Understanding Input Harmonics

and Techniques to Mitigate Them

Mahesh M. Swamy

Yaskawa Electric America

YASKAWA Page. 1
 Organization
• Introduction

• Why VFDs Generate Harmonics?

• Harmonic Limit Calculations per IEEE 519-

1992

• Harmonic Mitigation Techniques

– Passive and Active Means

• Questions and Conclusions

YASKAWA Page. 2
 Motivation

• Harmonics cause unnecessary heat in

equipment connected to harmonic source

• System rich in harmonics is generally

associated with poor power factor and low
efficiency

YASKAWA Page. 3
 Motivation - Continued

• Harmonics can overload preexisting power factor

correcting capacitors at plant facility and at utility
distribution points

• Harmonics can initiate system resonance that can

severely disrupt operation

• Hence, control of harmonic current is important

and necessary
YASKAWA Page. 4
 Risk of Parallel Resonance
Parallel Resonance

Xc
XL ih

ih

Current measured at the capacitor,

showing 660Hz, (11th harmonic resonance) Figure 5.2
Power Factor Capacitors Relieve Load

Resonance occurs when: Xc = XL

YASKAWA Page. 5
 Introduction

• Non-linear loads – current does not

follow applied voltage waveform

YASKAWA Page. 6
 Introduction (Contd.)

• To estimate heating effect due to non-linear

currents flowing through circuit breakers and
transformers, linearization is needed

• Resolving non-linear waveform into sinusoidal

components is Harmonic Analysis

• Ratio of harmonic content to fundamental is

defined as harmonic distortion or THD
YASKAWA Page. 7
 Why VFDs Generate Harmonics?
DC link voltage

DC
capacitor
Phase voltage

3-phase
input

Rectifer input current

• Pulsating current due to dc bus capacitor – main source of non-

linearity in input current

• In weak ac systems, during diode conduction ac voltage is clamped

to dc bus voltage – source of non-linearity in input voltage
YASKAWA Page. 8
 Definition of THD
• Ratio of the square root of the sum of squares of the rms value of
harmonic component to the rms value of the fundamental component is
defined as Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)

• If the waveform under discussion is current, then the THD definition is

called Current Harmonic Distortion. If the waveform under discussion is
voltage, then the THD definition is called Voltage Harmonic Distortion

n=∞ n =∞

∑I ∑V
2 2
n n
THD I = n=2
THDV = n =2

I1 V1
YASKAWA Page. 9
 Sample Waveforms

THD = 78.3%
THD = 1.2%

Every Wave shape has Harmonic Distortion!

YASKAWA Page. 10
Harmonic Limits Per IEEE 519-1992
Table 10.3: Current Distortion Limits for General Distribution Systems
(120 V through 69 kV)

Maximum Harmonic Current Distortion in percent of IL

Individual Harmonic Order (Odd Harmonics)
ISC/IL <11 11≤h<17 17≤ h<23 23≤h<35 35≤ h TDD
<20 4.0 2.0 1.5 0.6 0.3 5.0
20<50 7.0 3.5 2.5 1.0 0.5 8.0
50<100 10.0 4.5 4.0 1.5 0.7 12.0
100<1000 12.0 5.5 5.0 2.0 1.0 15.0
>1000 15.0 7.0 6.0 2.5 1.4 20.0
Even harmonics are limited to 25% of the odd harmonic limits above.

* All power generation equipment is limited to these values of current distortion, regardless of actual Isc / IL ; where Isc is the
maximum short circuit current at PCC and
IL is the maximum demand load current (fundamental frequency) at PCC.

YASKAWA Page. 11
Harmonic Limits Per IEEE 519-1992
Table 10.2 Low-Voltage System Classification and Distortion Limits
Special Dedicated
General System
Applications * System†

Notch Depth 10% 20% 50%

THD (Voltage) 3% 5% 10%

Notch Area
16,400 22,800 36,500
(AN2)‡
Note: The value of AN for other than 480V systems should be multiplied by V/480.
* Special applications include hospitals and airports.
† A dedicated system is exclusively dedicated to the converter load.
‡ In volt-microseconds at rated voltage and current.

