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3rd Harmonic Schneider PDF
3rd Harmonic Schneider PDF
J. Schonek
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Foreword
The author disclaims all responsibility subsequent to incorrect use of
information or diagrams reproduced in this document, and cannot be held
responsible for any errors or oversights, or for the consequences of using
information or diagrams contained in this document.
Jacques SCHONEK
Contents
1 Origin of harmonics 1.1 Current drawn by non-linear loads p. 4
1.2 Symmetrical non-linear loads p. 4
1.3 3-phase loads p. 5
1.4 Single-phase loads p. 6
2 Overload on the neutral conductor 2.1 Third harmonics and multiples of 3 p. 7
2.2 Calculating the rms value of the neutral current p. 8
2.3 Overload on the neutral conductor as a function of
current distortion p. 9
3 The third harmonic in transformers 3.1 Star-delta transformer p. 11
3.2 Transformer with zigzag secondary p. 11
4 Remedies 4.1 Adapting the installation p. 12
4.2 Star-delta transformer p. 12
4.3 Transformer with zigzag secondary p. 12
4.4 Reactance with zigzag connection p. 12
4.5 Third order filter in the neutral p. 13
4.6 Filtering devices p. 14
Appendix: Calculating Fourier coefficients for a rectangular current p. 15
Bibliography p. 16
0 0.02 0.04
100
90
80
70
60
(%) 50
40
30
20
10
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19
Harmonic order
Fig. 1: Example of a typical non-linear load
(non-symmetrical) Fig. 3: Spectrum of the current drawn
4π
it3 = I 3 sin 3 ωt − = I 3 sin (3ωt − 4π) = ir3
3
ir3 = is3 = it3
The third order harmonic currents of all three
phases are therefore equal.
However, if there is no neutral conductor,
ir + is + it = 0 .
The sum of the third order harmonic currents in Fig. 5: 3-phase rectifier bridge with capacitive filtering
particular should be zero, which is only possible
if each of the components is zero.
Network voltage (V)
Symmetrical, balanced, 3-phase loads do not Line current (A)
therefore generate a third harmonic.
300
This reasoning can be extended to all harmonic
200
orders which are multiples of 3.
Harmonic currents which are not zero are 100
t
therefore of the order 5, 7, 11, 13, etc, ie. they 0
(s)
take the form 6k ± 1. -100
-200
This can be demonstrated for any system
-300
incorporating rectifiers, whether controlled or
not. We can therefore demonstrate that 0 0.02 0.04
harmonic orders are written h = (nxp) ± 1, where
Fig. 6: Appearance of the current drawn by the circuit
n is an integer (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc) and p the
in figure 5
number of rectifiers which make up the device.
For example, a circuit which only includes one
rectifier (half-wave rectification) has harmonics 100
of the order n ± 1 and presents all possible
90
harmonics, starting with 0 which is the direct
current. 80
For a bridge consisting of 4 diodes, the first 70
harmonic is of order 3, as demonstrated in
60
section 1.2.
(%) 50
40
30
ir
20
is 10
0
it 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
Harmonic order
Fig. 7: Harmonic spectrum of the current drawn by the
Fig. 4: 3-phase load circuit in figure 5
100
90
80
(%) 70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
Harmonic order
Fig. 8: Single-phase rectifier with capacitive filtering Fig. 10: Harmonic spectrum of the current drawn by
the diagram in figure 8
Network voltage
Line current (A) Sphere of activity Appliances
Domestic TV, hi-fi, video, microwave
15
ovens, fluorescent lamps
10 with electronic ballast, etc.
5
t Commercial Micro-computers, printers,
0 photocopiers, fax
-5 (s)
machines, etc.
