Case Study

Harmonics Impact Over Protection

System of Power Generator

Thanasak Chaiyavech
Thaieei

Available online March 2009

Power Quality
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Abstract
A theatre encountered a situation where incorrect operation of the earth
fault protection system of a back-up generator tripped the circuit breaker
unexpectedly when dimmer loads were fully used. The generator was
used to supply critical loads via an automatic transfer switch (ATS) and
the problem was caused by high levels of third harmonic current produced
by dimmers and an inappropriate installation of neutral and ground
system. Consequently, current would flow in both neutral and ground
system even in normal load conditions causing errors to current detection
of earth fault protection system. To resolve the situation, the existing 3-
pole ATS was replaced by a 4-pole type to separate neutral and earth
currents and allow the earth fault protection system to operate reliably.

1. Introduction
Figure 1 shows the line diagram of the electrical system of the theatre.
Power is normally supplied from the local utility (Metropolitan Electricity
Authority of Thailand; [MEA]) to the main distribution board (MDB).
Essential loads, such as theatre lighting, are supplied from the Essential
distribution board (EDB) which is supplied from the MDB or, if the main
supply is not available, from a local emergency generator. Switching is
performed by a three-pole automatic transfer switch (ATS). In the
Generator Control Panel (GCP), an earth fault relay (EPR) is installed to
detect a short circuit to ground condition and protect the generator. (Note
that the red line, marked 3L, represents all 3 phases, the white line
represents the neutral, and the green line represents the protective earth
or ground line).

Figure 1: An electrical line diagram of the theatre.

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2. Problem and consequence

Theatres use a lot of dimmers to control stage lighting. Typically, these
dimmers are single-phase devices using solid state switching to control
power to the lamps.
In normal circumstances, the theatre is supplied with electricity from MEA
only without any problem. However, when the public supply is not
available and the emergency generator is in use, operation of the dimmers
causes the earth fault relay to trip even though there is no short circuit to
ground. Consequently the performance can be interrupted.

3. Estimated loss
There is no equipment damage in this event. However, each show has an
audience of approximately 1000 people, each paying 1,000 Baht (20
Euro) each. The lost revenue due to a disrupted performance may reach
1,000,000 Baht (20,000 Euro). In addition, the theatre’s reputation will be
adversely affected.

4. Root cause of the problem

Figure 2 shows the waveform and harmonic spectrum measurement of
the dimmer current, revealing a significant third harmonic current
component. Third harmonic currents, in fact, all currents with a harmonic
order that is an odd multiple of three, can cause major problems when
single phase loads are supplied from three phase feeders. The problem
arises because the third harmonic current from each phase is in phase
with those from the other phases, so they add in the common neutral; in
the worst cases, the neutral current can be 1.73 times the phase current
as shown in Figure 3. These currents are sometimes referred to as ‘Triple
Ns’.

Figure 2: Dimmer load current showing harmonic content.

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Figure 3: The third harmonic from single-phase loads is in-phase in neutral line.

The earth fault relay, which is used to detect a short circuit to ground
condition and is shown in Figure 4, will measure the instantaneous net
current in the three phase lines and the neutral line (current I in Figure 4).
In normal circumstances, this current will be zero. However, in the event
of an earth fault, current, I, will no longer be equal to zero. The relay is
designed so that, when I reaches a set threshold, the relay disconnects
the supply to protect the generator and system.

Figure 4: Diagram illustrating operation of an earth fault relay .

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In this particular theatre, the low voltage circuit neutral bus and the
protective earth or ground bus are connected together in the MDB.
Moreover, the generator neutral line is also connected to ground.
Because of this, the earth and neutral busses are effectively in parallel, so
that any neutral current caused by unbalance can divide between the two
busses. This means that some of the load current – the part of the neutral
current that flows in the protective earth bus – is not seen by the earth
fault relay and it appears that there may be an earth fault. To prevent the
relay from reacting to this situation, it is set to activate when a difference
of 20 -30% of full load current is detected; in this case, it is set to 600 A.

5. Problem analysis
Three generator operating scenarios are discussed here:
• normal load, operation
• with a short circuit to ground
• with third harmonic current from the dimmers.

5.1 Normal load operation

The neutral current resulting from an unbalanced load will flow back to the
generator via the interconnected neutral and protective earth conductors,
as shown in Figure 5. The fact that some current is missing from the sum
of the neutral and three phases is detected by the EFR and interpreted as
an earth fault. To prevent operation of the relay under this normal
condition, the threshold is set to 20 – 30 % of the full load current – 600A
in this case.

Figure 5: Diagram showing normal load circumstance.

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5.2 Short circuit to ground
In the case of short circuit to ground (earth fault), the majority of the fault
current will flow to the neutral point at the GCP via the earthing system as
shown in Figure 6. There will be a relatively low current in the neutral line.
The phase fault current flows through the EFR but the return current does
not, so the unbalance is correctly interpreted as an earth fault and the
relay trips if the fault current is higher than the trip setting.

Figure 6: Diagram showing earth fault condition

5.3 With third harmonic current from dimmers

When the dimmers are in operation, the third harmonic currents that they
generate add and return to the generator neutral point via the parallel
paths provided by the interconnected protective earth and neutral
conductors, as shown in Figure 7. Because of the high level of the third
harmonic current, the unbalance detected by the EFR is likely to exceed
the trip setting and the load will be disconnected even though there is no
real fault.

Figure 7: Diagram showing the third harmonic neutral current from dimmers

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6. Solution
The problem is caused partly by the high neutral current, but primarily by
the fact that there are two connections between the neutral and the
protective earth conductors. The solution is to change the ATS from a
three-pole type to a four-pole type so that the neutral is switched along
with the phases. This change confines the neutral current, including that
due to the third harmonics, to flow only in the neutral line, and therefore,
through the EPR sensor.

Figure 8: Electrical diagram with a 4-pole ATS

The following figures show the current flow for the three conditions
described above when a four-pole ATS is fitted.

In normal load operation, Figure 9, all the neutral current flows through the
sensor of the EFR. Consequently, the EFR can reliably detect a true earth
fault and the set point can be reduced to provide better protection.

Figure 9: Current flow for normal generator operation with 4-pole ATS

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In the event of an earth fault, Figure 10, the fault current is restricted to the
protective earth system due to the use of a four-pole ATS.

Figure 10: Short circuit current flow during earth fault with 4-pole ATS

Again, when high third harmonic currents are present, Figure 11, the use
of a four-pole ATS restricts the third harmonic current flow to the neutral
return path. The EFR functionality is unaffected, no matter how high the
third harmonic current may be.

Figure 11: Third harmonic current flow with 4-pole ATS

7. Expenditure
The difference in cost for a four pole ATS compared to a three pole ATS is
about 600 Euro, excluding wiring cost.

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8. Conclusion
When the neutral and protective earth are connected in parallel in a
system, the behaviour of an EFR can be unpredictable. The situation is
made worse when high neutral currents, due to unbalanced loads or third
harmonic generators, are present. Ensuring that the neutral and
protective earth conductors are connected at only one point separates the
current and makes operation of the relay reliable.