Power Electronic Devices : Sources for

creation and mitigation

Of harmonics

Dr. K. Uma Rao

R.V. College of Engineering
Bengaluru
REVA UNIVERSITY – AUG 19th 2016
 History of Power System
Harmonics
• Not heard of more than 40 years back
• Reason very few harmonic generating loads
• Concentrated in Industrial area – Dedicated
network
• Harmonic is an offshoot of Power Electronics
• Power Electronics for Energy efficient
systems
• Invasion of “Non-linear” loads – Source of
Harmonics
Harmonics
Normal Operating Conditions
Supply
Impedance PCC

Supply +
Current
VPCC Linear
Load
Supply -
Voltage
 Nonlinear Operating Conditions
Supply
Impedance PCC

Supply +
Current
VPCC Nonlinear
Load
Supply -
Voltage
 Effect of Harmonics on RMS
values
Voltage Current

• Definition of THD(V) • Definition of THD(I)

• THD(V) = (Vh/V1)× 100 • THD(I) = (Ih/I1)× 100
• Vh= √(V22+V32+V42+..) • Ih= √(I22+ I32+ I42+..)
• Vrms= √(V12+Vh2) • Irms= √(I12+Ih2)
• Vrms= V1√(1+(THD(V)/100)2) • Irms= I1√(1+(THD(I)/100)2)
• In the absence of harmonics • In the absence of
Vrms= V1 harmonics Irms= I1
• As harmonics increases Vrms • As harmonics increases
also increases Irmsalso increases
 Types of Power Factors

• “Displacement PF” is defined as the cosine of the angle between fundamental

voltage and fundamental current of the load.
• Presence of “harmonics” increases the RMS current and voltage relative to
their respective fundamental values. This increases the kVA of the load.
• The PF taking into account the effect of harmonics, called “True PF”, is lower
than or at best equal to displacement PF.
• The factor by which the displacement PF is related to true PF is called the
“Distortion PF”
True PF = Displacement PF x Distortion PF
• Capacitors can only improve displacement PF.
 Mathematical expression of PF

Displacement Power factor = P/(V1I1)

Where P = watts and V1 and I1 are fundamental voltage and current

 (  (
THDI 2 THDV 2
Irms= I1 1+
100 ) Vrms= V1 1+
100 )
True Power factor = P/ (VrmsIrms)
P
=

 ( ) (
THDI 2 THDV 2
V1I1
1+
100
1+
100 )
True Power factor = Displacement PF x Distortion PF
1
Where Distortion PF =

 ( ) (
THDI 2 THDV 2
1+
100
1+
100 )
 Three dimensional
power triangle

kW
kdVA

kVA

kVA=  kW2+kVAr2+kdVA2

kW
kVAr Displacement PF =
 kW +kVAr
2 2

kW
True PF =
 kW +kVAr +kdVA
2 2 2
 How Harmonics Are
Generated ?

• Non-linear loads generate current harmonics.

• Harmonic currents flow largely through capacitors.
• Harmonic currents also flows through network.
• The flow of harmonic currents cause voltage
harmonics.
• Harmonics are thus injected to other linear loads
connected in the same bus.
• Harmonics injected into the network flow towards
other users connected to the network.
What Loads Generate
Harmonics

• Equipment using switched mode power supply

- Television
- Computers, other IT loads
• Equipment using power electronic devices
- AC & DC drives
- Frequency converters
- Rectifiers
- Arc & induction furnaces
- UPS
- Compact fluorescent & other discharge lamps
 Sources of Harmonics
Following are some of the non-linear loads which generates
harmonics:
•Static Power Converters and Rectifiers, which are used in UPS,
Battery chargers, etc.
•Arc furnaces.
•Power Electronics for motor controls (AC/DC Drives)
•Computers.
•Television receivers
•Saturated Transformers
•Fluorescent Lighting with electronic ballast.
•Telecommunication equipment.
Accumulation of 3rd harmonic current in the neutral
Three phase system

Wave forms of balanced three phase

fundamental currents.
Time.

R - phase.

R-Phase current with its third

harmonic component.
Time.

