Harmonic Analysis

© 2015 ETAP
 Types of Power Quality
Problems

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 2

 Waveform Distortion
• Primary Types of Waveform Distortion
– DC Offset
– Harmonics
– Interharmonics
– Notching
– Noise

Copyright 2003 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)

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 4

 Harmonics
• At the distribution level the dominant harmonic components, namely
3rd, 5th, 7th, 11th and 13th (odd harmonics) exist in descending order
of magnitude respectively.

• The combination of one harmonic component and the fundamental can

influence the voltage peak at constant RMS

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 5

 Advanced 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 series:

2 3 1 1 1 1
I ac = I d (cos ωt − cos 5ωt + cos 7ωt − cos11ωt + cos13ωt
π 5 7 11 13
∞
⇒ ∑ I h cos( hωt + Φ h )
h =1

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 6

 Advanced Fourier
Representation
• Symmetrical waveforms only contain
odd harmonics

• Asymmetrical waveforms (e.g half

wave rectifier), contain even and odd
harmonics and possibly DC
components

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 7

 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 fractional-pitch winding) and
Saturation
– Usually a voltage source

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 8

 Harmonic Sources
• 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

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 9

 Harmonic Sources
• 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 a

non-sinusoidal current, will introduce harmonics

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 10

 Harmonic I and V

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 11

 Harmonic I and V

• A non-linear load draws distorted (i.e. non-sinusoidal) current, which passes

through all of the impedance between load and source.
• Associated harmonic currents passing through the system impedance cause
voltage drops for each harmonic frequency (Ohms Law, Vh = Ih x Zh).
• Vector sum of individual voltage drops = total voltage distortion
• Magnitude of voltage distortion depends on the system impedance and the
levels of harmonic currents at each harmonic frequency.
Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 12
 Harmonic I and V

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 Phase Angle Relationship

• Fundamental Frequency

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 14

 Phase Angle Relationship

• Third Order

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 Phase Angle Relationship

• Fifth Order

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 Phase Angle Relationship

• Seventh Order

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 17

 Order vs. Sequence

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 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)

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 19

 Characteristic Harmonics

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 20

 Resonance
• Capacitance in a power system has a significant effect on the system
impedance as it varies due to harmonic frequencies

• Sources of capacitance:
– Directly connected (un-tuned PFC banks) - rare
– Fluorescent lighting (for power factor correction)
– Cable capacitance
– Other equipment

• Resonance results in excessively high voltages and/or currents being

present in the power system causing:
– Possible damage to equipment
– Endangerment of personnel

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 21

 Resonance

• Inductive reactance (XL) is proportional to the frequency

• Capacitive reactance (XC) is inversely proportional to frequency

• Resonance is achieved when XL = XC

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 Resonance

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 23

 Resonance
• Two forms of resonance must be considered:

– Series

– Parallel

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 Series Resonance

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 25

 Parallel Resonance

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 Parallel Resonance
• Parallel resonance is generally more common than series resonance as
the majority of equipment is connected in parallel with switchboards

• Due to circuit topography, in the majority of systems with series

resonance, parallel resonance will also occur (at a lower frequency)

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 27

 Harmonic Distortion
Measurements

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 Harmonic Distortion
Formulae

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 31

 Harmonic Distortion
Formulae

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 32

 Harmonic Distortion
Measurements (cont’d)
• Individual Harmonic Distortion (IHD)
- Ratio of a given harmonic to fundamental
- To track magnitude of individual harmonic

Fi
IHD =
F1
• Root Mean Square (RMS) - Total
- Root Mean Square of fundamental plus all harmonics
- Equal to fundamental RMS if Harmonics are zero

∞
RMS = ∑ i
1
F 2

Copyright 2003 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

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 34

 Reducing System
Harmonics (cont’d)

• 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 Tap page of the transformer editor

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 36

 Reducing System
Harmonics
• Either standard phase shift or special phase shift can be used

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 37

 Reducing System
Harmonics

• Add Active Filters

– Instantly adapts to changing source and load conditions

– Costly

– MVA Limitation

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 38

 Voltage Distortion Limits
Recommended Practices for Utilities (IEEE 519):
Bus Voltage Individual Total Voltage
Distortion Distortion
At
(%) THD (%)
PCC

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

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

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 39

 Current Distortion Limits

Copyright 2003 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Harmonics Slide 40