Harmonics Causes & Effects

Harmonics are defined as the content of signal whose frequency is an integral multiple
of the system frequency of the fundamental. Voltage distortion is generally very harmful
because it can increase the effective peak value and also the rms current in some
devices connected to the network... -  Basant Kumar
August 5, 2016
Harmonics is defined as the content of the signal whose frequency is an integral
multiple of the system frequency of the fundamentals. Harmonics current
generated by any non-linear load flows from the load into the power system.
These harmonic currents degrade the power system performance and reliability
and can also cause safety problem. Harmonics need to be clearly located,
sources identified and corrective measures taken to prevent them.

Electrical load is categorised under two categories

1. Linear load: Such load draws voltage and current in essentially sine
wave shape but at varied phase shift (power factor). Example: resistors,
inductors, capacitors and their combinations are classified as linear load.
Linear loads have smooth, straight and predictable response.
 2. Non-linear load: Power supplies in non-linear load draw current in
abrupt pulses rather than in smooth sinusoidal wave. It indicates distorted
or suddenly changing response. Example-modern electronic/electrical
equipment’s consisting of rectifying, charging /discharging and phase
control circuits.

Harmonics: The distortion in a sinusoidal wave is generally defined in terms of

various harmonics components. Harmonics are defined as the content of signal
whose frequency is an integral multiple of the system frequency of the
fundamental. Typical harmonics for a 50 Hz system (fundamental frequency)
are the 5th (250 Hz), 7th (350 Hz), 9th (450 Hz).

The harmonics of a periodic wave can be represented by a Fourier series:

f(wt) = AO + A1coswt + A2 cos2wt + B1sinwt + B2 sin2wt + ——-
f(wt) = Given non sinusoidal periodic wave form with angular velocity w = 2 Σ f
A0 = Const.
A1, A2, A3 ———- An coefficient of cosine terms, nth is the order of harmonic.
B1, B2, B3, ——– Bn coefficient of sine terms, nth is the order of harmonic.

  Effects of harmonics: Harmonics current generated by any non-linear load

flows from the load into the power system. These harmonics currents degrade
the power system performance and reliability and could also cause safety
problem. Harmonics need to be clearly located, sources identified and corrective
measures taken to prevent these problems. THD (Total Harmonic Distortion)
can be computed as per IEE-519 standard as:

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Where hn is the individual harmonics of nth order.

  Source of harmonics: (1) Transformers under no load and light loads (2)

Saturated Reactors (3) Thyrister controlled motor drives (4) Arc Furnaces (5)
Arc Welders (6) Conduction Furnaces (7) Gas discharging lighting-low pressure/
high pressure Sodium vapour lamps (8) High-pressure Mercury vapor lamps (9)
CFL/fluorescent tube lights (10) Energy conservation devices e.g. soft starters,
electronics ballast and fan regulators (11) Rectifiers (12) UPS (13) Static VAR
compensator (14) HVDC transmission system (15) Solar power conversion.
  Why to worry for harmonics: Voltage distortion is generally very harmful
because it can increase the effective peak value and also the RMS current in
some devices connected to the network. For a capacitor, impedance decreases
drastically as it is inversely proportional to the frequency. Under normal
circumstances the voltage distortion in primary electrical distribution network is
minimal and can usually be ignored from a practical point of view. On the other
hand distortion of current wave shape is common particularly when electronic
equipment is connected to the network or when non-linear loads are connected.
Current distortion, in general, causes overheating due to increase in the losses
and affects all electrical machines, transformers etc. This causes derating of
equipment. The amount of derating will depend upon which harmonics are
present and the magnitude of the individual current and resistance.