Principles for Controlling Harmonics

Harmonic distortion is present to some degree on all power

systems. Fundamentally, one needs to control harmonics only

when they become a problem. There are three common causes
of harmonic problems:
1. The source of harmonic currents is too great.
2. The path in which the currents flow is too long

(electrically), resulting in either high voltage distortion or

telephone interference.
3. The response of the system magnifies one or more

harmonics to a greater degree than can be tolerated.

Principles for Controlling Harmonics

When a problem occurs, the basic options for controlling

harmonics are:
1. Reduce the harmonic currents produced by the load.
2. Add filters to either bypass the harmonic currents off

the system, block the currents from entering the

system, or supply the harmonic currents locally.
3. Modify the frequency response of the system by

filters, inductors, or capacitors.

Modifying the System Frequency Response

There are a number of methods to modify adverse system

responses to harmonics:
1. Add a shunt filter. Not only does this shunt a troublesome
harmonic current off the system, but it completely changes the
system response, most often, but not always, for the better.
2. Add a reactor to detune the system. Harmful resonances
generally occur between the system inductance and shunt
power factor correction capacitors. The reactor must be added
between the capacitor and the supply system source.
One method is to simply put a reactor in series with the
capacitor to move the system resonance without actually
tuning the capacitor to create a filter. Another is to add
reactance in the line
4

Modifying the System Frequency Response

3. Change the capacitor size. This is often one of the least
expensive options for both utilities and industrial customers.
4. Move a capacitor to a point on the system with a different
short-circuit impedance or higher losses. This is also an option
for utilities when a new bank causes telephone interference
moving the bank to another branch of the feeder may very well
resolve the problem. This is frequently not an option for
industrial users because the capacitor cannot be moved far
enough to make a difference.
5. Remove the capacitor and simply accept the higher losses,
lower voltage, and power factor penalty. If technically
feasible, this is occasionally the best economic choice.

Modifying the System Frequency Response

End-User Facilities
When harmonic problems arise in an end-user facility, the first step

is to determine if the main cause is resonance with power factor

capacitors in the facility. When it is, first attempt a simple solution
by using a different capacitor size. With automatic power factor
controllers, it may be possible to select a control scheme that avoids
the configuration that causes problems. In other cases, there will be
so many capacitors switched at random with loads that it will be
impossible to avoid resonant conditions. Filtering will be necessary.
When the magnitude of harmonic currents injected by loads is
excessive, industrial users should also investigate means of reducing
harmonics by using different transformer connections and line
chokes. In office buildings, zigzag transformers and triplen harmonic
filters can reduce the impact of triplen harmonic currents on neutral
circuits
6

Harmonic Mitigation Filters

Harmonic mitigation is achieved by installing harmonic filters.
Those filters are divided into THREE categories.

Passive Filters

Active Filters

Passive Filters
Passive filters are inductance, capacitance, and resistance

elements configured and tuned to control harmonics.

They are commonly used and are relatively inexpensive
compared with other means for eliminating harmonic
distortion.
However, they have the disadvantage of potentially
interacting adversely with the power system, and it is
important to check all possible system interactions when
they are designed.
They are employed either to shunt the harmonic currents off
the line or to block their flow between parts of the system by
tuning the elements to create a resonance at a selected
frequency.
8

Passive Filters
Shunt passive filters. The most common type of passive filter

is the single-tuned notch filter. This is the most economical

type and is frequently sufficient for the application. The notch
filter is series-tuned to present a low impedance to a particular
harmonic current and is connected in shunt with the power
system. Thus, harmonic currents are diverted from their
normal flow path on the line through the filter.
The filter designed for medium-voltage

applications has a dry-type iron-core reactor

positioned atop the capacitors, which are connected
in Y configuration with the other phases. Each
capacitor can is fused with a current-limiting fuse
to minimize damage in case of a can failure.
In outdoor installations it is often more economical
to use air-core reactors. Iron-core reactors may also
be oil-insulated
9

Passive Filters
Notch filters can provide power factor correction in addition to

harmonic suppression. In fact, power factor correction capacitors

may be used to make notch filters.

Series-Single-Tuned Notch Filter

& Filter Frequency Response.

|V o | = ( L-1/( C)|I|, V

0.8
.7071

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0

10

100o

200

300

400 , R/s 500

Passive Filters
An example of a common 480-V filter arrangement is illustrated

below. The figure shows a delta-connected low-voltage capacitor

bank converted into a filter by adding an inductance in series with
the phases. In this case, the notch harmonic hnotch is related to the
fundamental frequency reactances by.
X 3
hnotch

XF

Note

that Xc in this case is the

reactance of one leg of the delta
rather than the equivalent line-toneutral capacitive reactance.
If Line-to-Line voltage and threephase kVAR are used to compute
Xc,
2

Xc

Low-voltage filter configuration

11

VLL
Qcap

the factor 3 would be omitted.

Passive Filters
One important side effect of this type of filter is that it creates a

sharp parallel resonance point at a frequency below the notch

frequency.
This resonant frequency must be safely away from any significant
harmonic or other frequency component that may be produced by
the load.

12

Creating a fifth-harmonic notch filter

and its effect on system response

Passive Filters
In many systems with potential series resonance problems,

parallel resonance also arises due to the circuit topology.