YASKAWA Page. 12
 Definitions
• PCC - Point of Common Coupling
• Point where harmonic measurement is to be made

• Typically, where the utility power comes into the business

(commercial building or industrial factory)

• Also defined as the point where non-linear load meets the linear
load within a plant – most popular definition used by Consultants
to enforce Drive Manufacturers to meet IEEE519 at VFD input

• TDD – Total Demand Distortion

• Harmonic current distortion in percent of maximum demand load

current. The maximum demand current interval could be either a
15-minute or a 30-minute interval.
YASKAWA Page. 13
 Definitions - Continued
• ISC: Short-circuit current at PCC
• Defines the size of the customer from Utility’s view point – helps
to distinguish between a Seven-Eleven store from a Steel
manufacturing plant

• IL: Maximum demand load current at fundamental frequency

• Need not be the rated load current.

YASKAWA Page. 14
 Characteristic Harmonics in
Rectifiers
• h = (k ⋅ q) ± 1
• h is harmonic order, k is any integer, q is number of pulses at the
dc bus voltage in one period

• For a six-pulse system, h will be:

5th, 7th, 11th, 13th, etc.
• For a twelve-pulse system, h will be:
11th, 13th, 23rd, 25th, etc.

• Amplitude of harmonics is 1/h for a three-phase ac to dc rectifier

with no dc bus capacitor

• Harmonics of order other than those given above are called non-
characteristics harmonics and are more common than not
YASKAWA Page. 15
 Application Example for Applying
IEEE519
• 480V, 100hp VFD fed from a 1500-kVA transformer of 4% impedance
Step 1: Identify PCC – take default to be at VFD terminals

Step 2: Determine ISC from end user. In its absence, use

transformer kVA rating and percent impedance
kVA ⋅ 1000
I SC =
3 ⋅ VLL ⋅ (% Z / 100)
1500 ⋅ 1000
I SC = = 45,105
3 ⋅ 480 ⋅ 0.04
Step 3: Determine IL from user. In its absence, use NEC Amps for
rated horsepower condition. Here, use 124A

Step 4: Determine ISC/IL. Look up Table 10.3 to determine limit - 15%

YASKAWA Page. 16
 Application Example for Applying
IEEE519
• ISC/IL for the present case is 364.

• From Table 10.3, TDD < 15% of Rated Fundamental Current or 18.6A
in this example; Hence IEEE 519 compliance does not mean 5% TDD

• If maximum demand load current is only 45A due to load condition,

and harmonic distortion is 35% at this operating point, spirit of IEEE
519-1992 is still met since 35% of 45A is 15.8A, which is less than the
allowable 18.6A.

• Don’t forget that voltage distortion limits are more important than
current distortion limits due to the fact that voltage is common to all
customers on the same grid, while current is local to a load
YASKAWA Page. 17
 Harmonic Mitigation Techniques

• Active Techniques

• Passive Techniques

• Hybrid Techniques – Combination of Active and

Passive Techniques

YASKAWA Page. 18
 Active Mitigation Techniques
• Active Front End

• Boost Converter Topology – Inherently regenerative.

Bulky, and expensive. Conducted EMI is of concern

• Non regenerative type: Inject Current from conducting

phase to non-conducting phase using semiconductor
switches

• Shunt type: Monitors load current and injects mirror

image of load current so that harmonics cancel out.

YASKAWA Page. 19
 Passive Mitigation Techniques

• AC Line Inductors (Reactors)

• DC Link Chokes or DC Bus Inductor

• Harmonic Filters – Capacitor based

• Multi-pulse Schemes

YASKAWA Page. 20
 Passive Mitigation Techniques
• AC Line Inductors (Reactors)

• Makes discontinuous current continuous

• Helps damp transient surges on line due to

lightning and capacitor switching

• Small and inexpensive

• Causes voltage overlap and reduces dc bus

voltage
YASKAWA Page. 21
 Passive Mitigation Techniques
• AC Line Inductors (Reactors)

THD≈80%

THD≈40%
.

