Harmonics, What You Should Know

Harmonics affect us all; from the secretary operating a computer, the electrician
trouble shooting equipment failure, the electrical contractor having to absorb the
cost of equipment replacement, the inspector who must investigate the cause of
electric fires, to the facilities management interested in effective and efficient
equipment operation and the avoidance of down time. The scope of harmonics
impacts architects, engineers, designers, property managers, building maintenance
personnel, suppliers, equipment manufactures, and (of course) private industry.

WHAT TYPES OF LOADS CAUSE THE PROBLEM?

The largest contributor of reflective harmonic currents for commercial buildings is

the personal computer. There are, however, other large contributors too, such as: Arc
Equipment Audio Recorders Battery Chargers Computer Power Units (CPU) Copy
Machines Discharge Lighting (fluorescent, mercury, sodium, etc.) Electronic
Dimmers Electronic Ballasts Elevators Facsimiles (FAX) File Servers Laser Printers
Local Area Networks (LAN) Personal Computers (PC) Rectifiers
Telecommunication Equipment Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS) Variable
Frequency Drives (VFD) Video Recorders Video Display Units Welders

CLEAN POWER IS REQUIRED FOR TODAY'S EQUIPMENT

Electronic microprocessor equipment requires clean power. This type of equipment

needs undistorted voltage to function properly, and it is particularly sensitive to
voltage transients (notches or spikes) and flat topping of the voltage waveform
caused by the large pulsating currents. High frequency harmonic currents can
introduce voltage (noise) in electronic cables or components. They can add zero
voltage crossing to the voltage waveform, which can cause havoc for
microprocessors and other electronic devices that depend on 60 Hz frequency (120
zero crossings per second) for the clock oscillator timing circuit.

Electronic equipment installation manuals often require the total voltage distortion
to be no more than 10%. Voltage distortion can cause poor product performance, but
in general, it is not a safety hazard. Strangely, electronic equipment requires clean
power, but its power supplies generate the reflective harmonic currents that cause
the voltage distortions!

PROCESSING SPEEDS

In the past 10 years the processing speed, the volume of data that is transmitted, and
the amount of data stored on computers has increased by leaps and bounds. As the
processing speeds of computers are increasing, the machines become more sensitive
to voltage distortions. Over the next decade it is projected that personal computer
processing speeds will increase by at least 15 times; multi-user and work station
computers by 10 times; and graphic super computers by more than five times.

EXACTLY WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

The actual problems of any building will vary, depending on the types and number
of installed harmonic producing loads. Most buildings can withstand nonlinear loads
of up to 15% of the total electrical system capacity without concern, but, when the
nonlinear loads exceed 15% some non-apparent negative consequences can be
expected. For buildings that have nonlinear loading of more than 25%, particular
problems can be become apparent. The following is a short summary of most
problems caused by harmonics:

1. Blinking of Incandescent Lights - Transformer Saturation

2. Capacitor Failure - Harmonic Resonance
3. Circuit Breakers Tripping - Inductive Heating and Overload
4. Computer Malfunction or Lockup - Voltage Distortion
5. Conductor Failure - Inductive Heating
6. Electronic Equipment Shutting down - Voltage Distortion
7. Flickering of Fluorescent Lights - Transformer Saturation
8. Fuses Blowing for No Apparent Reason - Inductive Heating and Overload
9. Motor Failures (overheating) - Voltage Drop
10.Neutral Conductor and Terminal Failures - Additive Triplen Currents
11.Electromagnetic Load Failures - Inductive Heating
12.Overheating of Metal Enclosures - Inductive Heating
13.Power Interference on Voice Communication - Harmonic Noise
14.Transformer Failures - Inductive Heating

The heating effects of harmonic currents can cause destruction of equipment,

conductors, and fires. The results can be unpredictable legal and financial
ramifications. Voltage distortions can lead to overheating of equipment, electronic
equipment failure, expensive downtime, and maintenance difficulties. Harmonic
currents and voltage distortion are becoming the most severe and complex electrical
challenge for the electrical industry. The problems associated with nonlinear loads
were once limited to isolated devices and computer rooms, but now the problem can
appear throughout the building and utility system.

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE TRENDS

In the past, most electric power was consumed by "linear loads." Reflective
harmonic currents from nonlinear loads (fluorescent lighting) were a relatively
minor component of the total building power usage. The Electric Power Research
Institute (EPRI) estimates that in 1992, 15 to 20% of the total load was nonlinear,
and by the year 2,000 it is expected that 50 to 70% of all loads will be nonlinear. As
we can see from the EPRI's projection, the problems (or opportunities) of harmonics
will be growing with the expanded used or electronics. Few people in the trade
understand the basics of harmonics; much less have a working knowledge of the
problems.

IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO?

Be sure the electrician who performs any work on your facility has been completely
trained (ask for a certificate on harmonics) on the causes, the effects, and the
solutions of harmonic currents. Because harmonics are here to stay, we must adjust
our thinking on electrical system design, installation, inspection, and maintenance.
We must anticipate the non-apparent overload of the electrical system and the
associated distortions to the voltage waveforms.

