Understanding of Harmonics

in Power Distribution System

Dr. Adel. M. Sharaf
Department of Electrical &
Computer Engineering
University of New Brunswick
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 2
Outline
Power System Harmonics?
Why Harmonics are Troublesome?
Nonlinear Loads Producing Harmonic Currents
Harmonic Distortion?
Negative Effects of Sustained Harmonics
Mitigation of the Effects of Harmonics
Evaluation of AC Power System Harmonics?
Conclusions
References
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 3
What are Power System Harmonics?
Harmonic: a mathematical definition, generally used when
talking about Integral orders of Fundamental frequencies
Power system harmonics: currents or voltages with
frequencies that are integer multiples (h=0,1,2,N) of the
fundamental power frequency [1]

1
st
harmonic: 60Hz
2
nd
harmonic: 120Hz
3
rd
harmonic: 180Hz


Figure: 1 [2]

2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 4
How are Harmonics Produced ?
Power system harmonics: presenting deviations from a perfect
sinusoidal-waveform (voltage or current waveform).
The distortion comes from a Nonlinearity caused by saturation,
electronic-switching and nonlinear electric loads,
Inrush/Temporal/Arc/Converter/Limiter/Threshold Type Loads.






Figure: 2 [1]

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Why Bother about Harmonics?
50-60% of all electrical Ac Systems in North
America operate with non-linear type loads
Power-Quality-PQ Issues & Problems
Damage to Power Factor Correction capacitors
Waveform Distortion can create
SAG/SWELL/NOTCHING/RINGING/
All can cause damage effects to consumer loads
and power systems due to Over-Current/Over-
Voltage or Waveform Distortion
Additional Power/Energy Losses

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Loads Producing Harmonic Currents
Electronic lighting ballasts/Controls
Adjustable speed Motor-Drives
Electric Arc Welding Equipment
Solid state Industrial Rectifiers
Industrial Process Control Systems
Uninterruptible Power Supplies ( UPS )systems
Saturated Inductors/Transformers
LAN/Computer Networks
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 7
Current vs. Voltage Harmonics
Harmonic current flowing through the AC Power
System impedance result in harmonic voltage-
drop at the load bus and along the Feeder!!





Figure: 3 [3]
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How to Quantify Harmonic Distortion?
Total Harmonic Distortion-THD: the contribution
of all harmonic frequency Currents/Voltages to
the fundamental current. [3]
The level of THD-for Current or Voltage is
directly related to the frequencies and amplitudes
of the Offending Quasi-Steady State persistent
Harmonics.
Individual Distortion Factor-(DF)-h quantify
Distortion at h harmonic-order

2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 9
Calculation of THD
THD: Ratio of the RMS of the harmonic
content to the RMS of the Fundamental [3]

(Eq-1)

Current THD-I
(Eq-2)

Voltage THD-V
(Eq-3)
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Negative Effects of Harmonics
Overheating and premature failure of distribution transformers [1]
Increasing iron and copper losses or eddy currents due to stray flux losses
Overheating and mechanical oscillations in the motor-load system [1]
Producing rotating magnitude field, which is opposite to the fundamental
magnitude field.
Overheating and damage of neutral ground conductors [2]
Trouble sustained type Harmonics: 3
rd
, 9
th
, 15
th

A 3-phase 4-wire system: single phase harmonic will add rather than
cancel on the neutral conductor
Malfunction/Mal-Operation of Sensitive Tele-control and
Protection Relaying

2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 11
Negative Effects of Harmonics (cont d)
False or spurious Relay operations and trips of circuit
breakers [2]
Failure of the Firing/Commutation circuits, found in DC
motor-drives and AC drives with silicon controlled rectifiers
(SCR-Thyristor) [1]
Mal-Operation instability of voltage regulator [1]
Power factor correction capacitor failure [1]
Reactance (impedance)-Zc of a capacitor bank decreases as the
frequency increases.
Capacitor bank acts as a sink for higher harmonic currents.
The System-Series and parallel Resonance can cause dielectric
failure or rupture the power factor correction capacitor failure due
to Over-Voltages & Over-Currents.


