Power Quality: A Detailed

Understanding of Harmonics
Sanket Bolar
Substation Application Engineer
April 20, 2018

1
 Moderator

n Sarah Baumann
• Marketing Programs Manager

2
 Q&A
n Send us your questions and
comments during the presentation

3
 Today’s Presenter

n Sanket Bolar
• Megger Substation Application Engineer

4
 Agenda

n Harmonics – Theory
n Sources of Harmonics
n Current and Voltage Harmonics
n Harmonic Measurement
n Harmonic Indices
n Harmonic Power
n Effects of Harmonics
n Harmonic Evaluation Procedure
n Harmonic Mitigation

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 Harmonics - Theory

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 What are harmonics?

n A pure sinusoidal waveform only has the fundamental

frequency component but a distorted waveform is composed
of various frequency components in addition to the
fundamental frequency
n Harmonics are components of a signal that have frequencies
which are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency of
the signal

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 What are harmonics?
Fundamental 20% 3rd Harmonics
1.5 Resultant 0.3
1 1.5 0.2
0.5 0.1
0 1 0
-0.50.00 4.17 8.33 12.50 16.66 -0.10.00 4.17 8.33 12.50 16.66
0.5
-1 -0.2
-1.5 -0.3
0
0.00 4.17 8.33 12.50 16.66
-0.5 20% 5th Harmonics
0.3
-1 0.2
0.1
-1.5
0
-0.10.00 4.17 8.33 12.50 16.66

-0.2
-0.3
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 Harmonic orders

n Harmonic order is the ratio of the harmonic frequency to the

fundamental frequency

n For example, in a 60Hz system, a harmonic with a frequency

of 120Hz would be a 2nd order harmonic

n Harmonics with odd orders are called odd harmonics,

whereas harmonics with even orders are called even
harmonics

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 Harmonic phase sequences

n Harmonics can be classified on the basis of their phase

sequence
Positive Negative Zero
sequence sequence sequence
Harmonic 1,4,7,10,… 2,5,8,11,… 3,6,9,12,…
orders
A A AB C

C B B C

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 Triple-n harmonics

n Triple-n harmonics are odd multiples of the third harmonic

n h = 3,9,15,…
n Triple-n harmonics, being zero sequence, add at the neutral of
a wye connected system
n If the neutral conductor is not sufficiently sized, triple-n
harmonics can cause overheating at the neutral
n Triple-n harmonics can be “trapped” in the delta winding of a
transformer

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 Sources of harmonics

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 How are harmonics generated?

n Harmonics arise out of non-linear loads

n Non-linear loads are loads whose impedance changes with
voltage
n A common example is a transformer on no-load
n The excitation current of a transformer becomes more
distorted as the excitation voltage is increased and the core
approaches saturation
n This is because of the non-linear characteristics of the
transformer core

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 CT saturation curve

130V

50V

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 Harmonics in transformer no load current

V and Iexc at 50V V and Iexc at 130V

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 Switch-Mode Power Supplies

n Loads which draw current for a portion of the voltage

waveform are also prominent sources of harmonics

n Common loads like computers, printers, copiers use switch-

mode power supplies

n Switch-mode power supplies have rectifier circuits, the

capacitor draws current in short pulses as is shown in the next
slide

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 Full wave rectifier circuit

Input current

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 SMPS waveform - computers

05/12/17 03:57:52.670 PM Time

3.6

1.8
Ia (Amps)

-1.8

-3.6
0.00 24.98 49.97 74.95 99.93
Time (ms)

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 1.8
04/13/18 03:42:01.416 PM Time
Fluorescent lighting
0.9
Ia (Amps)

Magnetic ballasts
-0.9

-1.8
0.00 24.99 49.98 74.97 99.96 04/13/18 04:12:02.826 PM Time
Time (ms)
2.4

1.2

Electronic ballasts
Ia (Amps)

-1.2

-2.4
0.00 24.97 49.95 74.92 99.89
Time (ms)
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 Adjustable Speed Drives
VSI AC Drive

05/31/17 12:22:46.368 PM Time

240

120
Ia (Amps)

-120

-240
0.00 24.98 49.96 74.93 99.91
Time (ms)

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 Current and voltage harmonics

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 Current and voltage harmonics

n Harmonic sources (loads) give rise to distorted current

n When the distorted current passes through the system
impedance, it causes distortion in voltage at the load bus
n The distortion in voltage is higher closer to the load
n So, voltage harmonics are caused by current harmonics
n The current distortion depends on the load
n The voltage distortion depends on the current and the system
impedance

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 Current and voltage harmonics

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 Harmonics measurement

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 Harmonics measurement

n IEC 61000-4-7 deals with harmonics measurement

techniques
n The measurement interval is 200 ms.
n The 200 ms values can be aggregated over 3 additional
intervals – 3 secs, 10 min, 2 hr (Class A as per IEC 61000-4-
30)
n At least up to 50th order harmonics to be measured

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 Harmonics measurement

Owens Corning
2nd Harmonic 3rd Harmonic
05/31/17 10:37:46.368 AM Time 60
600

50
300 DFT/FFT 40
30
0

20
-300

10

-600
0.00 24.97 49.94 74.92 99.89
0
Time (ms)
100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220
Frequency, Hz

Time Domain Frequency Domain

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 Harmonic Indices

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 Total Harmonic Distortion

n Total Harmonic Distortion is a single parameter used to

quantify the harmonic content in the system
n It is obtained by using the following formula

)* (
+&
!"# = %
+,
&'(

n As per EN50160, the acceptable limit for voltage THD for LV

power supply is 8%

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 Total Harmonic Distortion
Volt THD