Think of harmonic currents as the symptoms of the common cold; there is no cure,
but we can treat the symptoms. Before we apply any treatments or preventive
measures, we must understand the symptoms and their cause.

How can you tell if the person you're talking to understands the problem? Simply
ask what type of ammeter they use to measure current. If the answer is not, "a True-
RMS meter," then you can be sure this person will not solve your problems and
might actually contribute to further destruction and unsafe practices. The average
electrician or electrical contractor does not even know that there is a problem.

Having the right meter is part of the solution, but understanding the use of the meter
and harmonic currents is critical!

WHY AN AVERAGE RESPONSE AMMETER IS USELESS!

Average response ammeters are only accurate when measuring 60 Hz loads that
have sinusoidal current waveforms and cannot accurately measure the current of
nonlinear loads. The reason is that nonlinear loads draw current in a nonsinusoidal
manner, which produces reflective harmonic currents that operate above 60 Hz; both
of these conditions are beyond the meter's design criteria. When an average response
ammeter is used to measure nonlinear load current, the results can be inaccurate
readings of as much as 25% to 50% below the actual true-RMS current. As a result,
the actual current of a circuit can exceed the rating of conductors and equipment.
The actual current cannot be detected with the average-responding ammeter!

In order to perform basic electrical trouble shooting for today's electrical systems,
we must have an ammeter that provides true-RMS and instantaneous peak current
ratings of the circuit. This meter must have the capacity of measuring the electrical
characteristics of the waveform by sampling many points along the waveform. True-
RMS meters are designed for just that, and they are accurate for both simple
(sinusoidal) and complex (nonsinusoidal) alternating and direct current waveforms.
Average response meters are only accurate with simple sinusoidal alternating current
waveforms; not the complex waveforms resulting from nonlinear loads.
To say it bluntly, if you have an average responding ammeter you might as well
make a lamp out of it because it is useless! If you're trying to convince your
superiors to purchase a true-RMS meter that costs $300 to $400 and they don't
understand why; make them a copy of this paragraph. You must have a True-RMS
meter to properly measure electrical currents from today's loads. An average meter is
useless!

WHAT TYPES OF LOADS CAUSE HARMONIC CURRENTS?

Let's understand the difference between linear and nonlinear loads. A linear load is a
load that opposes the applied voltage with constant impedance resulting in a current
waveform that changes in direct proportion to the change in the applied voltage.
Examples of these loads are resistance heating, incandescent lighting, motors, etc. If
the impedance is constant, then the applied voltage is sinusoidal, and the current
waveform will also be sinusoidal.

A nonlinear load, on the other hand, is a load that does not oppose the applied
voltage with constant impedance. The result is a nonsinusoidal current waveform
that does not conform to the waveform of the applied voltage. Nonlinear loads have
high impedance during part of the voltage waveform, and when the voltage is at or
near the peak the impedance is suddenly reduced. The reduced impedance at the
peak voltage results in a large, sudden, rise in current flow until the impedance is
suddenly increased resulting in a sudden drop in current.

Because the voltage and current waveforms are no longer related, they are said to be
"nonlinear." Nonlinear loads are loads that have diode-capacitor power supplies such
as: computers; laser printers; welders; variable frequency drives; UPS systems;
fluorescent lighting; etc., which draw current in short pulses during the peak of the
line voltage. These nonsinusoidal current pulses introduce unanticipated reflective
currents back into the power distribution system, and the currents operate at
frequencies other than the fundamental 60 Hz.

Harmonic is a term that describes sinusoidal waveforms that operate at a frequency

that is a multiple of the fundamental 60 Hz frequency. When a current, or voltage,
operates at other than the fundamental 60 Hz frequency it is said to operate at a
specific harmonic order (3rd harmonics operate at 180 Hz; 5th harmonics operate at
300 Hz).

Because reflective harmonic currents operate at frequencies higher than the

fundamental, we must be concerned with their effect in the electrical distribution
system. The most significant effects of high frequency harmonic currents are as
follows:

1. Inductive heating of transformers, generators, and other electromagnetic

devices such as motors, relays, and coils (due to the inductive heating effects
 of eddy currents, skin effect, and hysteresis).
2. Inductive heating of conductors, breakers, fuses, and all other devices that
carry current (because of eddy currents, skin effect, and hysteresis).
3. Inductive heating of metal parts such as raceways, metal enclosures, and
other ferrous (iron or steel) metal parts (because of eddy currents and
hysteresis).
4. Voltage distortion resulting in unpredictable equipment operation because of
harmonics.
5. Excessive neutral current resulting in equipment overheating or failure
because of additive harmonic currents, excessive voltage drop, and distortion.

HOW SERIOUS IS THIS PROBLEM?

The effects of harmonic currents on electrical distribution systems are not

understood by most in the electrical industry. The number one hazard with harmonic
currents is equipment failure because of current overload that result in fires. In
addition to the electrical safety aspects, harmonics cause voltage waveform
distortions that affect many different types of loads in different ways.