
DATA AVAILABILITY
The data supporting the results of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.
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BIOGRAPHIES OF AUTHORS
Intelligent assessment of harmonic distortion compliance in reverse osmosis systems (Cherki Lahlou)