Harmonic Mitigation

Harmonic Data Comparisons

1336 PLUS, 1336 PLUS II,

1336 IMPACT and 1336 FORCE
AC Drives with
6-Pulse, 12-Pulse, and 18-Pulse
Front-Ends
Harmonic Mitigation

Topologies Harmonic Spectrum Comparison

6-Pulse drive This document provides a comparison of the harmonic spectrum for 1336 PLUS,
12-Pulse drive 1336 PLUS II, 1336 IMPACT and 1336 FORCE AC drives utilizing various AC/DC
18-Pulse drive converters (front-end) topologies. The comparison is based on the following
topologies:
• 6-Pulse drive using a 6-Pulse SCR bridge,
• 12-Pulse drive using a 12-Pulse phase shifting auto-transformer with a 12-
Pulse diode bridge, and
• 18-Pulse drive using an 18-Pulse phase-shifting auto-transformer with an 18-
Pulse diode bridge.
All three topologies utilize the same Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) inverter and
1336 PLUS II control board. A customer’s specific electrical power distribution
system should be considered in the selection of a harmonic mitigation solution.

Table 1 is a summary of the typical harmonic current spectrum for the various
front-ends of the PWM AC drives. Keep in mind that harmonic distortion levels for
PWM AC drives are significantly impacted by varying the customer’s power
system impedence. When looking up limits in IEEE 519-1992, the ratio of short
circuit current, which can be estimated from supply transformer impedence, to
load current must be considered.

Category 6-Pulse Drive 12-Pulse Drive 18-Pulse Drive

1. Current THD 30 – 35% 6.5 – 9.5% 4.5 – 5%
2. Power Factor 0.92 – 0.95 0.97 – 0.98 0.98 – 0.99
3. DPF 0.95 – 0.97 0.96 – 0.98 0.98 – 0.99
4. K-Factor 3.0 – 5.0 2.0 – 3.0 1.0 – 2.0
5. 5th Harmonic 20.0 – 30.0% 4.0 – 6.0% 2.0 – 3.0%
6. 7th Harmonic 4.0 – 7.0% 2.0 – 4.0% 1.5 – 2.5%
7. 11th Harmonic 3.0 – 5.0% 4.0 – 7.0% 1.0 – 2.5%
8. 13th Harmonic 2.5 – 4.5% 3.5 – 5.0% 1.0 – 2.0%
9. 17th Harmonic 1.5 – 2.5% 1.0 – 2.0% 0.5 – 1.5%
10. 19th Harmonic 1.0 – 2.0% 1.0 – 1.5% 0.5 – 1.0%
Table 1 – Typical normalized harmonic current spectrum of PWM AC drives.

The data obtained from factory floor measurements is presented in the graphs
(Figures 1-4). The Point of Common Coupling (PCC) was picked at the input
terminals of the 1336 PLUS II AC drive (460 volt AC, 3-phase, 350 horsepower)
which supplied a 3-phase, 460 volt AC, 400 horsepower, 4-pole induction motor
with base speed of 1785 RPM. The load to the AC motor was a DC motor
connected to the shaft. The DC motor was rated at 400 horsepower, 500-volt
armature, and was operated by a 460V AC, 400 horsepower 1395 DC drive. The
test measurements were taken at intervals of 15 minutes.
Figures 1 and 2 indicate that the voltage Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
increases with speed and load. Also note that load and speed affect the 6-Pulse
drives more than the 18-Pulse drives.

Voltage THD of 6 pulse vs 18 pulse Drives

8.00
7.33
7.00
6.00
5.00 5.24
THD, %

4.00
3.00 3.21

2.00 1.98 1.82 2.14

1.00 1.15 1.28

0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Speed, RPM

6 pulse Voltage THD Rms, % 18 pulse Voltage THD Rms, %

Figure 1 – Voltage harmonics of the Allen-Bradley AC drives at different speeds.

Voltage THD of 6 pulse vs 18 pulse Drives

8
7 7.19
6
5.42
5
THD, %

4
3.31
3
2.39
2 1.91 2.03
1.45 1.68
1
0
0 25 50 75 100 125
Load, % of rated current

6 pulse Voltage THD Rms, % 18 pulse Voltage THD Rms, %

Figure 2 – Voltage harmonics of the Allen-Bradley AC drives at different loads.

Harmonic Mitigation

Figures 3 and 4 show that current THD decreases with increasing load and
increasing speed. As expected, the 18-Pulse front-end has much lower current
distortion than the 6-Pulse front-end.

Current THD of 6 pulse vs 18 pulse Drives

60

50 52.45

TH 40 37.63
D, 35.12
31.24
% 30
20

10 10.22
6.83 5.27 4.90
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Speed, RPM

6 pulse Current THD Rms, % 18 pulse Current THD Rms, %

Figure 3 – Current harmonics of the Allen-Bradley AC drives at different speeds.

