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Understanding Harmonic Suppression System
Understanding Harmonic Suppression System
SAVE AS
Understanding Harmonic
Suppression Systems
Get a Handle on Wasted Energy and Excess Heat
of the harmonic currents can- Larger conduit must be in- 1. All distribution systems
stalled to handle more or
cel in the neutral wire, just as are rms current limited. For
the 60Hz currents do, the 3rd larger wires. (Although the instance, a 150 kVA 208/
harmonic current and other code permits downsized 120 wye transformer is rated
currents divisible by three areneutrals if the system is not for 416 rms amps per phase.
additive in the neutral wire. powering non-linear loads, The more harmonic current
Thus, if the 3rd harmonic language in NEC 310. flowing, the less fundamen-
current were 100 amps in 15(B)(4)(b, c) (2002) requires tal current can be supplied.
each phase, the 3rd harmonic neutral conductors to be con- Since the harmonic current
current returned to the X0 sidered current-carrying con- does not deliver any power,
transformer connection by ductors when nonlinear its presence uses up system
the common neutral wire (SMPS) loads are present. It capacity and reduces the
would be 300 amps. should be noted that there is number of loads that can be
no code requirement for powered. Either the system
This fact has implications for double neutrals, only that the must be de-rated or a larger
system design, since the en- neutrals be properly sized for system, that can only be par-
tire electrical system must the expected current. ) tially utilized, must be in-
meet the national electrical stalled.
code specifications for wire System Problems Caused by
and conduit size. If it is ex- 3rd Harmonic Currents 2. Harmonic currents flow-
pected that SMPS loads will ing through the system wir-
cause high neutral currents, The effect of current distor- ing cause increased I2R heat
wires must be sized for the tion on distribution systems losses. This heating can in-
anticipated load. Instead of can be serious, primarily due crease the temperature of
downsizing neutral wires, to the increased current flow- wires and switchgear to the
once common practice for a ing throughout the system. point that erratic operation
system supporting only lin- Following are some of the or even fires can occur. One
ear loads, now neutral wires problems that must be con- study found that 33% of tele-
must be oversized or doubled. sidered. communication fires were
Figure 3. 208/120 Wye distribution system with phase-neutral loads and HSS
wires have more capacity neutral currents greater than ties, are at risk from over-
available to carry useful load the phase currents, facilities, heated wiring leading to fires.
and double neutrals are not and particularly older facili- Transformers with high 3rd
necessary. The neutral, for
code purposes, need no longer
be considered a current car-
rying conductor. Overheat-
ing of transformers,
switchgear, and wiring is
eliminated, increasing the
lifetime of all system compo-
nents.