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Harmonics and Parallel Resonance Circuit
Harmonic currents produced by variable speed motor-drives: can be
amplified up to 10-15 times in parallel resonance circuit formed by the
capacitance bank and network inductance [5]
Amplified/intensified harmonic currents: leading to internal
overheating of the capacitor unit.
Higher frequency currents: causing more losses than 60hz currents
having same amplitude





Figure 4: Parallel resonance circuit and its equivalent circuit [5]
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 13
Harmonics and Series Resonance Circuit
The voltage of upstream AC Network can be also
distorted due to series/parallel resonance formed by
capacitance of the capacitor bank and System/load
inductance : Ca cause high harmonic current circulation
through the capacitors [5]
Parallel Resonance can also lead to high voltage distortion.
Figure 5: Series resonance circuit and its equivalent circuit [5]
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 14
Measure Equipments of Harmonics
Digital Oscilloscope:
Wave shape, THD and Amplitude of each harmonic
True RMS Multi-Meter:
Giving correct readings for distortion-free sine waves and typically
reading low when the current waveform is distorted

Use of Harmonic Meters-Single Phase or three Phase








Figure 6: True RMS Multi-Meter [3]
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Standards for Harmonics Limitation
IEEE/IEC
IEEE 519-1992 Standard: Recommended Practices and
Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electrical Power
Systems (Current Distortion Limits for 120v-69kv DS)

Table 1: Current Harmonic Limits [4]












Ratio
Iscc / Iload
Harmonic odd
numbers (<11)
Harmonic odd
numbers (>35)
THD-i
< 20 4.0 % 0.3 % 5.0 %
20 - 50 7.0 % 0.5 % 8.0 %
50 - 100 10.0 % 0.7 % 12.0 %
>1000 15.0 % 1.4 % 20.0 %
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 16
Standard of Harmonics Limitation
(contd)
IEEE 519-1992 Standard: Recommended Practices and
Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electrical Power
Systems (Voltage Distortion Limits)

Table 2: Voltage Harmonic Limits [4]










Bus Voltage
Voltage Harmonic limit
as (%) of Fundamental
THD-v (%)
<= 69Kv 3.0 5.0
69 - 161Kv 1.5 2.5
>= 161 Kv 1.0 1.5
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 17
Mitigation Of Harmonics [1]
Ranging from variable frequency motor- drive to other
nonlinear loads and equipments
Power System Design:
Limiting the non-linear load penetration to 30% of the maximum
transformers capacity
Limiting non-linear loads to 15% of the transformers capacity,
when power factor correction capacitors are installed.
Avoiding/Detuning resonant conditions on the AC System:



(Eq-4)
hr = resonant frequency as a multiple of the fundamental frequency
kVAsc = short circuit current as the point of study
kVARc = capacitor rating at the system voltage
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 18
Mitigation the Effects of Harmonics [1]
(contd)
Delta-Delta and Delta-Wye Transformers
Using two separate utility feed transformers with equal
non-linear loads
Shifting the phase relationship to various six-pulse
converters through cancellation techniques




Figure 7: Delta-Delta and Delta-Wye Transformers [1]

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Mitigation the Effects of Harmonics [1]
(contd)
Isolation-Interface Transformers
The potential to voltage match by stepping up or
stepping down the system voltage, and by providing a
neutral ground reference for nuisance ground faults
The best solution when utilizing AC or DC drives that
use SCR/GTO/SSR.. as bridge rectifiers
Line Isolation-Reactors
More commonly used for their low cost
Adding a small reactor in series with capacitor bank
forms a Blocking series Filter.
Use diode bridge rectifier as a front end to avoid severe
harmonic power quality problems
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 20
Mitigation the Effects of Harmonics [1]
(contd)
Harmonic-Shunt or Trap Filters:
Used in applications with a high non-linear ratio to
system to eliminate harmonic currents
Sized to withstand the RMS current as well as the value
of current for the harmonics
Providing true distortion power factor correction