-10 Industrial Switch mode power
-15 supplies, variable speed
drives
0 0.02 0.04
Fig. 9: Appearance of the current drawn by the Fig. 11: Some examples of appliances containing a
diagram in figure 8 single-phase rectifier with capacitive filtering
2π
is3 = I 3 sin 3 ωt − = I 3 sin (3ωt − 2π) = ir3
3
4π
it3 = I 3 sin 3 ωt − = I 3 sin (3ωt − 4π) = ir3
Fig. 13: 3-phase currents at 50 Hz and 150 Hz drawn
3
(A) (A)
Ir
400
350
200
300
t
0
250
-200
200
-400
150
Is 100
400
200 50
t 0
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
-200 Harmonic order
Fig. 15: Spectrum of the phase current supplying
-400
non-linear single-phase loads
400
It
(A)
200
350
0 t
300
-200
250
-400
200
In
400 150
200 100
t
0 50
(s)
-200 0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
-400
0 0.02 0.04 Harmonic order
Fig. 14: Phase and neutral currents supplying Fig. 16: Spectrum of the neutral current drawn by
non-linear single-phase loads non-linear single-phase loads
(A) Ir Is It
1 T/3 2 200
IN = 3
T ∫ 0
in dt
100
t
0
1 T 2 (s)
IN = 3
T ∫ i
0 I
dt = 3 IL -100
-200
Here, therefore, the current in the neutral
0 0.02 0.04
conductor has an rms value 3 times greater
than that of the current in a phase. Fig. 17: Currents in all 3 phases
ir
Load IN ≈ I12 + (2 THD I1 )2
IN ≈ I1 1 + 4 THD2
is
Load
IL
IN ≈ 1 + 4 THD2
2
1 + THD
it = 0
IN 1 + 4 THD2
⇒ ≈
IL 1 + THD2
in This approximate formula is only valid as long as
the result is less than 2 . The loading of the
Fig. 20: Unbalanced loads
neutral current therefore varies as a function of
the distortion factor as shown in the following
We can demonstrate, in the same way as in 2.2, graph (see fig. 21).
that the maximum value of the neutral current
cannot exceed 2 times the current in each
phase. IN/IL
If we only consider the fundamental current and 1.5
the third order harmonic current of each of the
1.4
loads, the current in the neutral is the sum of a
fundamental current and a third order harmonic 1.3
current: 1.2
c The fundamental current is the vector sum of 1.1
the fundamental currents in both loads. Since 1
these currents are equal and phase-shifted by 0.9
120°, the resulting current is equal to the THD
fundamental current of each of the loads. 0.8
0 20 40 60 80 (%)
c The third order harmonic current is the sum of Fig. 21: Loading of the neutral current (unbalanced
all the third order harmonic currents (these are loads)
all in phase).
Primary Secondary
I3 I3
I3 I3
I3 I3
Fig. 23: Third order harmonic currents in a transformer with zigzag secondary
Switch mode power supplies and fluorescent In an office block, the current in the neutral
lighting with electronic ballast are increasingly conductor can reach 1.4 to 1.7 times the current
common in service sector installations. The high in a phase.
percentage of third harmonics in this type of load Several types of device can be used to eliminate
can have a significant impact on the capacity of the effects of third order harmonic currents.
the neutral conductor.
In 3I3
is
Source Load
(A)
it 400
200
in t
0
(s)
-200
-400
0 0.02 0.04
Fig. 26: Third order filter in the neutral Fig. 28: Neutral current without filter
(A) (V)
400 400
200 200
t t
0 0
(s) (s)
-200 -200
-400 -400
0 0.02 0.04 0 0.02 0.04
Fig. 27: Line current without filter Fig. 29: Simple voltage without filter
200 200
t t
0 0
(s) (s)
-200 -200
-400 -400
0 0.02 0.04 0 0.02 0.04
Fig. 30: Line current with filter Fig. 32: Simple voltage with filter
(A)
400
200
t
0
(s)
-200
-400
0 0.02 0.04
Fig. 31: Neutral current with filter
is
Load
ir it
is
Load
it
Active
filter
in in
Fig. 33: Third order passive filter Fig. 35: Hybrid filter
2 I dc π π
cos n − ( −1) cos n
Fig. 36: Controlled rectifier supplying a load which n
bn =
draws a perfectly smooth current π n 6 6
2 I dc π π
cos n 6 − ( −1)
n+1
bn = cos n
(A)
πn 6
100
Idc If n is even: bn = 0
50
π
cos n
I line t 4 I dc
If n is odd: bn =
0
π/6 5π/6 π (s) πn 6
2 π 2 3 I dc
I(t) sin (nωt) dω t
π ∫0
b1 =
bn = π
5π
The rms value of the fundamental is therefore:
2 I dc
bn = ∫ π sin
6 (nωt) dω t
π I1 =
6 I dc
6
5π
π
[−cos (nωt)] π6
2 I dc
bn = The rms value of the non-zero harmonics is
πn equal to:
6
2 I dc π π I1
bn = cos n 6 − cos 5n 6 In =
πn n
Schneider Electric Direction Scientifique et Technique, Transl: LAI Ltd - Tarporley - Cheshire - GB.
Service Communication Technique Edition: Schneider Electric
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011652 02-2001