In a normal alternating current power system, the voltage varies sinusoidally at a specific frequency, usually 50 or 60 hertz. When a linear electrical load is connected to the system, it draws a sinusoidal current at the same frequency as the voltage (though usually not in phase with the voltage).
When a non-linear load, such as a rectifier, is connected to the system, it draws a current that is not necessarily sinusoidal. The current waveform can become quite complex, depending on the type of load and its interaction with other components of the system. Regardless of how complex the current waveform becomes, as described through Fourier series analysis, it is possible to decompose it into a series of simple sinusoids, which start at the power system fundamental frequency and occur at integer multiples of the fundamental frequency.
Further examples of non-linear loads include common office equipment such as computers and printers, Fluorescent lighting, battery chargers and also variable speed drives and also arc furnaces (normally used in the steel industry).
Harmonic analysis is becoming an increasingly important topic for power system engineers, as more harmonic-producing loads are added to distribution feeders. There has been an increasing interest in harmonics on distribution feeders in recent years largely due to the increasing presence of solid-state electronic power converters. Concern for harmonics is probably as great today as it was in the 1930s and 1940s when early work on harmonic filtering on distribution feeders was performed. In those days, transformers were the primary harmonic producers although arcing loads were also significant harmonic sources.
Transformers are still major harmonic producers, but devices that utilize arcs (such as arc furnaces) or electronic power converters produce more harmonic currents on many feeders. With the rise of dispersed generation and storage on distribution systems, as well as the widespread use of arc-producing devices and electronic power converters for other uses, the concern about harmonics on distribution feeders will remain high in the foreseeable future.
This study summarizes the methodology used to perform these analyses and describes the tools used in analyzing harmonics on distribution feeders. It describes the general methodology from the collection of data to the final solution proposal.
Since non-linear loads are significant sources of harmonics on the power system and as arc furnaces and converters are examples of these non-linear loads. This study considers two different cases of harmonic analysis.
• The first case is that of a power company 44 KV distribution system employing a converter. The potential for resonance over voltages was evaluated at different system locations to determine the requirement for harmonic filters at the converter bus.
• The second case is that of a steel mill (Delta Steel Mill – Moustorod, Cairo, Egypt) employing a number of arc furnaces. A complete harmonic analysis was carried out. The study clarified the different orders of harmonics produced. A filter was designed to improve the power factor, and to decrease the level of harmonics (after the addition of a properly sized inductor with reasonable quality factor).
In a normal alternating current power system, the voltage varies sinusoidally at a specific frequency, usually 50 or 60 hertz. When a linear electrical load is connected to the system, it draws a sinusoidal current at the same frequency as the voltage (though usually not in phase with the voltage).
When a non-linear load, such as a rectifier, is connected to the system, it draws a current that is not necessarily sinusoidal. The current waveform can become quite complex, depending on the type of load and its interaction with other components of the system. Regardless of how complex the current waveform becomes, as described through Fourier series analysis, it is possible to decompose it into a series of simple sinusoids, which start at the power system fundamental frequency and occur at integer multiples of the fundamental frequency.
Further examples of non-linear loads include common office equipment such as computers and printers, Fluorescent lighting, battery chargers and also variable speed drives and also arc furnaces (normally used in the steel industry).
Harmonic analysis is becoming an increasingly important topic for power system engineers, as more harmonic-producing loads are added to distribution feeders. There has been an increasing interest in harmonics on distribution feeders in recent years largely due to the increasing presence of solid-state electronic power converters. Concern for harmonics is probably as great today as it was in the 1930s and 1940s when early work on harmonic filtering on distribution feeders was performed. In those days, transformers were the primary harmonic producers although arcing loads were also significant harmonic sources.
Transformers are still major harmonic producers, but devices that utilize arcs (such as arc furnaces) or electronic power converters produce more harmonic currents on many feeders. With the rise of dispersed generation and storage on distribution systems, as well as the widespread use of arc-producing devices and electronic power converters for other uses, the concern about harmonics on distribution feeders will remain high in the foreseeable future.
This study summarizes the methodology used to perform these analyses and describes the tools used in analyzing harmonics on distribution feeders. It describes the general methodology from the collection of data to the final solution proposal.
Since non-linear loads are significant sources of harmonics on the power system and as arc furnaces and converters are examples of these non-linear loads. This study considers two different cases of harmonic analysis.
• The first case is that of a power company 44 KV distribution system employing a converter. The potential for resonance over voltages was evaluated at different system locations to determine the requirement for harmonic filters at the converter bus.
• The second case is that of a steel mill (Delta Steel Mill – Moustorod, Cairo, Egypt) employing a number of arc furnaces. A complete harmonic analysis was carried out. The study clarified the different orders of harmonics produced. A filter was designed to improve the power factor, and to decrease the level of harmonics (after the addition of a properly sized inductor with reasonable quality factor).
In a normal alternating current power system, the voltage varies sinusoidally at a specific frequency, usually 50 or 60 hertz. When a linear electrical load is connected to the system, it draws a sinusoidal current at the same frequency as the voltage (though usually not in phase with the voltage).
When a non-linear load, such as a rectifier, is connected to the system, it draws a current that is not necessarily sinusoidal. The current waveform can become quite complex, depending on the type of load and its interaction with other components of the system. Regardless of how complex the current waveform becomes, as described through Fourier series analysis, it is possible to decompose it into a series of simple sinusoids, which start at the power system fundamental frequency and occur at integer multiples of the fundamental frequency.
Further examples of non-linear loads include common office equipment such as computers and printers, Fluorescent lighting, battery chargers and also variable speed drives and also arc furnaces (normally used in the steel industry).
Harmonic analysis is becoming an increasingly important topic for power system engineers, as more harmonic-producing loads are added to distribution feeders. There has been an increasing interest in harmonics on distribution feeders in recent years largely due to the increasing presence of solid-state electronic power converters. Concern for harmonics is probably as great today as it was in the 1930s and 1940s when early work on harmonic filtering on distribution feeders was performed. In those days, transformers were the primary harmonic producers although arcing loads were also significant harmonic sources.
Transformers are still major harmonic producers, but devices that utilize arcs (such as arc furnaces) or electronic power converters produce more harmonic currents on many feeders. With the rise of dispersed generation and storage on distribution systems, as well as the widespread use of arc-producing devices and electronic power converters for other uses, the concern about harmonics on distribution feeders will remain high in the foreseeable future.
This study summarizes the methodology used to perform these analyses and describes the tools used in analyzing harmonics on distribution feeders. It describes the general methodology from the collection of data to the final solution proposal.
Since non-linear loads are significant sources of harmonics on the power system and as arc furnaces and converters are examples of these non-linear loads. This study considers two different cases of harmonic analysis.
• The first case is that of a power company 44 KV distribution system employing a converter. The potential for resonance over voltages was evaluated at different system locations to determine the requirement for harmonic filters at the converter bus.
• The second case is that of a steel mill (Delta Steel Mill – Moustorod, Cairo, Egypt) employing a number of arc furnaces. A complete harmonic analysis was carried out. The study clarified the different orders of harmonics produced. A filter was designed to improve the power factor, and to decrease the level of harmonics (after the addition of a properly sized inductor with reasonable quality factor).