Origin of harmonics

From Electrical Installation Guide

Contents
1- Harmonic currents
1.1- Examples include:
2- Harmonic voltages
3- Flow of harmonic currents in distribution networks
4- Notes

Harmonic currents
Equipment comprising power electronics circuits are typical non-
linear loads and generate harmonic currents. Such loads are
increasingly frequent in all industrial, commercial and
residential installations and their percentage in overall
electrical consumption is growing steadily.

Examples include:
Industrial equipment (welding machines, arc and induction furnaces, battery chargers),
Variable Speed Drives for AC or DC motors,
Uninterruptible Power Supplies,[1]
Office equipment (PCs, printers, servers, etc.),
Household appliances (TV sets, microwave ovens, fluorescent lighting, light dimmers).

Harmonic voltages
In order to understand the origin of harmonic voltages, let's
consider the simplified diagram on Fig. M3.

Fig. M3: Single-line diagram showing the impedance of the

supply circuit for a non-linear load
The reactance of a conductor increases as a function of the
frequency of the current flowing through the conductor. For each
harmonic current (order h), there is therefore an impedance Zh in
the supply circuit.

The total system can be split into different circuits:

One circuit representing the flow of current at the fundamental frequency,
One circuit representing the flow of harmonic currents.

Fig. M4: Split of circuit into fundamental and harmonic

circuits

When the harmonic current of order h flows through impedance Zh,

it creates a harmonic voltage Uh, where Uh = Zh x Ih (by Ohm's
law).

The voltage at point B is therefore distorted. All devices

supplied via point B receive a distorted voltage.

For a given harmonic current, the voltage distortion is

proportional to the impedance in the distribution network.

Flow of harmonic currents in distribution

networks
The non-linear loads can be considered to inject the harmonic
currents upstream into the distribution network, towards the
source. The harmonic currents generated by the different loads sum
up at the busbar level creating the harmonic distortion.

Because of the different technologies of loads, harmonic currents

of the same order are generally not in phase. This diversity
effect results in a partial summation.

Fig. M5: Flow of harmonic currents in a distribution network

Notes
 1. ^ to know more about harmonics mitigation related to Variable Speed Drives, please refer
to our Schneider Electric White Paper "Choose the best harmonic mitigation solution for
your drive" (http://www.schneider-electric.com/en/download/document/WP2121101EN/)

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