Harmonics & PFC

THE FUTURE OF POWER QUALITY

Definitions

Problems

Detuned Solutions

Tuned Solutions

Choice Selection

Open Discussions

2
ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCE
 It is worldwide common practice to assume that utilities generate a near
perfect sine wave voltage
 Typical electrical energy source is introduced by “voltage” source

Z load=
infinity
Ideal
Voltage
Source

Z internal = 0

3
DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER
 Typical Internal Impedance is only 2-7% of the fully loaded Secondary

4
IDEAL ENERGY SOURCE
1500
Voltage
Current
1000

500

-500

-1000

-1500

1500

1000

 Simplified power control by 500

periodical switching (chopping) 0

 Nonlinear load operation -500

generates current waveform -1000

distortion -1500

5
HARMONICS - DEFINITIONS
 Harmonics are integral multiples of some fundamental frequency that, when
added together, result in a distorted waveform

+ =

sin(5x) f(x) = sin(x) + sin(5x)

f(x) = sin(x) f(x) = 5 5

6
HARMONICS - DEFINITIONS
 Harmonic order are MULTIPLES of the fundamental frequency.
 Typical Harmonics are the 3rd, 5th, and 7th
 Where H3 = 150 Hz, H5 = 250 Hz, H7 = 350 Hz
(at 50Hz world)
 In fact, any waveform may be constructed from a sine wave and some number
of its harmonics like:

7
WHAT FREQUENCIES ARE SAFE?
 “Even” harmonics are normally not present, they appear with asymmetric
loads.

 “Triple” and its multiples are canceled on DELTA V1

connected loads with balanced 3rd harmonic. V 1-2

120 Deg.

V1( H 3)  A1 * sin(3 *  * t  3 * 0)
N

V2( H 3)  A2 * sin(3 *  * t  3 * 120) V3 V2

V12( H 3) A1 * sin(3 *  * t  3 * 0)  A2 * sin(3 *  * t  3 * 120)

 On balanced loads and 3 phase DELTA capacitors cases, tuning in H3.5-H4.2

ranges are most popular

8
HARMONICS – MOST IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
 Harmonics originate at the load side!
 Harmonics are created in the current!

 Harmonic sources are - current sources

1500

1000

500

-500

-1000

-1500

9
HARMONIC SOURCE
 High internal impedance
 The harmonic current is being PUSHED towards lowest external impedance
path

10
HARMONIC CURRENT FLOW
0.01 Ohm   1 Ohm

 Typical harmonic current flow is towards distribution

transformer
11
HARMONICS – PROBLEMS?
 I2r losses + “skin” effect
 Voltage distortions
 Iron-core losses
 Cables/transformers overheat
 Upstream pollutions

 But, the real problems are yet to come

12
HARMONIC CURRENT WITH PFC

 Where the H5 current should go now?

13
PARALLEL RESONANCE

X LTR
 X C
 Parallel resonance = Infinity impedance
10

9
1
8 XC   C
7

6
Impedance

X LTR
 LTR
4

0
50 150 250 350 450 550 650
Frequency

14
PARALLEL RESONANCE
 High impedance at the resonance frequency
 The resonance frequency changes with changed number of capacitor groups
(N)
k

Increased N Decreased N

n
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Resonance Resonance
Point (5th) Point (7th)

15
PARALLEL RESONANCE

2.5
1 Step
2 Steps
2
3 Steps
Impedance (Ohm)

4 Steps
1.5 5 Steps
6 Steps

0.5

0
50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550
Frequency

16
PARALLEL RESONANCE
 Harmonic current turns back to the loads
 Harmonic VOLTAGE raises dramatically
 Harmonic current circulates (ping pong) between capacitors and
distribution transformer

V
PARALLEL RESONANCE – WHAT TO DO?
 Xl1 reactor in series to the
capacitor moving parallel resonance
frequency downstream
 The new resonance frequency at:
XC=XL+XLTR