YASKAWA Page. 22
 Issues With AC Line Reactors
• DC Bus Voltage Reduces Due to Overlap of Diode Conduction
3
2 ⋅ ω L ⋅ I dc
μ +( 2π / 3)
VO =
π ∫μ
2 V L − L sin( ω t ) d ( ω t ) 2⋅
μ =
+(π / 3)

VO =
3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ V L − L ⋅ cos( μ )
=
3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ V L − N ⋅ cos( μ ) V L−L ⋅ 3
π π

YASKAWA Page. 23
 Passive Mitigation Techniques
• DC Link Chokes (DC Bus Inductor)

• Makes discontinuous current continuous

• Small and inexpensive

• Does NOT Cause overlap phenomenon and so

does not reduces dc bus voltage

• Does not help damp transient surges on line

due to lightning and capacitor switching
YASKAWA Page. 24
 Passive Mitigation Techniques
• DC Link Choke (DC Bus Inductor)

THD≈80%

THD≈37%

YASKAWA Page. 25
 Waveform With DC Link Choke
• No overlap of Diode Conduction Δi 3 ⋅V m
L cr ⋅ = V m − V 3 − ph − avg = V m −
3 μ + ( 2π / 3)
2 V L − L sin( ω t ) d (ω t ) Δt π
VO =
π ∫μ + (π / 3)
π −3 Δt π − 3 T /6
L cr = ⋅Vm ⋅ = ⋅V m ⋅
3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ V L − L ⋅ cos( μ ) 3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ VL− N π Δi π I dc
VO = =
π π
Ldc

YASKAWA Page. 26
 AC Line Reactor vs DC Link Choke
40.00

30.00

DC reactor only
120 20.00

10.00 x (with LIN=47μH)

0

Δ
-10.00

THD=92.4% -20.00

-30.00
40.00

30.00
THD=82.9% AC reactor only
Ldc=0.47mH 4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00 30.00
20.00

Ldc=1.4mH
100 AC reactor with DC
10.00

0
20.00
THD=58.5%
-10.00

-20.00
10.00
Ldc=2.35mH reactor of 2.75mH
0

Input Current THD (%)

-30.00
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00

-10.00

40.00 -20.00

80 30.00

20.00
4.98 4.99 4.99
25.00
20.00
4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00

THD=43.9%
10.00 15.00

-10.00
10.00

5.00
Lac=2.35mH
0
-20.00

-30.00 -5.00

THD=92.5%
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00
30.00
-10.00

60 Lac=0.47mH 20.00

10.00
-15.00
-20.00
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00

-10.00
THD=59.6%
-20.00
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00

Lac=1.4mH
40 30.00

20.00
THD=44%
10.00 Lac=0.47mH 25.00
20.00

20.00
0

15.00 THD=37.3% 15.00

10.00
-10.00

20 -20.00
10.00

5.00
Lac=1.4mH 5.00

-25.00
0 0
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00
-5.00
-5.00
-10.00

-15.00
THD=33.8% -10.00

-20.00 -15.00
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00
Lac=2.35mH 4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
Inductance (mH)
120 DC reactor only
40.00

30.00
THD=92.5% x (with ZSC=0.1%)
20.00
Z=1%
Δ
10.00

0
AC reactor only
100
-10.00

-20.00

-30.00
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00
AC reactor with DC
reactor of 2.75mH
Input Current THD (%)

40.00 30.00
THD=59.6%
80 30.00

20.00
20.00

Z=3%
10.00
10.00

0
25.00
20.00 THD=43.9%
THD=37.7%
0 15.00

-10.00 -10.00
10.00 Z=5% 25.00
20.00

THD=92.4% -20.00
30.00
-20.00
5.00

0 Z=5%
THD=50.6%
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00
-30.00 10.00

60 Z=1% 4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00 -5.00
20.00
-10.00

10.00 Z=3% -15.00

-20.00
0

0 4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00 -10.00

-10.00
-20.00
-25.00
-20.00
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00

40 30.00

THD=44%
20.00

10.00 Z=1% 25.00

20.00 20.00

15.00
15.00

THD=37.3%
0
10.00
10.00
-10.00

THD=33.8%
5.00

20 -20.00
0 Z=3% 5.00

Z=5%
-25.00 -5.00 0
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00
-10.00
-5.00
-15.00
-20.00 -10.00
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00
-15.00
4.98 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 5.00 5.00 5.00

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
AC equivalent Z (% Impedance)

YASKAWA Page. 27
 AC Line Reactor vs DC Link Choke

DC reactor only
640 x (with LIN=47μH)
Δ AC reactor only
620
Avg. DC Bus Voltage (V)

