Harmonic Analysis

Harmonic Analysis
Calculation Parameters (HA)
The calculation parameters are entered with the help of a "Parameters" dialog. It
consists of the three tabs Frequency Scanning, Harmonic Level Calculation and
Options, which are explained here.
Frequency scanning
Frequency scanning
Frequency
scanning

Indicates, if Frequency scanning will be done when selecting the

calculation.

Frequency
start

Starting frequency for the calculation in Hz.

Frequency
end

Ending frequency for the calculation in Hz.

Frequency
step

Frequency step for the calculation in Hz

(see "Theory of Harmonic and Audio Frequency Analysis" on
page 11-431).

Variable step
length control

If active, the frequency step will be adjusted automatically

during impedance calculation if large impedance changes
occur. If not active, the impedances are calculated with given
and constant step.

Scanning
according to

Frequency scanning can be done according to

Z: Scanning a node impedance
I: Scanning a current of one harmonic current source (only
one must be present and active in the network)
U: Scanning a voltage of one harmonic voltage source (only
one must be present and active in the network).

Component
system

The component system for frequency scanning can be defined

here. Selecting the zero sequence system, the node impedance
for the zero sequence in the predefined frequency range will be
calculated.

Harmonic Load flow

Harmonic
load flow
calculation

Indicates, if a Harmonic Load flow will be done when selecting

the calculation.

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Harmonic Analysis

Harmonic for
Harmonic
load flow

The harmonic for which the load flow must be calculated.

Harmonic Level Calculation

Harmonic
Level
calculation

Indicates, if Harmonic level calculation will be done when

selecting the calculation.

Harmonic limit All harmonics in the harmonic current and voltage sources are
considered up to the given limit.
S for THDi
calculation

Apparent power in MVA for calculating the nominal current of

the elements. The nominal current of the elements are used for
calculation the distortion factor THDi.

Sum of harmonic values

Vectorial

If there are several harmonic sources in the network the sum of

harmonics will be calculated vectorial (see below).

Geometric

If there are several harmonic sources in the network the sum of

harmonics will be calculated geometrically (see below).

IEC 1000-2-6

If there are several harmonic sources in the network the sum of

harmonics will be calculated according to IEC 1000-2-6 (see
below).

Arithmetic

If there are several harmonic sources in the network the sum of

harmonics will be calculated arithmetically (see below).

Options
Reduction of switches circuit breakers and couplers
Reduce

If this option is checked, all switches, circuit breakers and

busbar couplers are reduced.

Network modelling
Only positive
system

If this option is active, only the impedances of positive sequence

system will be considered during level calculation and frequency
scanning. If this option is not active, the program will determine
automatically, which component system (positive, negative or
zero sequence system) has to be taken. This will be in function
of the frequency, which has to be entered in the harmonic
sources (see Network modelling for level calculation). The
user can select the component system for frequency scanning.

Phaseshifting
of

If this option is active, the phase shifting of the transformers will

be considered, otherwise not.

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Harmonic Analysis

transformers
Result file
File

File name, which can be selected.

Write after
calculation

If checked, the result file will be created after the calculation.

Format 4.x

If checked, the result file will be created as in program version

4.x.

Select

To select the nodes and elements, whose variable should be

stored and displayed.

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Harmonic Analysis

Theory of Harmonic and Audio Frequency Analysis

The operating behavior of the networks at frequencies above 50/60 Hz has to be
simulated in order to examine the harmonics as well as the level of AF ripple
control signals in power networks. The following models are required:
Network elements (lines, filters, loads, synchronous machines..)
Harmonic sources (converter, AF ripple control transmitters...)
Network elements
The network elements are represented by their equivalent circuit elements: resistance (R), inductance (L) and capacitance (C). A balanced three-phase system is
assumed, so that a single-phase representation of the network in the positive
sequence system will be examined.
In general the resistances and inductances of the network elements are
frequency-dependent (see Frequency dependence in chapter Element Data
Input and Models), for example by current displacement (skin effect). In general
the resistances are increasing with higher frequencies and the inductances are
decreasing. The capacitances are practically frequency-independent. The
frequency-dependency of the elements can be entered in three different manners.
For all frequencies the resistance and the inductance of the equivalent circuit
have to be recalculated.
Sources
There is a difference between current and voltage sources. Current sources inject
the source current into the network. Voltage sources engrave a source voltage on
the network node. The sources are need to reproduce the
equipment with non-linear current-voltage-characteristic
AF ripple control transmitters.
Sources with non-linear current/voltage characteristics are for example converter
and arc furnaces. As a rule these equipments are represented by a current source
for harmonics. The harmonic currents with their frequencies, amplitudes and
phase angles depend on the construction and operation of these equipments.
In case of an arc furnace these are statistic values depending on the particular
furnace.
In ideal case the harmonic currents of converters can be calculated as following:
Ik =

11-4

1
I
k 1

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Harmonic Analysis

with: k = n p 1;

n = 1,2,3,....