 Locate parallel resonance

frequency below lowest dominant
harmonic

18
HOW TO CALCULATE PARALLEL RESONANCE FREQUENCY?
 Without the Serial Reactor:

1
ZC  ; Z LTR  jLTR
jC
1 1 
   jLTR
1  N  j C 
Z   Z C  || Z LTR  Z
N  1 1 
   jLTR
N  jC 
LTR
C LTR  j
Z  Z
1   CLTR N
2
1   2CLTR N
jC

19
HOW TO CALCULATE PARALLEL RESONANCE FREQUENCY?
 With the Serial Reactor:

1
ZC  ; Z LTR  jLTR ; Z L  jL
jC
1 1 
  jL   jLTR
1  N  jC 
Z   Z C  Z L  || Z LTR  Z
N  1 1 
  jL   jLTR
N  jC 
LTR
Z C
  2 LLTR
 Z
LTR 1   2

LC  j 
1   CL   CLTR N
2 2
1   2CL   2CLTR N
jC

20
HOW TO CALCULATE PARALLEL RESONANCE FREQUENCY?
 Unfortunately, XLTR)value which is actually the total distribution network
inductance at the frequency of interest - is unknown

 But, we do know that the

parallel resonance
frequency would always
be located downstream
to the serial resonance
frequency between XL - XC

21
“DETUNED” SOLUTION

22
DETUNED SOLUTION - DEFINITIONS
 Tuned frequency is defined by serial resonance point

 Serial connected reactors are defined by % rather then Henries

 Reactor’s % defined as impedance at the

fundamental frequency with respect to the
capacitor’s impedance at the same frequency

Reactor 50Hz 60Hz Harmonic

7% 189Hz 227Hz H3.78
14% 134Hz 160Hz H2.67
5.67% 210Hz 252Hz H4.2

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7% “DETUNED” SOLUTION

0.25

1 Step
0.2
2 Steps
Impedance (Ohm)

3 Steps
4 Steps
0.15
5 Steps
6 Steps
0.1

0.05

0
50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550
Frequency

24
14% “DETUNED” SOLUTION

25
7% and 14% “DETUNED” SOLUTIONS - OVERALL
Same capacitors give more power, because they are operating at higher voltage.
Example for
a network
400V 50Hz.

26
TUNED SOLUTIONS - FILTERS
 Passive filters are “tuned” to just below the harmonic frequency
 Care should be taken – not to overload!

0.25

Low
1 Step 2 Steps
3 Steps 4 Steps
0.2 5 Steps 6 Steps
7 Steps 8 Steps Impedance
Tuning Frequency Is 9 Steps 10 Steps

0.15 Just Below Harmonic

11 Steps
13 Steps
12 Steps
14 Steps
Path At 5th
Frequency
15 Steps
Harmonic
Impedance (Ohm)

0.1

0.05

0
50

100

150

200

250

300
Frequency

27
TUNED SOLUTIONS – MAIN CONCEPTS
 Non-Linear Load & Filter System -
On The Same Network:
 With only one Filter group, the
resonance point is the classic
known equation.
 When added several groups (all
the same) the equation at the
end remains the same.
 This is the normal operation of
detuned systems and filters
where the no linear load is on
the same network. N = Quantity Of Groups Connected

28
28
TUNED SOLUTIONS – FINE TUNING

 Disconnecting capacitors
i. Lower power than nominal values.
ii. Looking the equation, frequency of the resonant point
grows putting it closer to the dominant harmonic.
iii. Higher harmonic absorption

 Adding capacitors
i. Higher power than nominal values.
ii. Looking the equation, frequency of
the resonant point is reduced putting
distance to the dominant harmonic.
iii. Lower harmonic absorption

Check THDV adding manually

groups for each option.

Be careful, on both conditions

the groups may be overloaded
(noise is a symptom).