600

580

560

540

520

500
0 1 2 3 4 5
Inductance (mH)

YASKAWA Page. 28
 Optimal Solution

• AC Line Inductor Alone Not Optimal because

of Voltage Drop

• DC Link Inductor Alone Does Not Provide

Surge Protection

• Optimal Solution is a Combination of the two –

1% AC Input Inductor + Standard DC Link
Choke
YASKAWA Page. 29
 Harmonic Filters
• Capacitor Based Harmonic Filters

• Series Filter – tuned to offer high impedance

to select frequencies

• Shunt Filter – tuned to shunt select

frequencies

• Hybrid Filters – combination of above

• Large, bulky, expensive, and often ineffective

YASKAWA Page. 30
 Series Harmonic Filter
• Series Filter

• Designed to handle rated load current

• More often found in single-phase applications

to impede 3rd harmonic current

Lf

Cf
YASKAWA Page. 31
 Shunt Harmonic Filter
• Shunt Filter

• Designed to shunt select frequencies

• Draws fundamental frequency current Lf

resulting in leading VA operation

• Need multiple section to be effective

Cf
• Does not distinguish between
intended load and other loads
YASKAWA Page. 32
 Modified Shunt Harmonic Filter
• Shunt Filter with Series Impedance

• Add a series inductance to restrict import of harmonics

• MTE’s and Mirus International’s Filter Structure

5% AC 5% AC
Reactor Reactor
U
V
IM
W

Lf
Cf

YASKAWA Page. 33
 Hybrid (Broad Band)
Harmonic Filter
• Combination of shunt and series filter

• Series inductance and Shunt

Capacitor – over-voltage problem

• Autotransformer used to solve this

Lf
• Bulky, expensive
Auto-
transformer Cf
• Capacitor switching needed

YASKAWA Page. 34
 Issues With Harmonic Filters
• All capacitor based shunt type filters draw
leading current and cause over-voltage

• Power Loss, and Higher Stresses on DC Bus

Capacitors – avoid using this

• Generally multiple sections needed

• Bulky and Expensive

• Can cause system resonance

YASKAWA Page. 35
 Risk of Parallel Resonance

Parallel Resonance

Xc
XL ih

ih

Current measured at the capacitor,

showing 660Hz, (11th harmonic resonance) Figure 36.2
Power Factor Capacitors Relieve Load

Resonance occurs when: Xc = XL

YASKAWA Page. 36
 Multi-pulse Harmonic Mitigation
Technique

• 12-pulse Techniques

• Three-winding isolation transformer

• Hybrid 12-pulse

• Autotransformer based 12-pulse scheme

YASKAWA Page. 37
 Three Winding 12-pulse Scheme
3-winding isolation transformer
X1
U
X1 L1 Ldc
V
H1 X2 X2 L2 VDC IM
H1 X3 L3 W
H2 X3
Y1
H3
Y1 L11
H2 H3
Y2 L21
Y3 L31
Y2 Y3

• Rated for full power operation – bulky but

ONLY option when input is medium
voltage and drive is of low voltage rating
YASKAWA Page. 38
Three Winding 12-pulse Waveforms

YASKAWA Page. 39
 Hybrid 12-pulse Scheme
Half power phase-shifting
Iin Ixfmr isolation transformer
X1 U
H1 H1 Ldc
X1 L1
V
H2 X2 L2 VDC IM
X2 X3 L3 W
H3
H2 H3 X3
Optional input
inductor, Lin
ILM L11
L21
L31

Matching Inductor
(half-rated current)

• Transformer rated for half power – attractive option

YASKAWA Page. 40
 Hybrid 12-pulse Waveforms

Iin

ILm
Ixfmr
% Distortion

16 With Lin
12 With no Lin THD= 6.7% with 5% input reactor;
8 8.8% with no input AC reactor.
4

THD 5 7 11 13 17 19
Harmonic Order
YASKAWA Page. 41
Autotransformer 12-pulse Scheme
Inter-phase
Transformer
zero-sequence
blocking
Transformer
L1
L2
3-ph ac L3
supply Common
Core
b b
L11

L21
A C
C ited as L31
prior art in
c U S patent# Inter-phase
a
4,255,784 Transformer