It means:
Ik:
I1:
p:

k-th harmonic current

first harmonic current
pulse number of converter

For details there are more information in the literature.

AF ripple control transmitters inject a voltage or current with a well-known
frequency in the network. There are two possibilities in coupling the parallel
injection and the series injection.
Calculation Algorithm
For a harmonic calculation the following steps for each interesting frequency will
be made:
Determination of the equivalent-circuit elements R (f), L(f) (frequency
dependent) and C.
Creating of the admittance matrix for the network
Solution of the linear equation system I(f)=Y(f) U(f)
It means:
I(f):
Y(f):
U(f):

vector of node currents at frequency f

Y-matrix at frequency f
vector of node voltages at frequency f

For harmonic or AF ripple control calculation the harmonic generators or the AF

ripple control transmitters are represented by their equivalent circuits (current or
voltages sources).
For impedance calculation the program will take a fictious current source (1.0 pu)
for the interesting node. A constant amplitude, a constant phase angle and a
frequency range will be related to the source. For all frequencies in this range the
program calculates the voltage at the interesting nodes. With the ratio of voltage
and current for all frequencies the program calculates the impedances (amount
and angle). The impedance calculation is made with the following frequencies,
which will be calculated with the calculation parameters.

f k = fanf + k fdelta fend

It means:

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Harmonic Analysis

fk:

k-th harmonic, k = 0, 1, 2, ...

If the corresponding check box in the calculation parameter mask is checked, the
program will examine the amount and the angle of the impedance for large differences between two successive frequency steps. If large differences occur the
frequency step will be automatically adjusted according to following formulas:

K1 = 5 log

Zalt
Zneu

K 2 = 0.05 alt neu

If it is valid
K1 > 2, that means Zold / Znew > 2,5 or Zold / Znew < 0,4
or
K2 > 2, that means alt neu > 40 ,
the automatic frequency adjustment occurs. K will be set to the larger value of K1
and K2:
K = Maximum (K1, K2).
With this value the new frequency step will be calculated

fdelta =

fdelta
K

As soon as the condition

K>2
is no more fulfilled, the frequency step will be calculated according to the users
input with fstep.
It means:
Zold:
Znew:
Phiold:
Phinew:

11-6

impedance value (amount) at old frequency

impedance value (amount) at new frequency
angle of impedance at old frequency
angle of impedance at new frequency.

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Harmonic Analysis

Network modelling for level calculation

The program will determine automatically, which type of element impedance has
to be taken for building up the Y-matrix, if the calculation parameter only positive
system is not activated. The following component system are taken:
Impedances for positive system: (1 + n*3)th harmonics (n: 0, 1, 2, 3..)
Impedances for negative system: (2 + n*3) th harmonics
Impedances for zero system: (3 + n*3) th harmonics
Impedances for positive, negative and zero system: all inter harmonics
The harmonics as well as the harmonic currents and voltages are defined in the
harmonic sources. The frequency dependence of the element-impedances is
applied for the negative and zero system impedances in the same way as for the
positive system impedances. The vector groups of transformers are considered
like in the short circuit calculation.
In case of unsymmetrical sources, the maximum phase value (voltage, current) is
displayed

Addition of harmonics from different sources

In reality harmonics add always vectorial to each other. So, the sum of two
harmonic sources (voltage or current) with equal amplitude can vary considerably:
between 0% and 200%. The problem is that in practice the harmonic angles in the
sources are unknown. Therefore there are four different ways to make the
addition of harmonics, which come from different sources:
- vectorial
- geometrically
- according to IEC 1000-2-6
- arithmetically
For each harmonic source and each harmonic the network equation
I ( f ) = Y ( f ) U ( f ) will be solved. The angle given in the harmonic sources are not
considered for all calculations, except for vectorial sum calculation. After having
calculated all voltages for each source and harmonic the sum can be built:
Vectorial
The sum is built up vectorial: U h = U h1 + U h 2 + U h3 + ...
Geometrically
The sum is built up geometrically: U h = U h1 2 + U h 2 2 + U h 3 2 + ...
IEC 1000-2-6
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Harmonic Analysis

The sum is built up according to IEC-1000-2-6: U h = k1 U h1 + k 2 U h 2 + k 3 U h3 + ...

