Harmonics

Harmonics in
in Low
Low Voltage
Voltage Three-Phase
Three-Phase
Four-Wire
Four-Wire Electric
Electric Distribution
Distribution Systems
Systems
and
and Filtering
Filtering Solutions
Solutions

Dr.
Dr. Prasad
Prasad Enjeti
Enjeti
Texas
Texas A&M
A&M University
University
Power
Power Electronics
Electronics and
and Power
Power Quality
Quality Laboratory
Laboratory

PS ERC Online
PSERC Online Seminar
Seminar
February
February 13,
13, 2001
2001
©©2001
2001Texas
TexasA&M
A&MUniversity.
University.All
Allrights
rightsreserved.
reserved.
 Outline
Outline

1 Introduction
Introduction

2 Harmonic
Harmonic Current
Current Sources
Sources

3 Case
Case Studies
Studies

4 Solutions:
Solutions:
-- Derating
Derating
-- Passive
Passive Approach
Approach
-- Active
Active Approach
Approach
5 Conclusions
Conclusions
Introduction
Typical
Typical Building
Building Power
Power Distribution
Distribution Scheme
Scheme
Harmonic Current Sources
Harmonic
Harmonic Producing
Producing Equipment
Equipment in
in Office
Office Buildings
Buildings

Copy machines Recorders

Electric typewriters Televisions

Light fixture ballasts Video tape players

Personal computers SCR drives for motors

Computer systems SCR drives for elevators

Computer terminals UPS systems

Audio visual equipment Laboratory testing equipment

Harmonic
Harmonic Related
Related Problems
Problems in
in Buildings
Buildings

•Overheating and damage to neutral conductors

•Overheating and damage to panel board feeders

•Line voltage distortion

•Higher Common mode voltage

•Nuisance tripping of circuit breakers

•Overheating and premature failure of distribution

transformers
Case Studies
Typical
Typical Current
Current Waveforms
Waveforms of
of Appliances
Appliances
Typical
Typical Current
Current Waveforms
Waveforms of
of Appliances.
Appliances. Contd.
Contd.
Typical
Typical Current
Current Waveforms
Waveforms of
of Appliances.
Appliances. Contd.
Contd.
Typical
Typical Current
Current Waveforms
Waveforms of
of Appliances.
Appliances. Contd.
Contd.
Effect
Effect of
of Triplen
Triplen Harmonics
Harmonics in
in Neutral
Neutral Conductors
Conductors

Ia

Ib I N ,rms = I a2,rms + I b2,rms + I c2,rms

I N ,rms = 3 * I phase ,rms

Ic

IN
Survey
Survey results,
results, Building
Building II
Survey
Survey results,
results, Building
Building II
II
 Summary
Summary of
of Building
Building Measurement
Measurement

Phase Neutral to
A B C N
Building Phase, %

Building I 66.8A 77.3A 72.5A 120.0A 170%

Building II 50.0A 65.6A 41.1A 53.7A 103%

Building III 12.8A 36.1A 24.5A 27.5A 80.9%

Building IV 80.6A 77.2A 90.0A 142.0A 171.3%

Building V 23.0A 17.4A 26.0A 12.7A 57.4%

Building VI 44.6A 41.2A 41.9A 60.7A 143%

 Harmonic
Harmonic Profiles
Profiles for
for Typical
Typical Buildings
Buildings

OFFICE
OFFICE BUILDINGS
BUILDINGS MEDICAL
MEDICAL FACILITIES
FACILITIES

• 9 Buildings surveyed. • 22 facilities surveyed.

• Typical loads include computers and • Typical loads include computers, office
office equipment. equipment, diagnostic and patient care
• Average neutral to phase ratio of 1.13 equipment.
• Average crest factor of 2.12 • Average crest factor of 2.02

INDUSTRIAL
INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES
FACILITIES
• 14 sites surveyed.
• Typical loads include computers, laboratory
equipment, telecommunication equipment.
• Average neutral to phase of 1.04
• Average crest factor of 2.12
 Harmonic
Harmonic Profiles
Profiles for
for Typical
Typical Buildings.
Buildings. Contd.
Contd.

GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
BUILDINGS AUDIO
AUDIO VISUAL
VISUAL STUDIOS
STUDIOS

• 6 sites surveyed.
• Typical loads include computers, data •8 studios surveyed.
processing equipment, office •Average neutral to phase of 0.65
equipment. •Average crest of 1.74
• Average neutral to phase of 0.77
• Average crest of 1.78
Common
Common Mode
Mode Noise,
Noise, Building
Building II
Line
Line Voltage
Voltage Distortion,
Distortion, Building
Building II
 Harmonic
Harmonic Effects
Effects on
on Transformers
Transformers

TRANSFORMER
TRANSFORMER LOSSES
LOSSES DUE
DUE EFFECTS
EFFECTS OF
OF
TO
TO TRIPLEN
TRIPLEN HARMONICS
HARMONICS TRIPLEN
TRIPLEN HARMONICS
HARMONICS

• Losses in transformers are subdivided • Excessive stress due to heating

into core and winding losses.
• Insulation breakdown
• Core loss is of minor concern since it
is due to flux generated in the core by • Lower operating efficiency
the bus voltage.
• Short life span
• Winding losses are increased due to
I2R and stray losses. • Acoustic noise
 Solutions:
Solutions:
-Derating
-Derating
-Passive
-Passive Approach
Approach
-Active
-Active Approach
Approach
 Recommendations
Recommendations
by
by CBEMA
CBEMA

1. Derate transformers or use K-Factor Transformers.

2. Oversize all neutral components for 1.73 times rated

full load amps.

3. Use separate neutral conductors for nonlinear loads

and avoid shared neutral conductors where practical.

4. Use neutral over current sensors to trip phase

conductors.

5. Use true rms. ammeters and instruments with

sufficient bandwidth for measurement.
 Transformer
Transformer Derating
Derating Schemes
Schemes

Derating is a means of determining the maximum load that may be

safely placed on a transformer that supplies harmonic loads.

The most common derating method is the CBEMA approved "crest

factor" method which provides a transformer harmonic derating
factor,THDF.
Example
Example of
of Transformer
Transformer Derating.
Derating. Building
Building II
True RMS Peak Value of
Phase
Phase Current Phase Current

A 70A 178A

B 76A 181A

C 73A 180A

HENCE, THE TRANSFORMER SHOULD BE DERATED

TO 57% OF ITS NAME PLATE RATING!!!
 KK Factor
Factor Rated
Rated Transformers
Transformers

•K factor was developed by Underwriters Laboratory in UL 1561.

•K factor transformers are designed to supply nonsinusoial loads.

•They contain enlarged primary windings to carry circulating triplen

harmonic currents.

•The magnetic core has a lower flux density as it is designed with

higher grades of iron.

•K factor transformers use smaller, insulated, secondary

conductors in parallel to reduce skin effect.

•K factor transformers are more expensive than conventional

transformers.
 KK Factor
Factor Rated
Rated Transformers.
Transformers. Contd.
Contd.

K factor is a means of rating a transformer with respect to the

harmonic magnitude and frequency of the load.

The K factor numbers do not linearly indicate transformer

harmonic tolerance. For example, a K4 rated transformer has
four times the eddy current tolerance as a K1 transformer. A K13
rated transformer has approximately twice the tolerance of a K4
and K30 has twice of a K13.
Example
Example KK Factor
Factor Calculation.
Calculation. Building
Building II