Y - phase.

Y-Phase current with its third

harmonic component.
Time.

B - phase.

B-Phase current with its third

harmonic component.
Time.

Addition of third harmonics in

Neutral conductor

Third harmonic currents of R,Y&B

phases are in phase with each other
and hence adds up, without
Time. cancellation in the neutral conductor.
How to Determine the Phase
Sequence of Harmonics ?

Harmonic order 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Phase Sequence + - 0 + - 0 + - 0

Negative
Positive Sequence Zero Sequence
Sequence
Fundamental 2nd Harmonic 3rd Harmonic
4th Harmonic 5th Harmonic 6th Harmonic
7th Harmonic 8th Harmonic 9th Harmonic
10th Harmonic 11th Harmonic 12th Harmonic
3n+1 3n+2 3n+3

Div. by 3 Rem. 1 Div. by 3 Rem. 2 Divisible by 3

Characteristics of Harmonics

Positive Sequence Negative Sequence Zero Sequence

Causes over heating due Causes over heating due Causes over heating due
to ‘Skin effect’ to ‘Skin effect’ to ‘Skin effect’

Accumulates in the
Aids the fundamental Opposes the fundamental
neutral

Moderate heating Excessive heating Creates ‘hot neutral’

Responsible for neutral

Relatively less harmful Most harmful to earth voltage and open
neutral condition.
 Effect of Harmonics on
Protective Relays
Mal-operation Nuisance tripping

Trip level set lower than the fundamental Trip level set higher than the fundamental
value. The relay should trip as the value. The relay should not trip as the
fundamental value is higher than the trip fundamental value is lower than the trip
level. But the presence of harmonics has level. But the presence of harmonics has
reduced the peak value. Hence the increased the peak value. Hence the
protective relay will not trip. protective relay will trip.
 Typical CFL current waveform
THD(I) = 130%
Displacement PF = 0.99
Distortion PF = 0.62
True PF = 0.61
Rich in third harmonic content
(70% of fundamental component)
Being zero phase sequence in
nature, they add up in neutral
causing the neutral current to go
up to almost to 2 times the line
current.
Similar phenomenon also occurs
with computer loads.

Typical CFL Current harmonic

spectrum
Harmonics from Arc Furnaces
Voltage Waveforms in Residential
Areas
Computer Load
Computer Load in Sleep Mode
Examples of THD Caused by
Typical Residential Loads

Washe Fridge/ Personal

Microwave T.V.
r Dryer Freeze Computer
r
26% 14% 27% 121% 140%
 Network Without Capacitors

Harmonic currents flow towards Grid.

GRID Min. Import of Harmonics from Grid.

No Resonance at harmonic
frequencies.
Hence least Harmonic Problem.
BUS
Power Factor Very Low.

M
 Network without
capacitors

Network behaviour without capacitors

• Network do not reveal harmonics.
• Most of the harmonic currents internal to
network go to the grid.
• No resonance at harmonic frequencies.
• Network power factor is unacceptably
low.
 HT
GRID

Harmonic Current
Low Frequency
Step Down
Transformer

Harmonic
Current LT BUS

Harmonic Current
High Frequency
Harmonic
Generating
Non-Linear Load

Power Factor
Correction
Capacitor

Harmonic current flow with power

factor correction capacitors
Low frequency harmonic currents flow towards HT grid.
High frequency harmonic currents flow through capacitors.
Capacitor gets overloaded.
Amplification of harmonic currents due to parallel and series
resonance.
 Network With Capacitors

ZN Harmonic currents flow towards Capacitors ,

GRID
Import of Harmonics from Grid towards
Capacitors , due to series resonance with
ZT network & transformer impedances “ZN”
&“ZT”
BUS
Increase of THD(V) in the Bus
Harmonic overloading of Capacitors, leading to
its failure
Improvement in Power Factor With
Harmonic overload
M
Linear
Load
Non
 Network with capacitors