Arithmetically
The sum is built up arithmetically: U h = U h1 + U h 2 + U h 3 + ...
The abbreviations are:
Uh: Node voltage for harmonic h
Uh1: Node voltage for harmonic h caused by harmonic source 1
Uh2: Node voltage for harmonic h caused by harmonic source 2
Uh3: Node voltage for harmonic h caused by harmonic source 3
k1:
Diversity factor for harmonic h and harmonic source 1
k2:
Diversity factor for harmonic h and harmonic source 2
k3:
Diversity factor for harmonic h and harmonic source 3
The size of ki is dependent on the harmonic order h and the ratio between the
node voltage Uhi caused by the single harmonic source i and the arithmetically
calculated node voltage Uh. For further information please refer to IEC 1000-2-6.
The vectorial sum is mathematically the correct one, but because of unknown
angles of the harmonics maybe in practice very incorrect. The geometrical sum
gives the smallest value, the arithmetical sum the highest value.
If the node voltage for the h-th harmonic is known the harmonic currents for all
branches can be calculated.
Characteristics
The following characteristics are important for harmonic analysis:
percentage harmonic voltage uk of the h-th harmonic
uh =

Uh
Un
3

It means:
Uk:
Un:

r.m.s.-value of the k-th harmonic voltage (phase-to-earth)

nominal system voltage

r.m.s-value of power frequency voltage (geometrical sum):

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Harmonic Analysis

U = U 1 + U 2 + U 3 + ...

r.m.s-value of power frequency current (geometrical sum):

2

I = I1 + I 2 + I 3 + ...

r.m.s-value of harmonic voltage (geometrical sum):

2

U = U 2 + U 3 + U 4 + ...

r.m.s-value of harmonic current (geometrical sum):

2

I = I 2 + I 3 + I 4 + ...

Voltage Distortion Factor in %:

2

U 2 + U 3 + ....
THD =
100%
U1

with U1 = Un

Current Distortion Factor in %:

2

THDi =

I 2 + I 3 + ....
I1

100%

with I 1 =

Un Un
STHDi

TIF:
TIF =

(I

Wh )

I1

with I 1 =

Un Un
and Wh=5Phhfn
STHDi

IT:
IT =

(I

Wh )

It means:
U1:
U2:
U3:
I1:
I2:
I3:

amount of voltage of first (fundamental) harmonic

amount of voltage of second harmonic
amount of voltage of third harmonic
amount of current of first (fundamental) harmonic
amount of current of second harmonic
amount of current of third harmonic

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Harmonic Analysis

STHDi: input value (see calculation parameters)

Wh:
single frequency TIF weighting factor at frequency f = hfn according to
IEEE 519
nominal system frequency
fn:
h:
harmonic
Ph:
C message weigthing factor at frequency f = hfn according to IEEE 519
Filter characteristics
Three types of filters can be defined (see description of filter dialog):
- normal filter
- HP-filter
- C-filter.
The following values are calculated for filters:
IL(FH)

fundamental harmonic (nominal system frequency fn) current value

of the inductance L
+IL(RMS): rms current value of the inductance L.
+IL(ari):
total current value (calculated arithmetically) of the inductance L.
IC(FH):
fundamental harmonic (nominal system frequency fn) current value
of the main capacitance C
+IC(RMS): rms current value of the main capacitance C.
+IC(ari):
total current value (calculated arithmetically) of the main
capacitance C.
Ird(FH):
fundamental harmonic (nominal system frequency fn) current value
of the damping resistance Rd.
Ird(RMS): rms current value of the damping resistance Rd.
PRd(FH): fundamental harmonic (nominal system frequency fn) resistive
losses in kW in the damping resistance Rd.
PRd(tot): total resistive losses in kW in the damping resistance Rd caused by
Ird(RMS), PRd(tot) = 3RdIrd(RMS)2
PL(tot):
total resistive losses in kW in the reactor caused by caused by
IL(RMS), PL = 3RvIL(RMS)2
UCsu:
Arithemic sum of fundamental harmonic voltage and r.m.s-value of
harmonic voltage at auxiliary capacitance Cs (only for C-filters).
UCsu = UCs1 +

UCsi:

11-10

UCs

2
h

for h = 2, 3,

Minimum rated capacitance voltage at which ICs can be transmitted

(IEC 871). ICs is 1.3 times the current at nominal system frequency
fn, which is calculated if UCsi is applied at the auxiliary capacitance
Cs (only for C-filters).
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Harmonic Analysis

UCsi =

UCsq:

Voltage at nominal system frequency fn, which causes the same

reactive power at the auxiliary capacitance Cs, as the arithmetic
sum of all reactive powers caused by the nominal system frequency
and the harmonic frequencies (only for C-filters).
UCsq =

UCu:

