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Harmonic Survey of Typical Non-Linear Loads


D C Bhonsle and N K Zaveri
Department of Electrical Engineering
C K Pithawalla College of Engineering and Technology
Near Malvan Mandir, Magdalla Port, Dumas Road
Surat, Gujarat, INDIA
Dr R B Kelkar
Department of Electrical Engineering
Maharaja Sayajirao University
Baroda, Gujarat, INDIA
Abstract
Harmonic distortion in electric distribution system is increasingly growing due to the widespread use of non-linear loads.
Large concentration of these loads has the potential to raise harmonic voltages and currents in an electrical system to
unacceptable high levels that can adversely affect the system. Hence there is need to study the impact of non-linear loads in the
system. This paper presents detailed harmonic survey of various typical non-linear loads. Yokogawa CW240 clamp on power
analyzer is used for harmonic measurement. Harmonic spectrum for each load is plotted. Finally total harmonic distortion is
calculated and compared with the IEEE standard limits.
Keywords: Power Quality, THD, Non-linear Load.
1 INTRODUCTION
A Nowadays power quality has become a great concern for
both, utilities and customers, with the increasing use of
non-linear load being connected to the power system, more
studies on the effects of harmonic penetration in power
distribution system are needed. The problem associated with
high harmonic content in the power system affects power
quality as well as power system operation. The major
sources of harmonics are from three categories of
equipments, mainly power system equipment, domestic
loads and industrial loads [1-3]. Hence studies on harmonics
are receiving more attention because of pollution of supply
network. These harmonic producing loads contribute to the
degradation of power quality in transmission and
distribution systems. Harmonic is one of the power quality
issues and it plays a major role in power quality degradation.
Hence harmonic survey in distribution system is becoming
an important attempt in power quality improvement
direction.
2 HARMONICS
Power systems are designed to operate at frequency 50 Hz;
however non-linear loads produce currents and voltages with
multiple frequency of the fundamental.
Harmonics are voltage and currents whose frequencies are
multiples of the 50 Hz wave form [9]. Fourier showed
expression of any periodic waveform as a mathematical
function. Any periodic voltage waveform ) (t V can be
expressed as sum of a dc component
0
V and sine wave
with a fundamental frequency 50 Hz:
) sin( ) (
1
0 h
n
h
h
t h V V t V

(1)
Where n is the total number of harmonic order considered
and
h
is phase angle contributed due to the presence of
harmonics. Similar equation could be written for a current
waveform ) (t I .
) sin( ) (
1
0 h
n
h
h
t h I I t I

(2)
As these individual sin waves are all integer multiples of
fundamental frequency, they are called harmonics. The
second harmonics for a 50 Hz system is 100 Hz, the third
harmonic is 150 Hz, etc. Typically all odd harmonics are
present in system [6-8, 11].
Harmonics are generated by widely dispersed non-linear
loads. Such loads draw non-sinusoidal current wave forms
when supplies by a sinusoidal voltage source. These results
in harmonic currents which intern distort system voltage
producing harmonic voltages. Harmonic currents and
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The International Conference on Electrical Engineering 2008
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voltages affect the system performance in so many ways.
Some of the undesirable effects in system performance are
increased neutral currents in four-wire system, over heating
of system components, mechanical oscillations in generators
and motors, capacitor and insulation failure due to harmonic
resonance, unpredictable behavior of installed protection
systems, over heating of transformers and telephone
interference [4]. These undesirable effects are proportional
to the presence of degree of harmonics presence in the given
system. Harmonic content is intern dependent on the number
and type of non-linear loads connected to the given system.
This paper includes harmonic survey of industrial and
domestic type of non-linear loads. Fore coming section
explains measurement of the harmonic content which, intern,
is useful to know the degree of harmonics present in the
distribution system.
2 HARMONIC MEASUREMENTS
In an attempt to study the various waveforms generated
by some of the typical non-linear loads, harmonic
measurements are taken by power analyzer. Yokogawa
CW240 clamp on power analyzer (200 A, 600 V) is used to
plot harmonic spectrum showing magnitude of each
harmonic frequency that makes up a distorted waveform.
The magnitude of each harmonic frequency can be
expressed as a percentage of fundamental, a percent RMS, a
percent total current or as a voltage. Total harmonic
distortion is defined from harmonic spectrum as the ratio of
the RMS sum of all harmonic frequencies to the RMS value
of the fundamental frequency. THD is mathematically
expressed by the following equation [1]:
1
2
2
) (
V
V
THD
h
n
h
V