Network behaviour with capacitors

• Network start revealing harmonics
• Internally generated harmonic currents may
amplify due to parallel resonance
• Externally generated harmonics enter
capacitors due to series resonance
• May increase harmonic distortions.
• Capacitors draw excessive currents & fail
• Network power factor improves
 Network With Harmonic Filters

ZN
GRID
No resonance at harmonic frequencies as
filter is inductive at such frequencies
ZT
Harmonic currents flow towards Grid without
BUS amplification , as it offers least impedance
compared to filter
Predominantly fundamental current flows
L through Capacitors
Moderate THD(V) in the Bus
M C
No harmonic overloading of Capacitors
Improvement in Power Factor without
Harmonic overload
Linear
Load
Non
Classification of Harmonic Filters
Harmonic
Filters

Passive Harmonic Active Harmonic Hybrid Harmonic

Filters Filters Filters

Detuned Tuned 3Ф
Filters Filters 3wire

5.67 % 3Ф
4wire

7%
Single
Phase
14 %
 5.67% Detuned filter
Characteristics Resonant
frequency 210 Hz
Capacitive
Harmonic Order Inductive Reactance Filter Reactance Type
Reactance
1 100.00 5.67 94.33 Capacitive
2 50.00 11.34 38.66 Capacitive
3 33.33 17.01 16.32 Capacitive
4 25.00 22.68 2.32 Capacitive
5 20.00 28.35 8.35 Inductive
6 16.67 34.02 17.35 Inductive
7 14.29 39.69 25.40 Inductive
120.00

100.00

80.00

60.00

40.00

20.00

0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
7% Detuned filter Characteristics
Resonant frequency 189 Hz
Capacitive
Harmonic Order Inductive Reactance Filter Reactance Type
Reactance
1 100.00 7.00 93.00 Capacitive
2 50.00 14.00 36.00 Capacitive
3 33.33 21.00 12.33 Capacitive
4 25.00 28.00 3.00 Inductive
5 20.00 35.00 15.00 Inductive
6 16.67 42.00 25.33 Inductive
7 14.29 49.00 34.71 Inductive
120.00

100.00

80.00

60.00

40.00

20.00

0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
 14% Detuned filter
Characteristics Resonant
frequency 134 Hz
Capacitive
Harmonic Order Inductive Reactance Filter Reactance Type
Reactance
1 100.00 14.00 86.00 Capacitive
2 50.00 28.00 22.00 Capacitive
3 33.33 42.00 8.67 Inductive
4 25.00 56.00 31.00 Inductive
5 20.00 70.00 50.00 Inductive
6 16.67 84.00 67.33 Inductive
7 14.29 98.00 83.71 Inductive
120.00

100.00

80.00

60.00

40.00

20.00

0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
 Relationship between tuning
factor & resonant frequency
• Let ωs be the angular system frequency. ωs
= 2πfs
• Let ωr be the angular resonant frequency ωr
= 2πfr
• Let L & C be the inductance & capacitance
XL = ωs L 1 From
of
XC = 1/ωsC
the passive filter
ω𝑟 = in Henry and Farad
Eq.(1) & Eq.(2) we have
(ωr/ωs)2 = 1/(p/100)
𝐿𝐶
p=X respectively.
L/ XC*100 ωr2LC = 1 ---- Eq. (2) ∴ ωr/ωs = 1/√(p/100)
p = ωs LC*100
2
∴ fr/fs = 1/√(p/100)
ω•s LC
2
Let “p” be
= p/100 the
---- Eq. (1) percentage tuning factor of
filter Hence fr= 1/√(p/100) * fs
Advantages of Passive Filters
• Reliable operation
• Easy design procedure
• Act as reactive power compensators
• Cheap configurations per harmonic
• Banks of filters used for other harmonics
Disadvantages of Passive Filters
• Large number of components
• Bulky
• Depend on system impedance
• Tuned for a certain loading condition
• Parallel and series resonance may occur for certain
harmonics
• Affected by capacitor ageing
 Introduction to Active Harmonic filters