K
K Factor
Factor == 8.84
8.84
 Solutions.
Solutions. Neutral
Neutral Cable
Cable
Super
Super Neutral
Neutral Cable®
Cable®
Super
SuperNeutral
NeutralCable
Cableisisaametal-clad,
metal-clad,Type
TypeMCMCCable,
Cable,
manufactured
manufacturedwithwithananoversized
oversizedneutral
neutralconductor
conductorororone
one
neutral per phase for three-phase/four-wire power supply
neutral per phase for three-phase/four-wire power supply
systems
systemstotocomputers
computers(with
(withdc
dcdrive
drivefan
fanmotors,
motors,tape
tapeand
and
disk
diskdrives)
drives)office
officemachines,
machines,programmable
programmablecontrollers,
controllers,and
and
similar
similarelectronic
electronicequipment
equipmentwhere
wherenon-linear
non-linearswitching
switching
loads
loadsproduce
produceadditive,
additive,odd
oddorder
orderharmonic
harmoniccurrents
currentswhich
which
may create overloaded neutral conductors.
may create overloaded neutral conductors.

The
Theoversized
oversizedneutral
neutralconductor(s)
conductor(s)are
aresized
sized150%
150%to to200%
200%
of
ofthe
thephase
phaseconductor
conductorampacity
ampacityto tominimize
minimizethetheeffects
effectsof
of
harmonics
harmonicsgenerated
generatedbybythe
thenon-linear
non-linearloads.
loads. The
Theneutral
neutral
per phase (striped with color to match the phase conductor)
per phase (striped with color to match the phase conductor)
accomplishes
accomplishesthethesame
sameobjective.
objective.

Super
SuperNeutral
NeutralCable
Cablecan
canbe
beused
usedunder
undercomputer
computerroom
room
floors,
floors,raised
raisedfloors,
floors,or
oroverhead
overheadininthe
thespace
spaceabove
abovehung
hung
ceilings
ceilingsused
usedfor
forenvironmental
environmentalair
airhandling.
handling. ItIthandles
handles
branch
branch and feeder, plus power, lighting, signal, andcontrol
and feeder, plus power, lighting, signal, and control
circuits
circuitsin
indry
drylocations.
locations.
Solutions.
Solutions. Transformers
Transformers

K-factor transformers:

Sola
Dongan
 Disadvantages
Disadvantages and
and Risks
Risks
Derating a transformer is a temporary fix and often translates into
lower efficiency operation and increased heat for losses.

Derated transformers also run the risk of being perceived to be

partially loaded and future load additions are possible.

While derating removes some stresses from the transformer, a typical

dry type transformer is not designed to supply harmonic loads. Hence,
it may be subject to a shorter life span and lower efficiency.

Oversizing of transformers, or selection of unnecessarily high K factor

ratings of transformers, can increase the harmonic currents due to
lower impedance.

Separate
Separateneutral
neutralconductors
conductorsfor
forcomputer
computerloads
loadsisisalmost
almostimpossible
impossible
to
toimplement,
implement,due
duetotoaawide
widescattering
scatteringof
ofdata
dataprocessing
processingequipment
equipment
all
allover
overthe
thebuilding.
building.
 Solutions:
Solutions:
-Derating
-Derating
-Passive
-Passive Approach
Approach
-Active
-Active Approach
Approach
Passive
Passive Approach
Approach for
for Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Reduction
Reduction

Circulates
Circulates excessive
excessive triplen
triplen harmonics
harmonics through
through the
the
filter
filter and
and back
back to
to the
the load.
load.

Protects
Protects the
the distribution
distribution transformer
transformer and
and neutral
neutral
conductor
conductor from
from excessive
excessive neutral
neutral currents.
currents.

Improves
Improves transformer
transformer power
power factor.
factor.
Zig-Zag
Zig-Zag Transformer
Transformer for
for Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Reduction
Reduction

VA
VA Rating
Rating Calculation
Calculation
T-Connected
T-Connected Transformer
Transformer for
for Neutral
Neutral
Current
Current Reduction
Reduction

VA
VA Rating
Rating Calculation
Calculation

kVA
kVA rating
rating is
is higher
higher
Star-Delta
Star-Delta Transformer
Transformer for
for
Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Reduction
Reduction

Transformer
Transformer kVA
kVA rating
rating is
is higher.
higher.

Harmonic
Harmonic filtering
filtering is
is impedance
impedance sensitive.
sensitive.