Parallel resonance is formed by the parallel combination
between Xsource and a series between XT and XC. The resulting
parallel resonant frequency is always smaller than its series
resonant frequency due to the source inductance contribution.
The parallel resonant frequency can be represented by the
following equation:
Xc
hr
X T X source

hs
13

Series resonance:

Xc
XT

Passive Filters
Filters are commonly tuned slightly lower than the harmonic to be

filtered to provide a margin of safety in case there is some change

in system parameters that would raise the notch frequency.
If they were tuned exactly to the harmonic, changes in either
capacitance or inductance with temperature or failure might shift
the parallel resonance higher into the harmonic being filtered.
This could present a situation worse than one without a filter
because the resonance is generally very sharp.
To avoid problems with this resonance, filters are added to the
system starting with the lowest significant harmonic found in the
system. For example, installing a seventh-harmonic filter usually
requires that a fifth-harmonic filter also be installed. The new
parallel resonance with a seventh-harmonic filter alone is often
very near the fifth, which is generally disastrous
14

Passive Filters
The filter configuration (-connected Cap.) does not admit zero-

sequence currents because the capacitor is delta-connected, which

makes it ineffective for filtering zero-sequence triplen harmonics.
Because 480-V capacitors are usually delta-configured, other
solutions must be employed when it becomes necessary to control
zero-sequence third- harmonic currents in many industrial and
commercial building facilities.
In contrast, capacitors on utility distribution systems are more
commonly Y-connected. This gives the option of controlling the
zero- sequence triplen harmonics simply by changing the neutral
connection.
Placing a tapped reactor in the neutral of a capacitor is a common
way to force the bank to filter only zero-sequence harmonics.
This technique is often employed to eliminate telephone.
interference.
15

Passive Filters
Series passive filters. Unlike a notch filter which is connected in

shunt with the power system, a series passive filter is connected in

series with the load.
The inductance and capacitance are connected in parallel and are
tuned to provide a high impedance at a selected harmonic
frequency. The high impedance then blocks the flow of harmonic
currents at the tuned frequency only.
At fundamental frequency, the filter would be designed to yield a
low impedance, thereby allowing the fundamental current to
follow with only minor additional impedance and losses.

16

A series passive filter

Passive Filters
Series filters are used to block a single harmonic current (such as

the third harmonic) and are especially useful in a single-phase

circuit where it is not possible to take advantage of zero-sequence
characteristics.
The use of the series filters is limited in blocking multiple
harmonic currents. Each harmonic current requires a series filter
tuned to that harmonic. This arrangement can create significant
losses at the fundamental frequency.
Furthermore, like other series components in power systems, a
series filter must be designed to carry a full rated load current and
must have an overcurrent protection scheme. Thus, series filters
are much less commonly applied than shunt filters.

17

Passive Filters
C filters. C filters are used for reducing multiple harmonic

frequencies simultaneously in industrial and utility systems. They

can attenuate a wide range of steady- state and time-varying
harmonic and interharmonic frequencies generated by electronic
converters, induction furnaces, cycloconverters.
The configuration of a C filter is nearly identical to that of the
second-order high-pass filter.
The auxiliary capacitor Ca is sized in such a way that its
capacitive reactance cancels out Lm at the fundamental frequency,
bypassing the damping resistance R.

18

Active Filters
Active filters are sophisticated power electronics-based devices

for eliminating harmonics.

They are much more expensive than passive filters.
They have the distinct advantage that they do not resonate with
the system.
The basic idea is to replace the portion of the sine wave that is
missing in the current in a nonlinear load.
An electronic control monitors the line voltage and/or current,
switching the power electronics very precisely to track the load
current or voltage and force it to be sinusoidal

19

Application of an active filter at a load.

Harmonic Filter Design- Limitations

Equipment withstand capabilities

According to existing equipment standards, harmonics should

be limited to the equipment withstand capabilities.

When transformers are operating at rated load, the total
harmonic current distortion should be limited to 5% as
defined in IEEE Std C57-2000. IEEE Std C57-1998 defines
the method for derating transformers when supplying
nonsinusoidal loads.

Harmonic Filter Design- Limitations

IEEE Std 1036-1992 and IEEE Std 18-2002 state that
capacitors are intended to be operated at or below their rated
voltage. Capacitors shall be capable of continuous operation
under contingency system and bank conditions provided that none
of the following limitations are exceeded:
1.
2.
3.
4.

135% of nameplate kVAR

110% of rated rms voltage (including harmonics but excluding transients)
135% of rated rms current (including fundamental and harmonic current)
120% of peak voltage (including harmonics).

IEEE Standard for Shunt Power

Capacitors (IEEE Standard 182000) specifies the following
continuous capacitor ratings:
3

Harmonic Filter Design- A Case Study

Filter design procedures are detailed in the steps shown

below. The best way to illustrate the design procedures is

through an example.
A single-tuned notch filter will be designed for an industrial

facility and applied at a 480-V bus. The load where the filter
will be installed is approximately 1200 kVA with a relatively
poor displacement power factor of 0.75 lagging. The total
harmonic current produced by this load is approximately 30
percent of the fundamental current, with a maximum of 25
percent fifth harmonic.

Harmonic Filter Design- A Case Study

The facility is supplied by a 1500-kVA transformer with 6.0

percent of impedance. The fifth-harmonic background

voltage distortion on the utility side of the transformer is 1.0
percent of the fundamental when there is no load. The
harmonic design procedures are provided in the following
steps.

Industrial facility where

the filter will be applied
5

Harmonics Filter Design Example

This

example deals with the designing consideration for a

single-tuned filter for a 480 V bus as shown in the figure.

The system parameters are as follows:

The load where the filter to be installed is 1.2 MVA.
Load power factor is 0.75 lagging.
Total harmonic current produced by the load is about 30 % of the
fundamental current with a maximum of 25 % 5th harmonic
component.
The facility is supplied via a 1.5 MVA transformer with 6 %
impedance.
At no-load, the 5th harmonic voltage distortion on the utility side of the
transformer is 1 % of the fundamental.