29
TUNED SOLUTIONS – FILTER SIZE CONSIDERATIONS

 When it is implemented a DETUNED solution, not important the compensation

size in comparison with the demand. That means if the demand is 1MVAr and
the customer is only interested on PF compensation, one 300KVAr system is
going to work and compensate its part without any problem.

 With TUNED solutions, the harmonic currents in proportion with the nominal
compensation are going to overload one smaller system, like in the previous
example. This is the reason the compensation filters must have a size similar
to the demand.

30
LV TUNED SOLUTIONS - EXAMPLE
 Elspec Laboratory Demonstration:
 Filter 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 11th harmonics

31
LV TUNED SOLUTIONS - EXAMPLE
 Non Linear Load without compensation;

32
LV TUNED SOLUTIONS - EXAMPLE
 Non-Linear Load WITH compensation;

33
LV TUNED SOLUTIONS - EXAMPLE
 Results:

 THD V from 16% to 8%

 THD I from 51% to 20%
%V H3 %I H3 %V H5 %I H5 %V H7 %I H7 %V H9 %I H9 %V H11 %I H11 %V H13 %I H13
Only 16.66 46.85 6.55 11.68 8.7 11.62 5.26 5.15 5.17 4.59 4.35 3.33
Load
With 5.57 16.23 1.26 2.03 1.15 2.07 6.4 7.0 0.67 0.61 1.7 1.38
Filter

34
TUNED SOLUTIONS – ON MV
 Non-Linear Load & Filter system on different networks through a step up
transformer:
 Step up transformer may be modeled mainly as an Inductance;
 New resonance point calculated as the new equation shows;

35
35
TUNED SOLUTIONS – ON MV
 Non-Linear Load & Filter system on different networks through a step up
transformer:
 Problem rises when more than one group is connected;
 Resonance point now is moving depending how many groups are
connected;

N = quantity of groups connected

TUNED SOLUTIONS – ON MV
 Non-Linear Load & Filter system on different networks through a step up transformer:
THE SOLUTION
• Each group is connected with a dedicated step up transformer;
• Now the resonance point is not depending on how many groups are connected;
• The Step up transformer must be Y/Y (YynO), at least 1.3 times the group size;

N = quantity of groups connected

MV TUNED SOLUTIONS – EXAMPLE TEST
 Elspec Laboratory Demonstration:
 Transformer’s internal inductance is reduced from the needed
group inductor;

38
38
MV TUNED SOLUTIONS – EXAMPLE TEST
 Non Linear Load without compensation;
 H5 Current 13.5%, H5 Voltage 5.5%;

39
39
MV TUNED SOLUTIONS – EXAMPLE TEST
 Non-Linear Load WITH compensation;
 H5 Current 2%, H5 Voltage 1%;

40
40
MV TUNED SOLUTIONS – EXAMPLE SOLUTION (Detuned)

Equalizer 5MVAr TR A
compensating on MV;
basic Detuned option Mains CTs
11KV
PT
11/0.1KV TR 1
Y/y 11/0.69KV
6.5MVA
(*)
L1 .... Ln
Caps
CTs

...
Equalizer 5MVAr,
defined at 690V 50Hz, Notes:
detuned 7% (**) Groups (*) Recommended Y/y, but it could be D/y with some loss
of accuracy
1 to n (**) It could be detuned 14% with similar topology

41
41
MV TUNED SOLUTIONS – EXAMPLE SOLUTION (Tuned)

Equalizer 5MVAr
compensating on MV; TR A
Tuned (filtering) option
Mains CTs
11KV
PT
11/0.1KV TR 1 TR 2 TR 3
Y/y
11/0.6KV 11/0.6KV 11/0.6KV
1.3MVA 2.6MVA 2.6MVA
Y/y Y/y Y/y
L1 .... Ln
Caps
CTs

... ... ...