VA
VA Rating
Rating Calculation
Calculation
Zig-Zag
Zig-Zag Transformer
Transformer for
for Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Reduction
Reduction

Disadvantages
Disadvantages

Zero
Zero sequence
sequence impedance
impedance of
of the
the Zig-Zag
Zig-Zag transformer
transformer must
must be
be low.
low. This
This
requires
requires special
special design.
design.

The rd
The effectiveness
effectiveness of
of the
the Zig-Zag
Zig-Zag transformer
transformer to divert 33rd.. harmonic
to divert harmonic current
current
is
is highly
highly dependent
dependent on on the
the distribution
distribution system
system impedance.
impedance. In In most
most cases
cases
only
only 50%
50% reduction
reduction can
can be
be guaranteed.
guaranteed.

Lower
Lower zero-sequence
zero-sequence impedance
impedance increases
increases the
the single-phase
single-phase fault
fault current
current
level.
level. Therefore,
Therefore, fusing
fusing and
and circuit
circuit breaker
breaker re-sizing
re-sizing may
may be
be necessary.
necessary.

The
The specially
specially designed
designed lowlow impedance
impedance Zig-Zag
Zig-Zag transformer
transformer becomes
becomes aa low
low
impedance
impedance path
path for
for zero
zero sequence
sequence currents
currents from
from other
other parts
parts of
of the
the system
system

Due
Due to
to the
the reasons
reasons mentioned
mentioned above
above the
the passive
passive Zig-Zag
Zig-Zag transformer
transformer
approach
approach is is larger
larger in
in size
size and
and weight.
weight.
 Solutions.
Solutions. Passive
Passive Approach
Approach
Acme's
Acme's I-Trap™
I-Trap™ Reduces
Reduces Excessive
Excessive Neutral
Neutral
Currents
Currents Caused
Caused by
by Harmonic
Harmonic Distortion
Distortion
Acme
Acmehas
hasintroduced
introducedaaproduct
productthat
thatprovides
providesaacost
costeffective
effectivesolution
solutionto
to
high neutral currents that result from zero sequence harmonics
high neutral currents that result from zero sequence harmonics andand
unbalanced
unbalancedloads.
loads.

The
TheI-TRAP™
I-TRAP™units unitsare
aredesigned
designedfor
foruse
useonon208Y/120V
208Y/120Vthree
threephase
phase60Hz
60Hz
systems. They provide electrical contractors, system designers
systems. They provide electrical contractors, system designers and and
specifying
specifyingengineers
engineerswith
withan
aneconomical
economicalalternative
alternativetotoreplacement
replacementof of
overheated system neutral conductors. The I-TRAP™ can
overheated system neutral conductors. The I-TRAP™ can be installedbe installed
adjacent
adjacenttotodistribution
distributionpanels
panelsthat
thatwill
willfeed
feednon-linear
non-linearloads
loadsininplants,
plants,
offices,
offices,hi-rises
hi-risesand
andother
otherlocations.
locations.This
Thispermits
permitsthetheuse
useof
ofsmaller,
smaller,less
less
expensive neutral cable and provides protection to distribution
expensive neutral cable and provides protection to distribution
transformers
transformersthatthatmay
mayoverheat
overheatduedueto
toharmonic
harmonicloads.
loads.
The
TheI-TRAP™
I-TRAP™isisfor
foruse
useon
onsystems
systemswith
withmaximum
maximumneutral
neutralcurrents
currentsof
of
100A, 150A, 300A and 450A. Each unit includes a built-in ammeter
100A, 150A, 300A and 450A. Each unit includes a built-in ammeter toto
provide
provideconstant
constantreading
readingof
ofthe
theneutral
neutralcurrent.
current.

