Harmonic Phase Sequence

In order to understand network problems with triplen harmonics, first let’s have a short
explanation of harmonic phase sequence and third harmonics.

A 3,000-degree Fahrenheit electric arc furnace prepares to receive a "charge" of scrap metal
for conversion into steel Saturday at Severstal Columbus (Photo by Carmen K.
Sisson/Dispatch Staff)
Power engineers have traditionally used symmetrical components to help describe 3-phase
system behavior. The 3-phase system is transformed into three single-phase systems that
are much simpler to analyze. The method of symmetrical components can be employed for
analysis of the system’s response to harmonic currents provided care is taken not to violate
the fundamental assumptions of the method.

The method allows any unbalanced set of phase currents (or voltages) to be transformed into
three balanced sets.

The positive sequence set contains three sinusoids displaced 120 from each other, with the
normal A-B-C phase rotation (e.g., 0, −120, 120 ). The sinusoids of the negative-sequence
set are also displaced 120 , but have opposite phase rotation (A-C-B, e.g., 0, 120, −120 ).
The sinusoids of the zero sequence are in phase with each other (e.g., 0, 0, 0).
In a perfect balanced 3-phase system, the harmonic phase sequence can be determined
by multiplying the harmonic number h with the normal positive sequence phase
rotation.

For example, for the second harmonic, h = 2, produces 2 × (0, −120, −120 ) or (0, 120, −120
) which is the negative sequence. For the third harmonic, h = 3, produces 3 × (0, −120, −120
) or (0, 0, 0°) which is the zero sequence. Phase sequence for all other harmonic orders can
be determined in the same fashion.
Since a distorted waveform in power systems contains only odd harmonic components, only
odd harmonic phase sequence rotations are summarized below:

 Harmonics of order h = 1, 7, 13, … are purely positive sequence.

 Harmonics of order h = 5, 11, 17, … are purely negative sequence.
 Triplens (h = 3, 9, 15, …) are purely zero sequence.

Triplen Harmonics:
Triplen harmonics are the odd multiples of the third harmonic (h = 3, 9, 15, 21 . . .). They
deserve special consideration because the system response is often considerably different
for triplens than for the rest of the harmonics.

Triplens become an important issue for grounded-wye systems with current flowing on
the neutral.
Two typical problems are overloading the neutral and telephone interference. One also hears
occasionally of devices that misoperate because the line-to-neutral voltage is badly distorted
by the triplen harmonic voltage drop in the neutral conductor.

For the system with perfectly balanced single-phase loads illustrated in Figure 1, an
assumption is made that fundamental and third harmonic components are present. Summing
the currents at node N, the fundamental current components in the neutral are found to be
zero, but the third harmonic components are three times the phase currents because they
naturally coincide in phase and time.

Figure 1 – High neutral currents in circuits serving single-phase nonlinear loads

Triplen Harmonics in Transformers:

Transformer winding connections have a significant impact on the flow of triplen harmonic
currents from single-phase nonlinear loads. Two cases are shown in Figure 2. In the wye-
delta transformer (top), the triplen harmonic currents are shown entering the wye side.

Since they are in phase, they add in the neutral.

Figure 2 – Flow of third harmonic current in 3-phase transformers

The delta winding provides ampere-turn balance so that they can flow, but they remain
trapped in the delta and do not show up in the line currents on the delta side. When the cur-
rents are balanced, the triplen harmonic currents behave exactly as zero-sequence currents,
which is precisely what they are.

This type of transformer connection is the most common employed in utility distribution
substations with the delta winding connected to the transmission feed.

Using grounded-wye windings on both sides of the transformer (bottom) allows balanced
triplens to flow from the low voltage system to the high voltage system unimpeded.
They will be present in equal proportion on both sides. Many loads in the United States are
served in this fashion.

Some important implications of this related to power quality analysis are:

Implication #1 – Transformers, particularly the neutral connec- tions, are susceptible to

overheating when serv- ing single phase loads on the wye side that have high third harmonic
content.
Implication #2 – Measuring the current on the delta side of a transformer will not show the
triplens and, therefore, not give a true idea of the heating the transformer is being subjected
to.
The flow of triplen harmonic currents can be interrupted by the appropriate isolation
transformer connection.

Implication #3 – Removing the neutral connection in one or both wye windings, blocks the
flow of triplen harmonic current. There is no place for ampere-turn balance. Likewise, a delta
winding blocks the flow from the line.

One should note that three-legged core transformers behave as if they have a “phantom” delta
tertiary winding. Therefore, a wye-wye with only one neutral point grounded will still be able
to conduct the triplen harmonics from that side.

These rules about triplen harmonic current flow in transformers apply only to balanced
loading conditions. When the phases are not balanced, currents of normal triplen harmonic
frequencies may very well show up where they are not expected.

The normal mode for triplen harmonics is to be zero sequence. During imbalances, triplen
harmonics may have positive or negative sequence components too.

Figure 3 – Example of voltage notching caused by a 3-phase converter

One notable case of this is a 3-phase arc furnace. The furnace is nearly always fed by a
delta-delta connected transformer to block the flow of the zero sequence currents, as shown
in Figure 3. Thinking that third harmonics are synonymous with zero sequence, many
engineers are surprised to find substantial third harmonic current present in large magnitudes
in the line current.

However, during scrap meltdown, the furnace will frequently operate in an unbalanced mode
with only two electrodes carrying current. Large third harmonic currents can then freely
circulate in these two phases just as a single-phase circuit.
However, they are not zero sequence currents. The third harmonic cur- rents are equal
amounts of positive and negative sequence currents. But to the extent that the system is
mostly balanced, triplens mostly behave in the manner described.

What is the Notching?

Notching is a periodic voltage disturbance caused by the normal operation of power

electronics devices when current is commutated from one phase to another. Since notching
occurs continuously, it can be characterized through the harmonic spectrum of the affected
voltage.

However, it is generally treated as a special case. The frequency components associated with
notching can be quite high and may not be readily characterized with measurement
equipment normally used for harmonic analysis.

Figure 3 above shows an example of voltage notching from a 3-phase converter that produces
continuous DC current. The notches occur when the current commutates from one phase to
another. During this period, there is a momentary short circuit between two phases pulling
the voltage as close to zero as permitted by system impedances.