ICs
1.3 2 f n Cs

h f

for h=1, 2, 3,

UC

2
h

for h = 2, 3,

Minimum rated capacitance voltage at which IC can be transmitted

(IEC 871). IC is 1.3 times the current at nominal system frequency
fn, which is calculated if Uci is applied at the main capacitance C.
UCi =

UCq:

UCs h

Arithemic sum of fundamental harmonic voltage and r.m.s-value of

harmonic voltage at main capacitance C.
UCu = UC1 +

UCi:

IC
1 .3 2 f n C

Voltage at nominal system frequency fn, which causes the same

reactive power at the main capacitance C, as the arithmetic sum of
all reactive powers caused by the nominal system frequency and
the harmonic frequencies.
UCq =

h f

NEPLAN User's Guide V5

UC h

for h=1, 2, 3,

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Harmonic Analysis

Results (HA)

Select Results
The nodes and elements to be presented in the result table, may be selected
here.
The values displayed at the diagram can be selected in the Harmonic Analysis tab
of the Edit Diagram Properties dialog.

Results Table
The results can be represented in different tables, each with its specifique
information.
Node impedances The node impedances are shown for the pre-selected nodes.
This is a result getting from a frequency scanning Zimpedance.
Node results

The results of the nodes will be displayed. This is a result of

either a frequency scanning U/I or a level calculation or or a
harmonic load flow.

Element results

General results of elements will be displayed. This is a result

of either a frequency scanning U/I or a level calculation or a
harmonic load flow.

Filter results

All results of the filters will be displayed. This is a result of a

level calculation.

Result files

Its possible to export results to a *.ros file by selecting the file

and pressing the respective button.
These result files can be read by external programs, such as
Excel and the results can be evaluated in an arbitrary way.
The File can be written in the old Format 4.x or in a new
Format for V5.x.

Below you find a description of the output variables in the result tables:
Node impedances:
f

11-12

Frequency in Hz.

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Harmonic Analysis

Impedance in Ohm.

Z ang

Angle of impedance in .

Node results:
ID

Identification number (ID) of the node.

Name

Node name.

THD

Distortion factor in %.

Frequency in Hz.

Node voltage in V (line-line value)

u [%]

Node voltage in % in respect to nominal node voltage.

U ang

Voltage angle in .

Description

Description of the node.

Zone

Zone, the node belongs to.

Area

Area, the node belongs to.

Partial
network

Number of the partial network, the node belongs to.

Element results:
ID

Identification number (ID) of the element.

From

Name of starting node of element (From node)

To

Name of ending node of element (To node)

Element name

Name of the element.

Type

Type of element.

THDi

Current distortion factor in %.

TIF

TIF factor.

IT

IT factor.

Frequency in Hz.

I1, I2, I3

Current at From node, To node, Tertiary node in A.

I1ang, I2ang,
I3ang

Current angle at From node, To node, Tertiary node in .

U12, U31, U23

Voltage (line-line values) between From node and To

node and Tertiary node in V.

U12ang, U31ang, Angle of voltages between From node and To node and
U23ang
Tertiary node in .
Description

Description of the element.

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Harmonic Analysis

Zone

Zone, the element belongs to.

Area

Area, the element belongs to.

Partial Network

Number of the partial network, the element belongs to.

Filter results:
Please see section Filter characteristics.

Graphical Results
To open the graphical result window choose "Analysis Harmonic Analysis Graphical Results...".
Subchart settings:
Chart name

Name of chart.

Add, Edit Delete

curve

Push buttons to add, edit and delete curves in the diagram.

Harmonic Analysis Results

Curve name

Name of curve

Variant

Name of Variant or Rootnet.

Variable name

The variable name can be selected. Three options are

available:
- Nodes variable
- Elements variable
- Level limit curve.

Element name, ID

Name of element, whose results are displayed.

Variable

Variable to be displayed.

File path

File name and path for limit curve.

Limit curve

Limit curve to be displayed. In the file several curves can

be stored. To display all curves in the file, please add new
curve.

Axis properties
Select axis

Select axis whose settings have to be displayed / changed.

Title

Axis title. Only enabled if the corresponding check box

Automatic is not checked.

Resolution

Specifies the resolution of the steps in between labels.

Only enabled if the corresponding check box Automatic is

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Harmonic Analysis

not checked.
No of digits

Number of label digits. Only enabled if the corresponding

check box Automatic is not checked.

Min

Sets the axis minimum value. Only enabled if the

corresponding check box Automatic is not checked.

Max

Sets the axis maximum value. Only enabled if the

corresponding check box Automatic is not checked.

Grid

If checked grid lines are displayed.

Legend
Show legend

If checked, legend will be displayed

Height

Height of legend in % of sub chart size

The format of the current limit file is given in the appendix.

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