EXPERIMENTAL WORKS

3.1 In this session, the instructor will demonstrate the method of measuring and recording
harmonics waveforms of a personal computer using Power Quality Analyzer (FLUKE 435).
The steps are as follows:

a) Connect RS 2-SP 27 cable to Fluke meter and clamp the current transformer (CT) to
CPU’s incoming cable (Note: L-L and N-N)

b) At Fluke meter, choose:

i. Harmonic function (adjust ‘Menu’ button)

ii. Current mode (adjust ‘F1’ button)

iii. Line connected (adjust ‘F2’ button)

c) Capture and record the waveform/spectrum of harmonic generated by CPU/personal

computer as displayed at Fluke meter via Flukeview software as follow:

i. Connect optical cable from Fluke meter to computer’s USB port

ii. Open Flukeview software at start menu

iii. Search and select computer port

iv. Capture image

Solution:
Figure 1.0 shows the connection of FLUKE meter to measure the personal computer’s THD

Figure 1.2 shows the reading of THD on FLUKE meter for personal computer.
 Figure 1.3 shows the captured harmonics waveform on the monitor.

d) Based on the waveform, determine the total harmonic distortion (THD) reading?
The total harmonic distortion (THD) is 67.7% based on the reading on the FLUKE
435 device.

e) What is the dominant harmonic order of the load?

The dominant harmonic order of the load is the 3rd harmonic which surpasses 50% of
the THD.
3.2 In this session, students will be teamed up in assigned groups to conduct the following
experiments. For each experiment, the harmonic waveform/spectrum of different loads will
be observed. Answer the questions posed accordingly.

a) Repeat and answer the questions in section 3.1 of DEMONSTRATION for loads listed in
the following:

i. Fluorescent light

Figure 2.0 shows the THD reading for fluorescent light.

Figure 2.1 shows the captured harmonics waveform for fluorescent light on the monitor.
ii. Single phase transformer (load is set to 200Ω)

Figure 2.3 shows the current at 0.72A

Figure 2.4 shows the voltage at 144V

 Figure 2.5 shows the harmonic spectrum of single-phase transformer on 200Ω loads.

b) Compare and comment the harmonics spectrum pattern generated by personal

computer, fluorescent light, and single-phase transformer.

 For personal computer the total harmonic distortion (THD) is 67.7% at third
harmonics spectrum pattern. Then, THD for fluorescent light is 36.5% at second
harmonics spectrum pattern and THD for single-phase transformer on 200Ω loads is
21.6% at second harmonics spectrum pattern.
 Personal computers have the highest THD than fluorescent light and single-phase
transformer on 200Ω loads.
 Fluorescent light is lower THD compared to personal computer but higher THD than
single-phase computer on 200Ω loads.
 Single-phase transformer is the lowest THD between personal computers and
fluorescent light.
 Personal computers have highest loads than fluorescent light and single-phase
transformer on 200Ω loads. That’s why personal computer has the highest THD than
others.
c) Change the load connected to the transformer to 600Ω and 1kΩ. Record the harmonic
waveform/ spectrum.

600ohm load

Figure 3.0 shows the current of 0.24 A

Figure 3.1 shows the captured harmonic waveform for 600Ω load
Figure 3.2 shows the FLUKE meter reading for 600Ω load
1000ohm load

Figure 4.0 shows the current of 0.15 for 1kΩ load.

Figure 4.1 shows the harmonic waveform captured for 1kΩ load.
 Figure 4.3 shows the FLUKE meter reading for 1kΩ load.

d) Compare the waveform obtained by the transformer at different load value and give your
opinion on the effect of load (connected to transformer) to the harmonic spectrum.

Compare to both waveform that obtained by the transformer at two load value which
is 600Ω and 1kΩ. By 600Ω, the reading that show at the computer at Fluke meter was 46.8%
where the reading of 1kΩ is 57.6%. It shows that when load increase, percentage of harmonic
increase.

e) List 3 effect of harmonic:

-harmonic current can lead to disturbances in electricity supply

-reduce power quality

-increase electricity costs

f) List the methods usually employed to mitigate the harmonic problem. Choose one of the
methods and describe its working principle and application.