Note:
Groups A Groups B Groups C All groups under transformers A, B or C are connected at once.
Here there are three logical groups, 2,4 & 4MVAr
1MVAr 2MVAr 2MVAr
Equalizer 5MVAr, defined at 600V 50Hz, tuned 5.7%

42
42
DISTORTION LIMITATIONS
 Distortion limitations are regulated by each country / utility;
 Some of the most widely-recognized standards are:

Voltage is shared by the whole

network, and in consequence
influencing all loads connected
to it.
CONCERNS: UPSTREAM SOURCE

When the pollution is coming from the higher voltage side of the transformer and
not from the internal loads as showed below:

The higher THD on voltage is seen when the current is negligible.

A tuned solution is not recommended, can’t filter the utility.

CONCERNS: HARMONIC SPECTRUM, REDUCION RATE

If the voltage spectrum has a spread spectrum as showed below:

Implementing a tuned solution, by filtering the 5th harmonic (and maybe also the
7th) would not create the same reduction in the THD on voltage as with the
spectrum showed
below.
CONCERNS: HARMONIC SPECTRUM, LOWER HARMONICS

Installing a tuned system in a

network with strong 2nd & 4th
harmonics, or the 3rd asymmetric
could create a parallel resonance
issue.

On these cases a detuned 7%

system (or even 14%) could be
recommended. Impedance versus frequency graph of a tuned system.
50Hz fundamental.

Harmonic spectrum of voltages phase to phase relative to the fundamental.

CONCERNS: SMALL SYSTEMS
In general detuned (7% or 14%) systems are made with different sizes of groups (1:2:2, 1:2:4, etc)

When small tuned systems are used, the first group, by example
in a layout 1:2:2, is detuned to avoid overload it.

currents
Harmonic
In this circumstance when only first two groups must be
connected, all the harmonic current will be absorbed by the
second group (2/3 of the connected compensation).
That could overload the filtering group. Figure A
Detuned 7% Tuned 5.7% Tuned 5.7%
Such condition is depicted in the Figure A. 60KVAr 120KVAr 120KVAr

300KVAr, 60+120+120KVAr, red groups connected

Doing all the groups with the same size resolve the issue.
Now all the connected compensation is filtering.

currents
currents
That is showed in the Figure B.

Harmonic
Harmonic
Figure B Tuned 5.7% Tuned 5.7% Tuned 5.7%
100KVAr 100KVAr 100KVAr

300KVAr, 100+100+100KVAr, red groups connected

CONCERNS: PARTIAL DEMAND COMPENSATION (1 of 3)
Detuned systems Figure A
1000KVAr
demanded

Each group will demand its nominal current.

L
Not important the part of the demand that is Harmonic currents
Fundamental currents
compensated.
Detuned systems (7% or 14%)
120KVAr per group, nominal.
There is no issue by doing the system Only 360KVAr compensated.

smaller than the demand.

Figure A takes care 1000KVAr

demanded
a part of the demand.

Figure B compensates
L
Harmonic currents
all. Fundamental currents

Figure B
Detuned systems (7% or 14%). 120KVAr per group, nominal. 960KVAr compensated
CONCERNS: PARTIAL DEMAND COMPENSATION (2 of 3)
Tuned systems Figure A
1000KVAr
demanded
Each group will demand its nominal current
and will absorb existing harmonic currents. L
Harmonic currents
Figure A shows a condition where each group is Fundamental currents
overloaded with harmonics currents.
Tuned systems
120KVAr per group, nominal.
Figure B is Only 360KVAr compensated.

compensating all
the demand and
1000KVAr
the harmonic demanded
currents are shared
by all the groups.
L
Harmonic currents
Fundamental currents
Doing the system smaller
produces its overload. Figure B

Tuned systems. 120KVAr per group, nominal. 960KVAr compensated

CONCERNS: PARTIAL DEMAND COMPENSATION (3 of 3)
Existing compensation banks

N
groups

L
Existing bank
Equalizer

A tuned system have to compensate all the demand, replacing the existing bank.

