Harmonic Analysis

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Types of Power Quality

Problems

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 2

Waveform Distortion
Primary Types of Waveform Distortion
DC Offset

Harmonics
Interharmonics

Notching
Noise

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 3

Harmonics
One special category of power quality
problems
Harmonics are voltages and/or currents
present in an electrical system at some
multiple of the fundamental frequency.
(IEEE Std 399, Brown Book)

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 4

Nonlinear Loads
Sinusoidal voltage
applied to a simple
nonlinear resistor
Increasing the
voltage by a few
percent may cause
current to double

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 5

Fourier Representation
Any periodic
waveform can be
expressed as a sum
of sinusoids
The sum of the
sinusoids is referred
to as Fourier Series
(6-pulse)
2 3

I ac

1
cos3 t
5

I d (cos t

I h cos(h t

1
1
1
cos7 t
cos11 t
cos13 t
7
11
13

h 1
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 6

Harmonic Sources
Utilities (Power Grid)
Known as Background Harmonic

Pollution from other irresponsible customers

SVC, HVDC, FACTS,

Usually a voltage source

Synchronous Generators
Due to Pitch (can be eliminated by fractionalpitch winding) and Saturation
Usually a voltage source
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 7

Harmonic Sources (contd)

Transformers
Due to magnetizing branch saturation
Only at lightly loaded condition
Usually a current source

Power Electronic Devices

Charger, Converter, Inverter, UPS, VFD, SVC, HVDC,
FACTS,

Due to switching actions

Either a voltage source or a current source

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 8

Harmonic Sources (contd)

Other Non-Linear Loads
Arc furnaces, discharge lighting,

Due to unstable and non-linear process

Either a voltage source or a current source

In general, any load that is applied to a

power system that requires other than a
sinusoidal current

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 9

Harmonic I and V

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 10

Classification of Harmonics
Harmonics may be classified as:
Characteristic Harmonics
Generally produced by power converters

Non-Characteristic Harmonics
Typically produced by arc furnaces and discharge
lighting (from non-periodical waveforms)

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 11

Phase Angle Relationship

Fundamental Frequency

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 12

Phase Angle Relationship

Third Order

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 13

Phase Angle Relationship

Fifth Order

Seventh Order

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 14

Order vs. Sequence

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 15

Characteristic Harmonics

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 16

Characteristic Harmonics
(contd)

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 17

Harmonic Spectrum

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 18

Harmonic-Related Problems
Motors and Generators
Increased heating due to iron and copper losses
Reduced efficiency and torque

Higher audible noise

Cogging or crawling
Mechanical oscillations
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 19

Harmonic-Related Problems
(contd)
Transformers
Parasitic heating
Increased copper, stray flux and iron losses

Capacitors (var compensators)

Possibility of system resonance
Increased heating and voltage stress
Shortened capacitor life
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 20

Harmonic-Related Problems
(contd)
Power Cables
Involved in system resonance
Voltage stress and corona leading to dielectric
failure
Heating and derating

Neutrals of four-wire systems (480/277V; 120/208V)

Overheating

Fuses
Blowing
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 21

Harmonic-Related Problems
(contd)
Switchgears
Increased heating and losses
Reduced steady-state current carrying capability
Shortened insulation components life
Relays
Possibility of misoperation
Metering
Affected readings
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 22

Harmonic-Related Problems
(contd)
Communication Systems
Interference by higher frequency
electromagnetic field

Electronic Equipment (computers, PLC)

Misoperation

System
Resonance (serial and parallel)
Poor power factor
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 23

Parallel Resonance
Total impedance at resonance frequency
increases
High circulating current will flow in the
capacitance-inductance loop

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 24

Parallel Resonance

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 25

Capacitor Banks

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 26

Capacitor Banks

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 27

Capacitor Banks

Say, Seventh Harmonic Current = 5% of 1100A = 55 A

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 28

Capacitor Banks

Resistance = 1% including cable and transformer

CAF = X/R = 7*0.0069/0.0012 =40.25
Resonant Current = 55*40.25 = 2214 A
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 29

Parallel Resonance (contd)

Cause:

Source inductance resonates with

capacitor bank at a frequency
excited by the facilities harmonic
sources

Impacts: 1. Excessive capacitor fuse

operation
2. Capacitor failures
3. Incorrect relay tripping
4. Telephone interference
5. Overheating of equipment
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 30

Harmonic Distortion
Measurements
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
Also known as Harmonic Distortion Factor
(HDF), is the most popular index to measure the
level of harmonic distortion to voltage and
current
Ratio of the RMS of all harmonics to the
fundamental component
For an ideal system THD = 0%

Potential heating value of the harmonics relative

to the fundamental
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 31

Harmonic Distortion
Measurements (contd)
Good indicator of additional losses due to
current flowing through a conductor
Not a good indicator of voltage stress in a
capacitor (related to peak value of voltage
waveform, not its heating value)
Fi 2
THD

F1

Where Fi is the amplitude of the ith harmonic,

and F1 is that for the fundamental component.
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 32

Harmonic Distortion
Measurements (contd)
Individual Harmonic Distortion (IHD)
- Ratio of a given harmonic to fundamental
- To track magnitude of individual harmonic
IHD

Fi
F1

Root Mean Square (RMS) - Total

- Root Mean Square of fundamental plus all
harmonics
- Equal to fundamental RMS if Harmonics are
zero
Fi 2

RMS
1
1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 33

Reducing System
Harmonics
Add Passive Filters
Shunt or Single Tuned Filters
Broadband Filters or Band Pass Filters
Provide low impedance path for harmonic
current
Least expensive

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 34

Reducing System
Harmonics (contd)
Increase Pulse Numbers
Increasing pulse number of convert circuits
Limited by practical control problems

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 35

Reducing System
Harmonics (contd)
Apply Transformer Phase Shifting
Using Phase Shifting Transformers
Achieve higher pulse operation of the total
converter installation

In ETAP
Phase shift is specified in the tab page of the
transformer editor

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 36

Reducing System
Harmonics (contd)
Either standard phase shift or special phase
shift can be used

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 37

Reducing System
Harmonics (contd)
Add Active Filters
Instantly adapts to changing source and load
conditions
Costly
MVA Limitation

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 38

Voltage Distortion Limits

Recommended Practices for Utilities (IEEE
519):
Bus Voltage
Individual
Total Voltage
Distortion

Distortion

(%)

THD (%)

69 kV and below

3.0

5.0

69.001 kV through 161kV

1.5

2.5

161.001 and above

1.0

1.5

At
PCC

In ETAP:
Specify Harmonic Distortion Limits in Harmonic
Page of Bus Editor:

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 39

Current Distortion Limits

Recommended Practices for General
Distribution Systems (IEEE 519):

1996-2013 ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc. - Workshop Notes: Harmonics

Slide 40