(3)
1
2
2
) (
I
I
THD
h
n
h
I

(4)

3 FIELD MEASUREMENTS
Low voltage distribution system is chosen for harmonic field
measurement. Various types of non-linear loads are taken
for harmonic field measurement. Current harmonic
spectrums are under major considerations. The field
measurement is basically aimed at showing total harmonic
distortion reflected at point of common coupling (PCC).
PCC is defined as, the electrical connecting point or
interface between the utility distributions and the customer
electrical distribution system [11].
3.1 Arc Furnace
Fig. 1 Current Harmonic Spectrum of Phase and Neutral
Arc furnace is the typical example of rich harmonic content.
As shown in Fig. 1 current harmonic spectrum of phase and
neutral current is presented. Harmonics are present up to 33
for phase and 42 for neutral current respectively. Total
harmonic distortions contributed by voltage and current are
2.4 % and 54 % respectively.
3.2 Water Jet in Textile Industries
Fig. 2 Current Harmonic Spectrum and VI Waveforms
Fig. 2 shows odd current harmonic order presents up to 15.
Second diagram shows actual waveforms of voltage and
current. Total harmonic distortion contributed by current is
54 %.
3.3 Embroidery Machine
Fig. 3 Current Harmonic Spectrum and VI Waveforms
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3.4 Laser Machine
Fig. 4 Current Harmonic Spectrum and VI Waveforms
3.5 UPS
Fig. 5 Current Harmonic Spectrum and VI Waveforms
3.6 CRO
Fig. 6 Current Harmonic Spectrum and VI Waveforms
3.7 Electronic Fan Regulator
Fig. 7 Current Harmonic Spectrum and VI Waveforms
3.8 Personal Computers
Fig. 8 Current Harmonic Spectrum and VI Waveforms
3.9 Printers
Fig. 9 Current Harmonic Spectrum and VI Waveforms
3.10 Laptop
Fig. 10 Current Harmonic Spectrum and VI Waveforms
4 IEEE STANDARDS
Harmonic generation is attributed to the application of
non-linear loads. These non-linear loads not only have the
potential to create problems within the facility that contains
the non-linear loads but also can adversely affect
neighboring facilities. IEEE 519-1992 [3] relies strongly on
the definition of the point of common coupling (PCC).
The whole of IEEE 519 can essentially summarize in its
table 10.3 to 10.5 [3]. Harmonic voltage and current
distortion limits are as follows:
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Table 1 Harmonic Voltage limits by IEEE 519
Bus Voltage THD
V
%
69 KV & above 5.0
115 KV to 161 KV 2.5
Above 161 KV 1.0
Table 2 Harmonics Current limits by IEEE 519
SCR THD
I
%
<20 5.0
20-50 8.0
50-100 12.0
11-15 20.0
SCR is ratio of the maximum short-circuit current to the
maximum fundamental frequency load current at PCC.
5 OBSERVATIONS
Fig. 1 shows current harmonic spectrum of arc furnace
representing typical industrial non-linear load. It shows the
non-sinusoidal and highly distorted harmonic current drawn
by arc furnace. The harmonic generated by this current are
significantly high in amplitude and rich in odd harmonics
namely 3
rd
, 5
th
, 7
th
, 9
th
, 11
th
, and 13
th
harmonics. There is also
noticeable amount of the 15
th
and 17
th
harmonic current
components. The total harmonic distortion of current is 54%.
Similarly, harmonic spectrums, shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 10,
can be studied.
The recorded current harmonic spectrum of laptop is shown
in the Fig. 10 represents a typical non-linear domestic load.
The current is highly non-sinusoidal thus indicating that the
current drawn by the laptop is major contributor to the
overall harmonic pollution. The input current is very reach
in harmonic ranging from 3
rd
to 11
th
harmonic components.
The current THD for the laptop is 156.2%, which is highest
among the domestic loads.
In general, the current THD of the monitored non-linear
loads are excessively higher than the limit imposed by IEEE
519-1992, according to which, THD
I
should not be more
than 5 % at PCC.
6 SUMMARIES
Table 3 THDs of Voltage and Current for various Loads
Industrial Loads
Sr. No. Non-linear load THD
V
% THD
I
%
1 Arc Furnace 2.4 54