A detuned system could coexist if the existing bank is assembled with serial
reactors and it is working fine. Recommendation always is to replace it.

In general existing bank has not serial reactors and it is getting worse the distortion.
CONCERNS: LOADS AND COMPENSATION CURRENTS (1 of 2)
Linear loads are not creating harmonic
currents or distortion, THDV1 on Figure 1 is Figure 1
THDV1
almost 0%.

When a compensation assembled only with

capacitors is connected, it is not creating a
distortion issue, the THDV2 is similar to LL1 . . . . . LLn LNL1 . . . . . LNLn
Capacitors Linear Loads No Linear Loads
THDV1. That is showed in the Figure 2.

When no linear loads start to be connected, Figure 2

THDV2
harmonics currents start to be seen in the
network.
These currents are creating harmonics
voltages in conjunction with the transformer
impedance. LL1 . . . . . LLn LNL1 . . . . . LNLn
Capacitors Linear Loads No Linear Loads
These harmonics voltages are shared by all
elements in the network, becoming to be
harmonic currents even in the linear loads, Figure 3
THDV3
capacitors as the loads.
Figure 3 depicts this condition, where THDV3
is higher than THDV1 or THDV2.
Harmonic currents LL1 . . . . . LLn LNL1 . . . . . LNLn
Fundamental currents Capacitors Linear Loads No Linear Loads
CONCERNS: LOADS AND COMPENSATION CURRENTS (2 of 2)
When all no linear loads are connected
(Figure 4), THDV4 reach its maximum Figure 4
THDV4
value, and capacitors are closer to its
resonance.

When the capacitors are disconnected, the

distortion becomes to a lower value, where LL1 . . . . . LLn LNL1 . . . . . LNLn
Capacitors Linear Loads No Linear Loads
THDV5 is sensible lower than THDV4, when
the capacitors were almost in resonance.
Figure 5 shows this condition. Figure 5
THDV5

Finally, adding a filter (Figure 6) it absorb

harmonic currents by filtering harmonic
voltages, THDV6 has a value around THDV3
and lower than THDV5. LL1 . . . . . LLn LNL1 . . . . . LNLn
Linear Loads No Linear Loads
All loads are benefited from this reduction.
System must be especially designed to
withstand with the extra currents absorbed. THDV6 Figure 6

Harmonic currents
Fundamental currents
LL1 . . . . . LLn LNL1 . . . . . LNLn
Filter Linear Loads No Linear Loads
TUNED EQUALIZER IMPLEMENTATION CASE STUDY
EQ CORRECTS METAL STAMPING POWER FLUCTUATIONS
 Facility: Metal Stamping Plant UK
 Make-Up:
 8 x Automated transfer press lines;
 Fig 1 - Each line stamps different motor
components;
 The individual lines equipped with dedicated
supply transformers – 3 Phase 415V, 50Hz;
 Problem:
 Simultaneous operation result in high reactive
power & apparent power consumption;
 Continuous power consumption lead to
transformer overload & heating (+100ºC) +
Harmonic distortion;
 Remedy:
 Installation EQ 785kVAr system (6x131kVAr
capacitor groups – tuned to 4.7th Harmonic –
reducing 5th Harmonic during peak demand;

53
WHAT TO DO?
EXCESSIVELY HIGH HARMONIC LEVELS
• Disconnect ALL the PFC capacitors.

• Significant Difference: Use a detuned solution;

• No difference: Use a tuned solution;

• In the event of:

• Excessively High 2ND & 4TH Harmonics: Use a 14% detuned solution;

• Generators: Use a 14% detuned solution (choice of preference);

• Presence of a Balanced 3RD Harmonic in the current channel: Use 7%

solutions;

• Unbalanced Compensation: Use 14% solutions only;

• Presence of Voltage Harmonics without current sources: Don’t use filters!

Speak to the utility;

54
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Thank you

55