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Power Systems Section 3 - Harmonics

Non-linear devices like rectifiers produce harmonics in their current waveforms. Fourier analysis shows these currents contain components at integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. These harmonic currents cause power losses without producing useful work. They can also cause issues like overheating, noise, and interference. The total harmonic distortion metric is used to measure the level of harmonic distortion present. Harmonic components are analyzed by modeling the system at the harmonic frequencies and calculating the voltage distortion they produce.

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Khuram Tabassom
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55 views16 pages

Power Systems Section 3 - Harmonics

Non-linear devices like rectifiers produce harmonics in their current waveforms. Fourier analysis shows these currents contain components at integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. These harmonic currents cause power losses without producing useful work. They can also cause issues like overheating, noise, and interference. The total harmonic distortion metric is used to measure the level of harmonic distortion present. Harmonic components are analyzed by modeling the system at the harmonic frequencies and calculating the voltage distortion they produce.

Uploaded by

Khuram Tabassom
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Power Systems

Section 3 – Harmonics
What Causes Harmonics?
• Any device that is non-linear, i.e. does not obey
Ohms’ Law
• Applied sinusoidal voltage produces a repetitive, but
non-sinusoidal current
• Current contains harmonic components, according to
Fourier Series equation
• Harmonic current components cause harmonic
voltage drops in system and appear at customer’s
terminals
Fourier Series Definition
2
1
an  .  f (t ). cos nt.d (t )
 0

2
1
bn  .  f (t ). sin nt.d (t )
 0


1
f (t )  a0   (an cos nt  bn sin nt )
2 n 1
Harmonics-producing Devices
• Any device that chops current, limits
current or displays saturation, eg -
• Rectifier Circuits
• Switched-mode Power Supplies
• Magnetic circuits
Non-linear devices cause harmonics. Classic case is the magnetization current
in transformers. It is not sinusoidal due to the nonlinear B-H loop. The
resulting current is peaky. Fourier analysis reveals it to contain odd harmonics,
especially thirds. These third harmonics all add up (in phase) in delta
connected windings which act as a “sink” for third harmonics.
Rectifier Loads
Typical rectifier loads on the power system
include –
• Electroplating
• Metal refining
• DC railway supplies
• Aluminium smelters
Example: 3-ph Rectifier Circuit
Rectifier Circuit … 2
Rectifier Circuit … 3
The Harm in Harmonics
• Heating losses (harmonic I2R)
• Audio noise (higher orders)
• EM Emission (higher orders) (circuits act like
antennas)
• Rotating machines (2nd, 3rd) (Produce heat in
machine windings, but no useful forward
torque)
• Interference with rectifier devices
Harmonic Power
• Average power over one cycle is zero if voltage
and current waveforms are of different
frequencies, according to definition of average
power
• Result is that harmonics in current produce no
useful power, but cause I2 R losses in lines,
transformers, etc
Harmonic Power .. (2)
2
1
Pav  .  V cos t.I cos nt.d (t )
2 0
Pav  0, n  1

cos t. cos nt  cos(n  1)t  cos(n  1)t 


1
2
RMS and THD
T
1
Vrms   (t ).dt
2
v
T 0

2
Vrms  V 1, rms V 2
2 , rms  ...  V 2
n , rms


1
THD 
V1, rms
 n ,rms
V
2
2


1
THD 
V1, rms
 rms 1,rms
V
2
2
 V 2
Analysis of Harmonic Circuit
• Load source of harmonics acts as a current
generator at frequency nfo, where fo is
fundamental.
• Calculate harmonic voltage distortion by
replacing 50 hz sources and impedances by
their harmonic impedances
Example: Harmonic Analysis

Vn

I1, I2, …, In
Zs Zs,n
In
Harmonic Impedances
• Resistance: Rn  R1 at low frequencies.
R1 < Rn < nR1 at higher frequencies

• Reactance: Xn  nX1

• Capacitance: Yn  nY1

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