2 Water Jet 0 10
3 Embroidery Machine 0.5 18
4 Laser Machine 2.5 25
5 UPS 2.4 54
Domestic Loads
6 CRO 2.5 25
7 Electronic Fan Regulator 2.2 97.5
8 Personal Computer 2.13 67.44
9 Printer 4.44 87.3
10 Laptop 2.4 156.2
Experimental results of total harmonic distortion of voltage
and current for various industrial and domestic loads are
summarized in Table 3.
7 CONCLUSIONS
1. THD as harmonic distortion index is defined.
2. Harmonic survey for various types of typical non-linear
loads is done for both, industrial as well as domestic
type of loads.
3. IEEE 519 limits for voltage and current harmonic
distortion are studied.
4. THD
V
for the loads specified are ranging from 0.5 to
4.44, which is within IEEE THD
V
limits.
5. THD
I
for the loads specified are ranging from 10 to
156.2, which violates IEEE limits.
6. Harmonic mitigating methods should be employed to
bring current harmonic distortion within the IEEE 519
standard limits. Passive tuned filters are one of the
economical means of harmonic mitigation.
8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of
Torrent Power PQ cell, Surat, Gujarat, INDIA for their
assistance in practical measurement of harmonic distortion.
9 REFERENCES
9.1 Periodicals
[1] Dalila Mat Said Ahmed, Abdullah asuhaimi, Mohd Zin,
"Power Supply Quality Improvement: Harmonic
Measurement and Simulation," National Power and
Energy Conference (PECon), 2003 Proceedings, Bangi,
Malaysia, pp. 352-358.
[2] C. Gopalkrishnan, K Udaykumar, T. A. Raghvendiran,
"Survey of Harmonic Distortion for Power Quality
Measurement and Application of Standard including
Simulation," 2001, Anna University, India.
[3] L. A. Moran, J. W. Dixon, J. R. Espinoza, R. R.
Wallace, Using Active Power Filter to Improve Power
Quality, Santiago, Chile, 2000.
[4] K. C. Umeh, A. Mohamed, R. Mohmed, Comparing
The Harmonic Characteristics of Typical Single Phase
Nonlinear Loads, National Power Energy Conference
(PECon) 2003 Proceedings, Bangi, Malaysia, pp.
383-387.
July 6-10, 2008, OKINAWA, JAPAN
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[5] D. C. Bhonsle, Dr. R. B. Kelkar and N. K. Zaveri,
Power Quality Issues-In Distribution System, IE(I)
23
rd
National Convention of Electrical Engineers,
Pune, November 2007 Proceedings, pp. 108-111.
9.2 Books
[6] J. Arrillaga, D. A. Bradley, P. S. Bodger, Power
System Harmonics, New York: Wiley, 1985.
[7] E. Acha, M. Madrigal, Power System Harmonics,
Computer Modeling and Analysis, New York: Wiley,
2001.
9.3 Technical Reports
[8] M. S. Lalli, I. P. S. Paul, Field Measurement of Power
Quality in Steel Rolling Mills, Centerl Power Research
Institute (CPRI), Banglore. Pp. 279-282.
[9] Fluke Corporation, Common Power Quality Factors
affecting Transformers, An Application Note, 2002.
[10] Marty Martin, P. E., Two Modern Power Quality
Issues- Harmonics and Grounding, an Article.
9.4 Standards
[11] IEEE Recommended Practices and Requirements for
Harmonic Control of Electrical Power Systems, IEEE
Standards, 519, 1992, 1993.
10 BIOGRAPHIES
10.1 D C BHONSLE
Graduated from Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya, Vallabh
Vidyanagar, Gujarat, INDIA. Pursuing Masters in Electrical
Power System from Maharaja Sayajirao University,
Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA.
10.2 Dr R B KELKAR
Graduated from Science Gwalior. M. E. from College of
Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra and Ph. D. from Maharaja
Sayajirao University, Vadodara, INDIA. At present he is
working as Professor in Electrical Engg. Department of
Maharaja Sayajirao University. His area of interest is
Economic Operation and Electrical drives and Power
systems.
10.3 N K ZAVERI
Graduated from Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of
Technology, Surat, Gujarat, INDIA. Pursuing Ph. D. from
SVNIT, Surat. Presently he is working as a lecturer in
Electrical department of C K Pithawalla College of
Engineering and Technology, Surat, Gujarat, INDIA.
The International Conference on Electrical Engineering 2008

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