4.2 4.2

3.6 3.6
Va TH D (%)

Vb TH D (%)
3.0 3.0

2.4 2.4

1.8 1.8
05/24/16 - 09:45:46 A M 05/26/16 - 03:45:46 P M 05/28/16 - 09:45:46 P M 05/31/16 - 03:45:46 A M 06/02/16 - 09:45:46 A M
Time

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 Total Demand Distortion

n There isn’t much fluctuation in voltage but the current can

change drastically in a short span of time
n A harmonic current of 1A would be 10% if the fundamental is
10A, and 1% if the fundamental is 100A
n Hence, Total Demand Distortion is used to quantify harmonics
in current
n For TDD calculation, the maximum current recorded over a
demand interval is used as the fundamental

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 Total Demand Distortion
Current THD

15.9 15.9

Ib THD (%)
13.2 13.2

10.5 10.5
Ia THD (%)

7.8 7.8

5.1 5.1
05/24/16 - 09:45:4605/26/16
AM - 03:45:4605/28/16
PM - 09:45:4605/31/16
PM - 03:45:4606/02/16
AM - 09:45:46 AM
C urrent
Time TD D

1.19 1.19

0.92 0.92

Ib TDD (%)
0.65 0.65
Ia TDD (%)

0.38 0.38

0.11 0.11
05/24/16 - 09:45:46 AM 05/26/16 - 03:45:46 PM 05/28/16 - 09:45:46 PM 05/31/16 - 03:45:46 AM 06/02/16 - 09:45:46 AM
Time

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 Harmonic power

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 Harmonic Power Flows

n True measurements of voltage and current done to measure

actual power
n The direction of harmonic power flows obtained from the
phase angle relationship with the fundamental
Load to source 270° Source to load

180° 0°

90°

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 Harmonic Power Flows

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 Power factor

n Displacement power factor is the cosine of the phase angle

between voltage and current. It depends only on the
fundamental components
!"# = cos ∅
n True power factor is the ratio of the active power to the
apparent power
*+
)"# =
*,-
n Harmonics results in higher RMS values causing the apparent
power to be higher resulting in a lower true power factor
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 Power factor

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 Power relationships

Without harmonics With harmonics

Q S

D
P
S

Q
P

!= #$ + &$ != #$ + &$ + '$

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 Effects of harmonics

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 Effects of harmonics on transformers

n As mentioned earlier, zero sequence harmonics can cause

overheating of the neutral
n Harmonics can cause increased copper losses in the winding
n Harmonics can cause higher eddy current losses in the core
and winding and other metal parts in the transformer
n Zero sequence flux returns through the metal parts in the
transformer, if the core is 3 legged, resulting in heating and
losses

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 K-factor

n If the transformer is not sufficiently sized to handle the

harmonic content during normal operation, then it needs to be
derated

n K- factor computed using

n Derating is estimated using C57.110

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 Effects of harmonics on motors

n Harmonic voltage distortion results in harmonic fluxes which

rotate at a frequency different than the rotor frequency
n This results in rotor currents.
n This currents cause heating and losses.
n Reduced efficiency and torsional oscillations of the shaft
n Resonance conditions can result in damage to the shaft

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 Resonance

n Resonance occurs when the inductive reactance, XL of a

circuit matches with the capacitive reactance, XC of the circuit

n The resultant reactance of the circuit becomes zero and the

current is only impeded by the resistance in the circuit.

n Resonance can occur in 2 ways – series and parallel

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 Resonance

n The condition can be expressed mathematically as XL = XC

#
n Or, f = $% &'

n If the L and C of the system are such that resonance results at

a particular harmonic frequency f, then it can result in high
harmonic current flow amplifying the voltage distortion that’d
exist in non-resonance conditions

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 Resonance

Parallel resonance Series resonance

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 Harmonics Evaluation Procedure

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 Harmonics Evaluation Procedure

n Harmonics arise from the load and travel to the system source
n The customer is responsible for the current harmonic injection
n The voltage distortion is caused by the current and the system
impedance
n If the current harmonics are within limits, it’s the utility’s
responsibility to ensure voltage distortion is within limits
n Evaluation is done at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC)
n PCC is the point at which multiple customers are served by
the utility
n Duration should be at least 1 week to cover the plant cycle
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 Harmonics Evaluation Procedure

PCC

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 Harmonic Mitigation

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 Controlling harmonics

n Reducing harmonics on the load

n Using filters (shunt or series)

n Changing system response characteristics

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 Megger’s Solution – MPQ2000

n Class A measurement
n Auto CT ID
n Powered off Phase A
n Supports SD cards of up to 32 GB
n Configuration verification
n IP54 with closed lid
n Onboard data analysis

50
 Megger’s Solution – MPQ2000

51
 Megger’s Solution – MPQ2000

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 References

n Electrical Power Systems Quality

- Roger C. Dugan, Mark F. McGranaghan,
Surya Santoso, H. Wayne Beaty

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 Survey & Contact Info

n Contact Information
• Presenter
– Sanket Bolar
– Sanket.Bolar@megger.com

• USA and Mexico Sales

– sales@megger.com
– +1 800 723 2861
• Canada Sales
– caenquiries@megger.com Please help us improve by filling out
the survey after the webinar ends
– +1 800 297 9688
"Corona discharge 1" by Nitromethane - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons -
54 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corona_discharge_1.JPG#/media/File:Corona_discharge_1.JPG
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 Power Quality & Harmonics

Course: 4.5 Days - 3.6 CEUs

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 Questions?
Power on
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