FUNDAMENTALS OF

HARMONICS
CENTENO, BEATRICE KIM R.
DE LEON, KRYZIAN DL.
JADORMEO, AERON
OUTLINE

• Introduction Video
• Harmonic Distortion
• Voltage vs. Current Distortion
• Harmonics Vs. Transients
• Harmonic Indices
INTRODUCTION VIDEO

• TADAAA!!!
HARMONIC DISTORTION

• HARMONICS are the multiples of a sine wave (the fundamental frequency)

• This is consists of:
• Fundamental Wave which has the lowest frequency.
• No. of Sinusoidal waves whose frequencies are integral multiple of the fundamental frequency.
HARMONIC DISTORTION(CAUSES)

• Caused by non linear devices (the current is not proportional to the applied voltage.)
• NON LINEAR LOADS (A load is considered non-linear if its impedance changes with the
applied voltage)
• Harmonic Distortion generally originates with some end-user’s load or some combination
loads.
• Examples of Non-Linear Loads
• Arc Furnaces
• Variable Speed Drives
• Heavy Rectifier Loads
HARMONIC DISTORTION(EFFECTS)

ON EQUIPMENT:
• Increased heating.
• Skin Effect
• Flicker

• It can damage equipment like fuses and circuit breakers, and can cause utility meters to
record wrong measurements.
HARMONIC DISTORTION(SOLUTIONS)

Methods of Harmonic Mitigation

• Isolation Transformers
• Filters
• Reactors
HARMONIC DISTORTION
HARMONIC DISTORTION
HARMONIC DISTORTION
HARMONICS VS. TRANSIENTS

TRANSIENTS HARMONICS

high frequency after there is an abrupt change in High frequency occur in a steady state and are
the power system which are natural frequencies integer multiples off the fundamental frequency
in switching operations
Dissipates within a few cycles Present continually

Switching of Capacitor Banks Continuing operation of loads

CONFLICT: Transformer Energization

A transient event that occurs in a few seconds.
VOLTAGE VS. CURRENT DISTORTION
VOLTAGE VS. CURRENT DISTORTION

• Nonlinear loads appear to be sources of harmonic current in shunt with and injecting
harmonic currents into the power system.
• The harmonic currents passing through the impedance of the system cause a voltage
drop for each harmonic. This results in voltage harmonics appearing at the load bus.
• Load current harmonics ultimately cause the voltage distortion
TRIPLEN HARMONICS

• When nonlinear loads are present, any in the neutral “triplen” harmonics do not cancel out
but add cumulatively in the neutral conductor.
• They become an important issue for grounded-wye systems with current flowing on the
neutral.
• Two typical problems are:
• Overloading the neutral
• Telephone Interference
HARMONIC INDICES

TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION

• Measure of the total value of the harmonic components of a distorted waveform.
• Can be calculated as voltage or current.
• Ratio of the rms of the harmonic content to the rms of the fundamental quantity
HARMONIC INDICES

TOTAL DEMAND DISTORTION

ratio of the rms of the harmonic content to the rms of the maximum
demand load current at the PCC
REFERENCES

• Electrical Power Systems Quality (2ndEdition) by Roger C. Dugan et al

• Harmonics in Power Systems by Siemens