Installation
Installationisisaccomplished
accomplishedby byfour
foursimple
simpleterminal
terminalconnections
connectionsandandthe
the
units can be floor or wall mounted and require minimal maintenance.
units can be floor or wall mounted and require minimal maintenance.
All
AllI-TRAP™
I-TRAP™units unitsare
areUL
ULlisted
listedand
andCSA
CSAcertified,
certified,rated
ratedfor
for115
115deg.
deg.CC
temperature
temperaturerise riseand
and220
220deg.
deg.CCinsulation
insulationclass,
class,and
andare
arecovered
coveredunder
under
Acme's exclusive 10 year warranty.
Acme's exclusive 10 year warranty.
The
TheI-TRAP™
I-TRAP™and andAcme's
Acme'sfull
fullline
lineof
ofdry
drytype
typedistribution
distributiontransformers
transformers
are
are available through a network of reps and electrical distributorsin
available through a network of reps and electrical distributors inthe
the
United States and Canada.
United States and Canada.
 Solutions:
Solutions:
-Derating
-Derating
-Passive
-Passive Approach
Approach
-Active
-Active Approach
Approach
Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filtering
Filtering Scheme
Scheme

- +
Single & Three-
- + Phase Linear and
Non-linear
- + Distributed Loads

Harmonix TM:
In Active Harmonic I ref = 0
Cancellation
System

Circulates
Circulates excessive
excessive triplen
triplen harmonics
harmonics through
through the
the
filter
filter and
and back
back to
to the
the load.
load.

Protects
Protects the
the distribution
distribution transformer
transformer and
and neutral
neutral
conductor
conductor from
from excessive
excessive neutral
neutral currents.
currents.

Improves
Improves transformer
transformer power
power factor.
factor.
Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filtering
Filtering Scheme
Scheme

•Developed by Texas A&M University,

College Station & Current Technology,
Inc. Dallas, Texas.
•Design to Cancel Zero Sequence
Harmonic Current from a 3-Phase
4-Wire Distribution System.
•Patented Technology.
Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filtering
Filtering Scheme
Scheme
Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filtering
Filtering Scheme.
Scheme.
Functional
Functional Block
Block Diagram.
Diagram.

- + a
I N /3
b S in g le & T h re e -
- +
P h a s e L in e a r a n d
c I N /3
N o n -lin e a r
- +
I N /3 D is trib u te d L o a d s
n In - IN In

IN
T1
3 -P h a se
I se n sed
B rid g e
R e c tifie r

N
Lf P W M F u ll- +
B rid g e
In v e rte r

S e n s in g 60H Z E rro r PW M
C irc u itry N o tc h A m p li f i e r C o n tro lle r
F il t e r

I ref = 0
Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filter
Filter
 Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filter.
Filter.
Features.
Features.

•High Cancellation Effectiveness : 90 - 95%.

•Performance independent of System Impedance.
•Cancels neutral current harmonics by measurement
and close-loop control.
•No low-impedance path for Zero-Sequence 60 Hz.
•Built-in pulse-pulse current limit (No Overloading).
•Significant improvement in Voltage and Current THD’s.
•Fast-response characteristics.
 Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filter.
Filter.
Connection.
Connection.

F ilte r
4 .5 A m ps F ilte r
O n / O ff
F a c ility
H A R M O N IX O n

N e u tra l C u rre n t I-m a x I-H a rm o n ic

A c tiv e H a r m o n ic C a n c e lla tio n I-R M S
A B C N
S y s te m / 1 0 0 a m p A la rm A la rm
1 0 2 .8 A m ps D is a b le d O n / O ff
H a rm o n ic F ilte r
C a n c e lla tio n C u rre n t F a u lt N o rm a l
T est
T h e rm a l L ow
O v e rlo a d B a tte ry
C u r r e n t T e c h n o lo g y H a r m o n ic C o n tr o l P a n e l

B re a k e r
3 Phase
Breaker
Current
Sensor

120/208 - 225 Amps

Distribution Panel

4 .5 A m ps F ilte r F ilte r Current

O n / O ff
F a c ility
H A R M O N IX O n
Resistor
N e u tra l C u rre n t I-m a x I-H a rm o n ic
A c tiv e H a r m o n ic C a n c e lla tio n I-R M S Term.
S y s te m / 1 0 0 a m p A la rm
1 0 2 .8 A m ps D is a b le d
A la rm
O n / O ff
Box
H a rm o n ic F ilte r
C a n c e lla tio n C u rre n t F a u lt N o rm a l
T est
T h e rm a l L ow
O v e rlo a d B a tte ry
C u r r e n t T e c h n o lo g y H a r m o n ic C o n tr o l P a n e l
N G