Current THD of 6 pulse vs 18 pulse Drives

60.00
55.50
50.00

40.00 38.71
THD, %

33.50
30.00 30.11

20.00

10.00 11.30
7.18 5.32 4.81
0.00
0 25 50 75 100 125
Load, % of rated current

6 pulse Current THD Rms, % 18 pulse Current THD Rms, %

Figure 4 – Current harmonics of the Allen-Bradley AC drives at different loads.

 Harmonic Mitigation

Figures 5 and 6 are typical scope plots of input current waveforms for the various
PWM AC drive front-ends. Notice that the waveforms more closely resemble a sine
wave as the level of distortion decreases.

Input Current Input Current

Amps

Amps

Time (msec) Time (msec)

Current THD = 31.4% Current THD = 24.2%

6-Pulse Front-end 6-Pulse Front-end plus 3% Line Reactor
Figure 5 – Input Current Waveforms for PWM AC drive front-ends

Input Current Input Current

Amps
Amps

Time (msec) Time (msec)

Current THD = 9.1% Current THD = 4.8%

12-Pulse Front-end 18-Pulse Front-end
Figure 6 – Input Current Waveforms for PWM AC drive front-ends
Harmonic Mitigation

Table 2 contains data collected for the different front-ends during these tests. The
harmonic components that are typically significant in PWM AC drives are
highlighted in bold italics.

Pulse Width Modulated Variable Frequency Drives

Harm. Freq. 6-Pulse w/ 6-Pulse w/ 12-Pulse w/ 12-Pulse w/ 18-Pulse w/ 18-Pulse w/
Number Hertz Bus Choke Bus Choke Bus Choke Bus Choke Bus Choke Bus Choke
%I RMS I, θ° (phase %I RMS I, θ° (phase %I RMS I, θ° (phase
angle) angle) angle)
1 60 96.98 -15 99.22 -11 99.55 9
3 180 0.57 106 3.59 -146 0.89 -75
5 300 22.81 96 4.41 89 2.05 -67
7 420 5.9 94 1.65 -132 1.31 22
9 540 0.09 176 0.43 146 0.37 162
11 660 4.43 -173 6.49 45 1.31 94
13 780 4.07 167 4.91 53 1.03 136
15 900 0.06 22 0.24 -118 0.14 -178
17 1020 1.75 -109 0.47 115 0.19 168
19 1140 1.33 -107 0.42 -135 0.33 -180
21 1260 0.03 179 0.28 84 0.09 101
23 1380 0.73 -85 0.85 55 0.47 89
25 1500 0.54 -85 1.08 62 0.28 123
27 1620 0.04 75 0.09 -131 0.14 -97
29 1740 0.48 -35 0.12 171 0.05 162
31 1860 0.52 -8 0.14 176 0.14 -77
Table 2 – Typical normalized harmonic current spectrum for input current
waveforms of Allen-Bradley AC drives.

This document allows the designer of an electrical power system including Allen-
Bradley 1336 PLUS, 1336 PLUS II, 1336 IMPACT, and 1336 FORCE AC drives,
using this data, a computer model and one of the previous mitigation techniques,
to help evaluate and reduce the harmonic distortion within the customer’s power
system.
 Harmonic Mitigation

NOTES
 1336 IMPACT and 1336 FORCE are trademarks of Rockwell Automation.

www.rockwellautomation.com

Corporate Headquarters
Rockwell Automation, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1400, Milwaukee, WI, 53202-5302 USA, Tel: (1) 414.212.5200, Fax: (1) 414.212.5201

Headquarters for Allen-Bradley Products, Rockwell Software Products and Global Manufacturing Solutions
Americas: Rockwell Automation, 1201 South Second Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204-2496 USA, Tel: (1) 414.382.2000, Fax: (1) 414.382.4444
Europe: Rockwell Automation SA/NV, Vorstlaan /Boulevard du Souverain 36-BP 3A/B, 1170 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: (32) 2 663 0600, Fax: (32) 2 663 0640
Asia Pacific: Rockwell Automation, 27/F Citicorp Centre, 18 Whitfield Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Tel: (852) 2887 4788, Fax: (852) 2508 1846

Headquarters for Dodge and Reliance Electric Products

Americas: Rockwell Automation, 6040 Ponders Court, Greenville, SC 29615-4617 USA, Tel: (1) 864.297.4800, Fax: (1) 864.281.2433
Europe: Rockwell Automation, Brühlstraße 22, D-74834 Elztal-Dallau , Germany, Tel: (49) 6261 9410, Fax: (49) 6261 1774
Asia Pacific: Rockwell Automation, 55 Newton Road, #11-01/02 Revenue House, Singapore 307987, Tel: (65) 351 6723, Fax: (65) 355 1733

Publication DRIVES-WP012A-EN-P – September, 2001

Copyright © 2001 Rockwell Automation. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.