There are 2 main ways to mitigate the harmonic problems which are active and
passive mitigation techniques. Under these two techniques, there are many other
subcategories or devices that can be used to solve the harmonic problem. For example, for
active mitigation technique, there are parallel active filters and series active filters.
Meanwhile, for passive mitigation technique, there are series line reactors, tuned harmonics
filters and series induction filters.

For this question, the students chose to study about passive mitigation method which
is series induction filters.

Figure 5.0 shows the schematic diagram for series induction filter

This filter applies the basic principle of an inductor whereby it will oppose changes in
the flow of current through it. Back emf will be induced in the inductor if a flowing current
tries to change direction. Based on the figure above, the inductors used are large in magnitude
connected to a resistive load. This method of mitigation can be applied in between the AC
supply and load; hence it is mostly used in cases of high load current or small load resistance.
CONCLUSION
QUIZ

5.1 Define what is harmonic and how does it affect the power distribution system.

A harmonic in an electric power system is a voltage or current that is a multiple of the

system's fundamental frequency. Harmonics are the shape or characteristics of a voltage or
current waveform with respect to its fundamental frequency.

Harmonic can affect a system by overheating such as motors, cables, transformers,

neutrals. Motor vibrations are examples of equipment failure and mis-operation associated
with harmonics on a power system. Transformers and rotating machines produce audible
noise.

5.2 List 4 main sources of harmonics in electric power system.

i) Non-sinusoidal distribution of the flux in the air gap of synchronous machines

ii) Network non-linearities from loads such as rectifiers, inverters, welders, arc

furnaces, voltage controllers, frequency converters etc.

iii) High-voltage direct-current power conversion and transmission.

iv) Cycloconverters used for low-speed, high-torque machines.

5.3 The passive filters are used to mitigate power quality problems in ac-dc converter
with R-C load. It can be classified in passive shunt filter and passive series filter. Explain
both passive filter in terms of its configuration and schematic diagram.
Passive Shunt Filter

Figure 6.0 shows the schematic diagram for passive shunt filter

The figure above shows the configuration of passive shunt filter where it is consists of
voltage source, passive filter, and non-linear load. Basically, the three-phase voltage source
will supply sinusoidal waveform to the non-linear load. The load will disfigure the sinusoidal
waveform (harmonic); hence the passive filter is installed in order to compensate and
improve the input waveform. Other than that, passive shunt filter also offers a low-impedance
network for specific frequency. Meaning that, engineers can install and alter this filter to
compensate specific harmonic order.

As shown above, the passive filter consists of inductor, resistor, and capacitor in
which it is the traditional and most optimal design to mitigate the effect of harmonics in
power system. Additionally, this design can achieve the minimal operating cost whilst
reducing the total harmonic distortion of both current and voltage.

Passive Series Filter

Figure 6.2 shows the schematic diagram for passive series filter.
 As the name suggests, passive series filter is connected in series in between the three-
phase voltage source and non-sinusoidal load. Compared to passive shunt filter, passive series
filter will simply block the current waveform from flowing. Additionally, this filter is design
with high impedance, in which the ability to allow small current to flow through. For
example, if the filter set to mitigate the 5 th and 7th harmonic, this filter will block those current
waveforms.
REFERENCE

1. K. N. M. Hasan and M. F. Romlie, "Comparative study on combined series active and

shunt passive power filter using two different control methods," 2007 International
Conference on Intelligent and Advanced Systems, 2007, pp. 928-933, doi:
10.1109/ICIAS.2007.4658522.

2. Workbook, A. E. (2022, June 25). What is series inductor filter? working, diagram,
Waveforms & Formula. Electrical Workbook. Retrieved November 2, 2022, from
https://electricalworkbook.com/series-inductor-filter/#:~:text=A%20series
%20inductor%20filter%20utilizes,emf%20opposes%20the%20current%20change.
3. Jayswal, R., Marathe, S., Shastri, M., & Panchal, K. (2017, August 5). Comparative
analysis of series & parallel passive filter using PSCAD simulation. Kalpa
Publications in Engineering. Retrieved November 2, 2022, from
https://easychair.org/publications/paper/VN6
4. Soomro, Dur & Almelian, Mohamad. (2015). Optimal design of a single tuned
passive filter to mitigate harmonics in power frequency. 10. 9009-9014.