• Passive Harmonic filters reduces the effect of

harmonics by diverting the harmonic currents.
• They do not eliminate the generation of harmonic
currents.
• Under severe harmonic conditions, passive filters fail
to bring down the harmonic effects.
• Active filters are “Non-linear” loads generating
180° (out of phase) harmonic currents so as to cancel
it at the source.
• Active filters can balance an un-balanced 3ф load.
• Active filters can also be used to produce counter
reactive currents (fundamental) for power factor
improvement.
Basic Idea of Active Filters

1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9
C. T. Nonlinear
Load
3 5 7 9

+ 1 3 5 7 9
Switching Power Low Pass
Amplifier - Filter

3 5 7 9
Concept of Active filtering
Results of Active filtering
 Active filter current waveforms
Non-linear Load Current

Active filter compensating current

Corrected source current

Typical Active Filter Circuit

Non-linear
~ Load

Actual Current
Power Circuit Feedback

PWM Overall System Reference Current

Switching Strategy Controller Generator
Conclusions
• Harmonics are set to increase alarmingly
in future.
• Reactive Power Products used extensively
to earn incentives.
• Result in increase in PQ issues in
distribution networks.
• Use of Passive & Active filters becomes
order of the day.
• Ample opportunity for research in filtering
techniques on the anvil.
• Promoting PQ awareness program is a
noble cause in near future
 POWER QUALITY STANDARDS –
IEEE 519-1992 STANDARDS
TABLE I
CURRENT DISTORTION LIMITS FOR GENERAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
(120-69000 V)
Isc/IL <11 11<h<17 17<h<23 23<h<35 35<h TDD
<20* 4.0 2.0 1.5 0.6 0.3 5.0
20<50 7.0 3.5 2.5 1.0 0.5 8.0
50<100 10.0 4.5 4.0 1.5 0.7 12.0
100<1,000 12.0 5.5 5.0 2.0 1.0 15.0
>1,000 15.0 7.0 6.0 2.5 1.4 20.0
Source: IEEE Standard 519-1992.
Note: Even harmonics are limited to 25 percent of the odd harmonic limits above.
Current distortions that result in a direct current offset; for example, half wave
converters are not allowed.
Table I is for 6-pulse rectifiers. For converters higher than 6 pulse, the limits for
characteristic harmonics are increased by a factor o f q/6 , where q is the pule number,
provided that the
amplitudes of noncharacteristic harmonics are less than 25 percent.
*All power generation equipment is limited to these values of current distortion, regardless of
actual ISC/IL.
Where ISC = Maximum short circuit at PCC.
And IL = Average Maximum demand load current (fundamental frequency
component at PCC). 49
 TABLE II
LOW VOLTAGE SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION AND DISTORTION LIMITS
IEEE 519-1992 STANDARTS

Special General Dedicated

Applications System System
Notch Depth 10% 20% 50%

THD (Voltage) 3% 5% 10%

Notch Area 16,400 22,800 36,500

(AN)*

Source: IEEE Standard 519-1992.

Note: The value AN for another than 480Volt systems should be
multiplied by V/480 .
The notch depth, the total voltage distortion factor (THD) and
the notch area limits are specified for line to line voltage.
In the above table, special applications include hospitals and
airports. A dedicated system is exclusively dedicated to converter load.
*In volt-microseconds at rated voltage and current.

50
 TABLE III
LIMITS OF THD%
IEEE 519-1992 STANDARDS
SYSTEM Special General Dedicated
Nominal Application Systems Systems
Voltage
120-600V 3.0 5.0 8.0
69KV and - 5.0 -
below

51
Active Filter with an R-L load

~
Source
Active Highly Inductive
Filter Load
Active Filter with an R-L load
Supply Supply
Voltage Voltage

Load Filter
Current (a) Current (b)

Supply
Current

Reference (c)
Supply Supply
Current Voltage
Active Filter with an R-C load

~
Source
Active Highly Capacitive
Filter Load
Active Filter with an R-C load
Supply Supply
Voltage Voltage

Filter
Load
Current
Current (a) (b)

Supply
Current

Reference (c)
Supply Supply
Current Voltage
Advantages
• Lower switching frequency
• Smaller sizes of components
• Cheaper Solutions
• Basis for further improvement