Figure 8: Typical Harmonic Trap Filter [1]
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Harmonic Trap Filters (contd)
Tuned to a specific harmonic order such as the 5th, 7th,
11th, etc to meet requirements of IEEE 519-1992
Standard
The number of tuned filter-branches depends on the
offending steady-state harmonics to be absorbed and on
required reactive power level to be compensated
Figure 9: Typical Filter Capacitor Bank [5]
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 22
Harmonics Filter Types [6]
Isolating harmonic current to protect electrical
equipment from damage due to harmonic voltage
distortion
Passive Filter-Low cost:
Built-up by combinations of capacitors, inductors
(reactors) and resistors
most common and available for all voltage levels
Active Power Filter APF:
Inserting negative phase compensating harmonics into
the AC-Network, thus eliminating the undesirable
harmonics on the AC Power Network.
APF-Used only for for low voltage networks
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 23
Harmonic Filter Types (contd) [7]
Unified Switched Capacitor Compensator USCS:
The single line diagram (SLD) of the utilization (single-
phase) or (three-phase- 4-wire) feeder and the connection
of the Unified Switched- Capacitor Compensator (USCS)
to the Nonlinear-Temporal Inrush /Arc type Loads or
SMPS-Computer/LAN-Network loads.





Figure 10 [7]
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 24
Harmonics Filter Types (contd) [7]
The USCS is a switched/modulated capacitor bank
using a pulse-width modulated (PWM/SPWM)
Switching Strategy. The switching device uses
either solid state switch SSR-(IGBT or GTO).




Figure 11 [7]
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 25
Need To Evaluate System Harmonics? [1]
The application of capacitor banks in systems
where 20% or more of the load includes other
harmonic generating equipment.

The facility has a history of harmonic related
problems, including excessive capacitor fuse
operation or damage to sensitive
metering/relaying/control equipment.

During the Planning/Design stage of any facility
comprising capacitor banks and nonlinear
harmonic generating equipment.
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 26
When to Evaluate System Harmonics? [1]
(contd)
In facilities where restrictive Electric Power Utility
Company Standards/Guidelines limit the harmonic
injection back into their system to very small magnitudes.

Industrial/Commercial Plant expansions that add
significant harmonic generating nonlinear type equipment
operating in conjunction with capacitor banks.

When coordinating and planning to add any emergency
standby generator as an alternate/renewable power source

2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 27
Conclusions
The harmonic distortion principally comes from
Nonlinear-Type Loads.
The application of power electronics is causing
increased level of harmonics due to Switching!!
Harmonic distortion can cause serious
Failure/Damage problems.
Harmonics are important aspect of power
operation that requires Mitigation!!
Over-Sizing and Power Filtering methods are
commonly used to limit Overheating Effects of
Sustained Harmonics.
2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 28
References
[1] www-ppd.fnal.gov/EEDOffice-w/Projects/CMS/LVPS/mg/8803PD9402.pdf

[2] www.pge.com/docs/pdfs/biz/power_quality/power_quality_notes/harmonics.pdf

[3] www.metersandinstruments.com/images/power_meas.pdf

[4]http://engr.calvin.edu/PRibeiro_WEBPAGE/IEEE/ieee_cd/chapters/CHAP_9/c9toc/c9_frame.htm

[5] www.nokiancapacitors.com.es/.../EN-TH04-11_ 2004-
Harmonics_and_Reactive_Power_Compensation_in_Practice.pdf

[6]http://rfcomponents.globalspec.com/LearnMore/Communications_Networking/RF_Microwave_Wir
eless_Components/Harmonic_Filters

[7] A.M. Sharaf & Pierre Kreidi, POWERQ UALITYE NHANCEMEUNSTI NGA UNIFIEDSW
ITCHED CAPACITOCRO MPENSATOR, CCECE 2003 - CCGEI 2003, Montreal, Mayimai 2003
0-7803-7781-8/03/$17.00 0 2003 IEEE

2/23/2006 EE 6633 Seminar 1 29
Question