B re a k e r
Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filter.
Filter.
Connection.
Connection.
 Filter
Filter Specifications
Specifications

Voltage 120/208, 220/380, 277/480

Current 100 A rms per module

Frequency 50/60 Hz

Power Efficiency 90%

Cancellation Effectiveness 90-95%

Up to 4 filters can be
Parallelability
connected in parallel

Parallel connection
Topology
3-Phase, 4-Wire
 Filter
Filter Specifications.
Specifications. Contd.
Contd.

Pulse-Pulse current protection

Protection Thermal shutdown
Overcurrent protection

Facility current
Monitoring Filter current
Harmonics or total rms current

Indicator lights, Audible alarm,

Status Indication Max current indicator,
Dry contacts

21H x 24W x13D

Enclosure
Floor mount stackable

Weight 200 lbs (approx.)

Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filter.
Filter. Test
Test Results
Results

1 2 0 /2 0 8 D is tr ib u tio n
P a n e l B o a rd s
L o a d C e n te r
PC

PG 2

S in g le - p h a s e
L in e a r &
N o n - L in e a r
L oads
PE
O n e - L in e D ia g r a m - B e ta S ite
E le c tr ic R o o m 1 0 3
H a r m o n ix
TM
: A c tiv e
H a r m o n ic
C a n c e lla tio n
S y s te m
Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filter.
Filter. Test
Test Results
Results

Neutral Current without Active Harmonic Cancellation System

Neutral Current with Active Harmonic Cancellation System

 Active
Active Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filter.
Filter. Test
Test Results
Results
Variable Without Filter With Filter

Neutral Current
82.1 33.0
(A rms)

Zero-Sequence Harmonic
71.5 4.14
Current in Neutral (A rms)

60 Hz Zero-Sequence
34.3 32.7
Current in Neitral (A rms)

Voltage THD
3.3 2.9
(% Fundamental)

Current THD
67.2 33.3
(% Fundamental)

Cancellation Effectiveness - 94.2

Neutral
Neutral Current
Current Filtering
Filtering Scheme
Scheme
 Conclusions
Conclusions
The
The active
active filter
filter employs
employs aa conventional
conventional zig-zag
zig-zag transformer
transformer (not
(not
optimized
optimized for
for low
low zero
zero sequence
sequence impedance)
impedance) andand cancels
cancels the
the neutral
neutral
current
current harmonics
harmonics by by measurement
measurement and
and closed
closed loop
loop current
current control.
control.

The
The performance
performance of
of the
the active
active filter
filter is
is independent
independent of
of the
the system
system
impedance,
impedance, hence
hence is
is not
not location
location sensitive.
sensitive.

The
The active
active filter
filter compensates
compensates only
only for
for harmonic
harmonic currents
currents in
in the
the neutral
neutral
and
and does
does not
not become
become aa low
low impedance
impedance pathpath to
to unbalanced
unbalanced 60Hz 60Hz currents.
currents.

The
The active
active filter
filter has
has an
an electronic
electronic built
built in
in current
current limit
limit and
and does
does not
not overload.
overload.

The
The proposed
proposed active
active filter
filter is
is rugged
rugged and
and stable
stable in
in operation.
operation. Notice
Notice the
the
power
power electronic
electronic components
components are are not
not subjected
subjected toto line
line disturbances
disturbances
such
such as
as over
over voltages,
voltages, voltage
voltage spikes
spikes etc.
etc.

The
The kVA
kVA of
of the
the power
power electronic
electronic active
active current
current source
source in
in low
low as
as the
the voltage
voltage
between
between the
the neutral
neutral of
of the
the zig-zag
zig-zag transformer
transformer and
and the
the system
system neutral
neutral is
is
near
near zero.
zero.