Managing Harmonics A case study Jim Bridgeman PFC Engineering

Introduction
Basics of harmonic resonance Effects of harmonic resonance Typical solutions applied to resonant Power Systems

Harmonic magnification case study

The Basics of Harmonic Resonance

N res Scc( kVA) kVAr

Harmonic current source (In)

Vn

kW PFC Loading Capacitors

System Impedance

Magnified In

Effects of Harmonic Resonance

Linear load = 0 kW

Linear load = 300 kW

Effects of Harmonic Resonance

Harmonic distortion with and without capacitors connected with 200A of non-linear load 12 10 8 Vn No caps Vn Caps

Vn (%)

6 4 2 0 5 7 Harmonic 11 13

Effects of Harmonic Resonance

Increased voltage distortion, possibly resulting in equipment malfunction
Loss of transformer output due to increased heating Interference with communication systems Premature failure of motors

Premature failure of power factor correction capacitors

Typical Solutions Applied to Resonant Power Systems

Detuning reactors Partial harmonic filtration Full harmonic filtration

Typical Solutions Applied to Resonant Power Systems Detuning Reactors

Tuning frequency 189Hz

Harmonic current source (In)

Vn

kW Loading

Detuned PFC Capacitors

System Impedance

Typical Solutions Applied to Resonant Power Systems Partial Filtration

Tuning frequency 210Hz

Harmonic current source (In)

Vn

kW Loading

Detuned PFC Capacitors

System Impedance

Typical Solutions Applied to Resonant Power Systems Full Filtration

Tuning frequency 240 Hz
Tuning frequency 335 Hz

Harmonic current source (In)

Vn

PFC kW Capacitors Loading as Filters

System Impedance

Comparison of Harmonic Resonance Solutions

Comparison of Harmonic Resonance Solutions

12 10 8
Vn Plain Capacitors Vn Detuned Capacitors Vn Partial Filtration Vn Full Filtration

Vn (%)

6 4 2 0 5 7 Harmonic

11

13

Case Study Harmonic Magnification at a Car Battery Factory

Large 5th harmonic magnification excited by 600 kVAr of capacitors

Costly installation of detuning reactors appeared to be the only solution

A more cost effective solution involving reconfiguration of the existing plant was found

Case Study Initial System Configuration (Transformer T1)

120 MVA 11 kV Busbar

Plain capacitors All non-linear loading No load damping

11 kV / 415 V, 1500kVA 5.22%

"Dirty" supply

600 kW Battery Chargers

6 x 100 kVAr

Case Study Initial System Configuration (Transformer T2)

120 MVA 11 kV Busbar

Nearly all linear loading Significant load damping

11 kV / 415 V, 1500kVA 5.22%

"Clean" supply

500 kW Linear Loading PFC on this supply unknown

Case Study Effects of 5th Harmonic Voltage Magnification

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Harmonic 0 steps of capacitors 6 steps of capacitors

Voltage distortion (%)

Case Study Effects of 5th Harmonic Voltage Magnification

500 400 300 200 V No Capacitors V 6 steps of capacitors

Voltage (Volts)

100 0

7.5

82.5

157.5

232.5

-100 -200 -300 -400 -500

Phase Angle Degrees

307.5

Case Study Reasons for severity of 5th harmonic voltage magnification

High base level of harmonics due to all non-linear load being connected to this supply

Connection of plain capacitor banks

Total lack of harmonic damping from linear loading

Case Study Proposed Solution to Problem of Harmonic Magnification

120 MVA 11 kV Busbar
11 kV / 415 V, 1500kVA 5.22%

300 kW Battery Chargers

250 kW Linear Loading

6 x 100 kVAr

Case Study Improvement in Harmonic Performance with Re-configured Load

6 5 0 steps of capacitors 6 steps of capacitors

Voltage distortion (%)

4 3 2 1 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Harmonic

Case Study Effects of 5th Harmonic Voltage Magnification

400 300 200 V No Capacitors V 6 Steps of Capacitors

Voltage (Volts)

100 0

7.5

82.5

157.5

232.5

-100 -200 -300 -400

Phase Angle Degrees

307.5

Conclusions
Harmonic resonance can be caused by connection of Power Factor Correction equipment Various methods of avoiding this scenario involving blocking / filtration systems are available

Careful examination of the problem and more appropriate load configuration can provide more cost effective solution to the problem

Questions?