Design and Specification of Harmonic Filters for Variable Frequency Drives

Jesús A. Baez Moreno

ITESM (Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica)
Monterrey, NL. CP. 64849

ABSTRACT 2. SOLUTION METHODOLOGY

This paper presents a method that can be applied to Figure 1 shows a one-line diagram of a electrical
design and specify low voltage harmonic filters for distribution system feeding a Variable Frequency Drive
variable frequency drives. The proposed methodology is (VFD). The harmonic filter consists of a capacitor and
used to analyze an electrical distribution system feeding an inductor connected in series.
a group of variable frequency drives.
Utility
1. INTRODUCTION
~
Generalized use of Variable Frequency Drives has
increased harmonic distortion at electrical distribution
systems. Some pieces of equipment, such as personal
computers, programmable controllers and Low Voltage Bus
microprocessor-based instrumentation are very sensitive
to harmonic distortion. Proper application of harmonic
filters can help to keep harmonic distortion within
acceptable limits. Filter
Nonlinear
Load (VFD)
This paper describes a simple methodology that can be
applied to design harmonic filters for an electrical
system that will feed variable frequency drives. The
proposed methodology calculates the harmonic voltage
attenuation factor produced by filters [1]. Attenuation Figure 1. One-line diagram of the electrical distribution
factor is then used to estimate voltage harmonic system feeding the VFD
distortion at the point of connection and also the
harmonic currents injected into the system. A harmonic filter modifies all harmonic voltages at the
point of connection(Low Voltage Bus). Maximum
A computer program (EXCEL Macro) was developed attenuation occurs for the voltage whose frequency is
using Visual Basic for Application language to simulate equal or close to the resonant frequency of the filter. In
system performance. The application of this program to order to quantify how harmonic voltages are affected, we
the analysis of a electrical distribution system feeding a will define the attenuation factor[1] as
group of VFDs is also presented.
V ( h)
a n ( h) =
Vf ( h )

Where:

V(h): Harmonic voltage without the filter at the low

voltage bus.
Vf(h): The h-th Harmonic voltage with the filter at the
low voltage bus
an(h) : Attenuation factor of the harmonic voltage(h)
due to the (n-th) tuned filter.
 kVAn  h 2 hn2  SCKVA
Figure 2 illustrates the basic circuit used to calculate the Yeq (h) =  +
h-th harmonic attenuation factor produced by the n-th j h  h 2 − hn2  jh
harmonic filter. In this diagram, I(h) represents the h-th
harmonic injected by the variable frequency drive, Zs(h)
accounts for the system impedance and Zn(h) represents
the n-th harmonic filter impedance at the h-th harmonic.
Yeq (h) =
1
jh
[
δ kVAn + SCKVA ]
jh where:
2
jh h n KVAn
Zs(h) I(h)
SCKVA Zn(h)
 h 2 hn2 
−
j δ= 2 2 
h KVAn  h − hn 

Figure 2. Circuit used for harmonic voltage calculation.

The attenuation factor an(h) is then obtained as [1]:

[ ]
The n-th harmonic filter impedance at the harmonic 1
frequency (h) can be expressed in terms of the filter δ kVAn + SCKVA
V (h) Yeq (h) jh
kVAR(kVAn) and its tuning frequency (hn) as: an(h) = = =
Vf (h) Ys(h) SCKVA
jh
j  h 1 j  h 2 − hn 2  δ kVAn
Z n ( h) =  2 −  =   an(h) = 1 +
kVAn  (hn ) h  kVAn  h hn 2  SCKVA

The distribution system impedance seen by the low

voltage bus at the harmonic frequency (h) is related to When more than one filter is used, the attenuation
the low voltage bus short circuit kVA as follows: factor of the h-th harmonic voltage is given by

jh
Zs( h ) =
SCkVA δ kVAn (1) δ kVAn ( N )
an(h) = 1 + 1
+ L+ N
In order to simplify the calculation, the filter and the SCKVA SCKVA
system are represented by their admittance values. where:
 2
( ) 
2

 h h ( k ) 
kVAn  h h 
2
δ k =
n

Yn(h) =
( )
n
 2 2  2−
2
j  h − hn   h hn ( k ) 
 

SCKVA
Ys(h) = Harmonic currents flowing into the tuned filters and into
jh the system(utility) with the connected filter(s) can be
calculated as follows:
The equivalent admittance seen by the VFD is calculated
by adding Yn(h) and Ys(h) V ( h) I ( h)
In(h) = ; Is ( h ) =
Zn(h) an( h )
 Once these currents have been calculated, it is possible
+ to get filter’s specifications with the aid of the worksheet
filter.xls [3]
Zs(h) Zn(h) I(h)
Is(h) If(h) V(h)
The above procedure is summarized in the flowchart
shown in Figure 4.
-
Figure 3. Harmonic filter and system current calculation

Read system data

Utility SCMVA, XFMR(Z and kVA)
Drive KVA, Harmonic Spectra (%I(h)),
Displacement power factor Calculate harmonic
Filter(s) kVAr, Detuning Factors(α) filter loading and harmonics
Maximum allowed THDV(THDVmax) flowing into the system
V(h) I (h)
In(h) = I s (h) =
Zn(h) ; an(h)
Evaluate harmonic Voltages
and THDV without filters
 DrivekVA
V (h) = [%I(h)][h] 
 SCKVA 
Calculate filter specs
43
using spredasheet filters.xls
THDV = ∑ [V (h)]2
=
h 5

Calculate attenuation factors an(h), Generate Report

resulting harmonic voltages and THDV *Voltage/current distortion
* Filter sepecifications)
δ 1 kVAn (1) δ kVAn ( N )
an(h) = 1 + + L+ N
SCKVA SCKVA SCMVA
13.8 kV ~ 50

5.75% 1000 kVA

43

∑[Vf (h)]
12903.2 SCKVA 480 V
V (h)
THDV =
2
Vf (h) =
an (h)
THDV 3.58%

h=5 472.50 233.62

0.031911 Ω A RMS 0.03256 Ω A RMS

500kVAr 250kVAr
@ 600V @ 600V

5-th 7-th

NO YES
900 kVA

Modify 6-pulse 250 HP 480-V CSI VFD(measured)

filter(s) kVAr THDV<THDVmax?

Figure 4. Flowchart for the proposed solution methodology

 3. COMPUTER PROGRAM 4. SIMULATION RESULTS

The computer program was developed in an Excel The proposed methodology and the computer program
Workbook (VFD.XLS), using Visual Basic for (VFD.XLS) were used to simulate the sample electrical
Applications Language[2]. distribution system depicted in figure 5.

Harmonic Spectra of Variable Frequency Drives is UTILITY

stored in one worksheet within the same workbook. To 13.8 kV
add harmonic spectra of a non listed VFD(or group of
~ SCMVA=50

VFDs), the user types in this worksheet a name for this 1000 KVA
480 V Z (%) = 5.75
load and its harmonic spectra.

Simulation results are stored into the following

Worksheets:
1) SUMMARY : Summary of the results obtained in
... 5th
7th

the simulation (THDV, Filter specs) 300 kVAR 150 kVAR

2) VOLTAGES: Harmonic voltages in the low voltage 150-HP PWM VFDs
α=0.95 α=0.95
TOTAL LOAD =900 KVA
bus without filters, with filters and with plain
capacitors(no tuning reactor)
3) CURRENTS: Harmonic currents flowing into the Figure 5. One-line diagram of the electrical system
system with and without filters, and filter currents
4) FILTER-5: 5th harmonic filter design This system feeds a group of PWM variable frequency
specifications drives with a total load of 900 kVA operating at 0.9(-)
5) FILTER-7: 7th harmonic filter design displacement power factor. This loading condition
specifications results in a very high harmonic current and voltage
distortion.
The program was written under the following
assumptions: The proposed methodology was used to analyze the
effect of connecting two harmonic filters on low voltage
1)This application was developed for VFDs operating at bus harmonic distortion levels.
240V and 480 V systems. For applications at 240V, 480 Filter 1: 300 kVAR, 5-th harmonic filter tuned at
V capacitor banks are used, and the total KVAR rating hn=4.75
is adjusted to the next multiple of 25 kVAR Filter 2: 150 kVAR, 7-th harmonic filter tuned at
For applications at 480V , 600 V capacitor banks are hn=6.65
used and the total KVAR rating is adjusted to the next
multiple of 50 kVAR For example, if the user chooses a The computer program calculates harmonic voltage and
300 kVAR bank at 480 V, the required kVAR rating at current distortion with and without filters and also
600 V is 300(600/480) ^2 = 468.75 kVAR. The bank calculates harmonic filter loading. A summary of the
kVAr rating is adjusted to 500 kVAR. simulation results is presented in figure 6 (actual
program output).
2) Load at the low voltage bus consists only of VFDs and
the resistive effect is neglected The effect of these harmonic filters on harmonic
voltages and currents distortion is presented in Tables 1
3) 5th and 7th harmonic voltage distortion at the high and 2.
voltage side is given a as 2%. (This value can be Total harmonic current distortion (THDI) is reduced
modified in Worksheets FILTER-5 and FILTER-7 from 35% to 7.5% and total harmonic voltage distortion
is reduced from 15.76 to 4.56 %.
4) Voltage at the low voltage bus is assumed constant
(1.0 pu). Figure 7 shows the 5-th harmonic filter spec sheet.
 Figure 6. Simulation Results (summary)

Table 1. Voltage at the low voltage bus with and without filters connected
NO FILTERS FILTERS
h %I(h) % V(h) a(h) % Vf(h)
5 33.7 11.753 6.03 1.9504
7 1.09 0.5322 7.66 0.0695
11 7.37 5.6546 2.55 2.2158
13 3.5 3.1736 2.39 1.3287
17 3.5 4.1501 2.25 1.8409
19 2.1 2.783 2.22 1.2526
23 1.6 2.5668 2.18 1.1759
25 1.4 2.4413 2.17 1.1247
29 0.8 1.6182 2.15 0.7513
31 0.9 1.946 2.15 0.906
35 0.6 1.4648 2.14 0.6848
37 0.5 1.2904 2.14 0.6042
41 0.4 1.1439 2.13 0.537
43 0.3 0.8998 2.13 0.4228
THDV(%) 15.176 4.5581
 Table 2 . Harmonic currents flowing into the system and harmonic filters loading

XFMR(NO FILTERS) XFMR(FILTERS) 5TH FILTER 7TH FILTER

I(AMPS) I(AMPS) I(AMPS) I(AMPS)
FUNDAMENTAL 1082.5 982.62 402.75 196.90
5 364.8 60.54 347.45 43.18
7 11.8 1.54 1.60 8.66
11 79.8 31.26 21.50 27.02
13 37.9 15.86 10.24 11.78
17 37.9 16.81 10.20 10.88
19 22.7 10.23 6.11 6.39
23 17.3 7.93 4.64 4.75
25 15.2 6.98 4.05 4.12
29 8.7 4.02 2.31 2.33
31 9.7 4.54 2.60 2.61
35 6.5 3.04 1.73 1.73
37 5.4 2.53 1.44 1.44
41 4.3 2.03 1.15 1.14
43 3.2 1.53 0.86 0.86

HARM. CURRENT 379.2 73.85 348.55 55.01

RMS CURRENT 1147.0 985.39 532.63 204.44
THDI (%) 35.0% 7.52%
Low Voltage Filter Calculations: Example Filter Design Spreadsheet

SYSTEM INFORMATION:

Filter Specification: 5 th Power System Frequency: 60 H z

Capacitor Bank Rating(Available) 500 k V A r Capacitor Rating: 600 Volts

Rated Bank Current: 481 Amps 60 H z
Nominal Bus Voltage: 480 Derated Capacitor: 320 k V A r

Capacitor Current (actual): 384.9 Amps Total Harmonic Load: 900 k V A

Filter Tuning Harmonic: 4.75 Filter Tuning Frequency: 285 H z

Cap Impedance (wye equivalent): 0.7200 Ω Cap Value (wye equivalent): 3684.1 uF

Reactor Impedance: 0.0319 Ω Reactor Rating: 0.0846 m H

Filter Full Load Current (actual): 402.8 Amps Supplied Compensation: 335 k V A r
Filter Full Load Current (rated): 503.4 Amps
Transformer Nameplate: 1000 Utility Side Vh: 2.00 % T H D
(Rating and Impedance) 5.75 (Utility Harmonic Voltage Source)

Load Harmonic Current: 86.54 % F u n d Load Harmonic Current: 348.6 Amps

Utility Harmonic Current: 67.8 Amps Max Total Harm. Current: 416.4 Amps

CAPACITOR DUTY CALCULATIONS:

Filter RMS Current: 579.3 Amps Fundamental Cap Voltage: 502.3 Volts

Harmonic Cap Voltage: 103.9 Volts Maximum Peak Voltage: 606.1 Volts

RMS Capacitor Voltage: 512.9 Volts Maximum Peak Current: 819.1 Amps

CAPACITOR LIMITS: (IEEE Std 18-1980) FILTER CONFIGURATION:

Peak Voltage: 120% <−−−−−−> 101%

Current: 180% <−−−−−−> 120% XL => 0.0319 Ω
KVAr: 135% <−−−−−−> 103%
RMS Voltage: 110% <−−−−−−> 85% 500 kVAR
600 V

FILTER REACTOR DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS:

Reactor Impedance: 0.0319 Ω Reactor Rating: 0.0846 m H

Fundamental Current: 402.8 Amps Harmonic Current: 416.4 Amps

Figure7. 5th Harmonic filter specifications

 5. CONCLUSIONS

The filter design iterative procedure can be greatly

simplified using the equations presented in this paper
along with the program developed.

Using the proposed methodology, it is possible to

determine the required rating of the filters to keep
harmonic distortion (voltage and current) within
acceptable limits and also define filters specifications.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author wishes to acknowledge the support received

from Electrotek Concepts Inc., which allowed me to
develop this project.

REFERENCES

[1] Peeran S.M. and Cascadden C. “Application, Design

and Specification of harmonic filters for Variable
Frequency Drives”, IEEE Trans. Ind. Applicat., vol. 31,
pp. 841-847, July/August 1995

[2] Boonin Elisabeth, Using Excel Visual Basic for

Applications, QUE, 1995

[3] ELECTROTEK, Harmflo+ Tech Notes, Issue # 93-

2, September, 1993

Jesus Baez. Received his BSEE in 1987, his Master of

Engineering degree in Electric Power Engineering in
1990 and his Master of Sciences Degree in Control
Engineering in 1995 from ITESM, Campus Monterrey.
He is professor of the Electrical Engineering Department
at ITESM since 1992. His research interest is simulation
and analysis of distribution and industrial power
systems.