B
a
c

• Autotransformer configuration
• Needs IPT and ZSBT – bulky and costly
YASKAWA Page. 42
 Autotransformer 12-pulse Scheme
R' U
S' V
3-Ph AC T' VFD #1 W Motor 1
supply
b' b

A C

c a'

B
a
c'

R U
S V
T
VFD #2 W Motor 2

• Autotransformer configuration
• If loads are isolated and fairly balanced, this
is very attractive
YASKAWA Page. 43
 Four Winding 18-pulse Scheme
4-winding isolation
transformer
X1 L1
X1 X2 L2
X3 L3
X3
-20
deg
H1 Y3 U
H1
Ldc
Y1 L11
X2 V
H2 Y1
Y2 L21 VDC IM
H3 Y3 L31 W
H3
H2 Y2 Z1

+20 Z1 L12
deg Z2 L22
Z3
Z3 L32
Z2

• Transformer is rated for full power operation - bulky and expensive

• Cost effective method if primary is MV
• Attenuates conducted EMI effectively
YASKAWA Page. 44
Autotransformer 18-pulse Scheme
18-pulse autotransformer I1
1 L1
H1
2 L2
1 3 L3
2 I3
Iin 9
Ldc U
H1 4 L11
8 3 V
H2 5 L21 VDC IM
7 4 6 I5 L31 W
H3
Input inductor,
Lin H3 H2
7 L12
6
5 8 L22
9 L32

• Autotransformer configuration
• Patented by D. Paice – only two US
manufacturers licensed at present
YASKAWA Page. 45
Autotransformer 18-pulse Scheme

• Needs three diode bridges – Yaskawa uses

external diode bridges – makes it expensive

• Needs 7% input reactor for achieving THD levels

of 5% and below – increases cost and space

• With no input reactor, THD observed is about

8.8%

YASKAWA Page. 46
 Autotransformer 18-pulse Waveform
I3 I5
I1
Iin

16
% Distortion

With Lin
12
With no Lin
8 THD= 5.5% with 5% input reactor;
4 8.7% with no input AC reactor.
THD 5 7 11 13 17 19
Harmonic Order
YASKAWA Page. 47
Yaskawa’s own 18-pulse Scheme

• Less Complicated Structure

• Low Cost because of standard configuration

• Needs only 1.5% input reactor to bring THD

level to less than 5%

• With no input reactor, THD level observed to be

6.5%

YASKAWA Page. 48
Hybrid 18-pulse Scheme by Yaskawa
2/3 rated phase-shifting
isolation transformer

Input inductor, X3 X1 L1
X1
Lin -20 X2 L2
H1 deg X3 L3
H1
X2
H2 Y1
H3 U
Ldc
H3
+20 Y1 L11
H2 V
deg Y2 L21 VDC IM
Y2 W
Y3 L31
Y3

L12
L22
L32
Matching Inductor
(1/3-rated current)

• Power rating of isolation transformer is 2/3 of rated output power

• Current through matching inductor is 1/3 of rated input current

• Patent Pending
YASKAWA Page. 49
 Hybrid 18-pulse Waveform

V LN

Iin

16
% Distortion

With Lin
12 With no Lin THD= 4.5% with 1.5% input reactor;
8 6.5% with no input AC reactor.
4

THD 5 7 11 13 17 19
Harmonic Order
YASKAWA Page. 50
 Power Factor and Harmonics

• Two Definitions of Power Factor Exists

• Displacement Power Factor: Cosine of the

angle between the fundamental voltage and
fundamental current waveform

• For VFDs, this value is almost always unity

(0.99)

YASKAWA Page. 51
 Power Factor and Harmonics
• True Power Factor

• Ratio of True Power to Total Volt-Ampere

kW
Demanded by Load pf =
kVA
• Total Volt-Ampere includes VA demanded by
Harmonic Content in Waveform
kW kW kW
pf = = =
kV ⋅ I total kV ⋅ I1 + ∑ I n kV ⋅ I1 ⋅ 1 + THD 2
2 2

dpf
pf =
1 + THD 2
YASKAWA Page. 52
 Power Factor and Harmonics
• True Power Factor is poor:
dpf
THD≈80% pf = = 0.78
1 + 0.8 2

THD≈37% dpf
pf = = 0. 937
1 + 0.37 2
.

YASKAWA Page. 53
 Conclusions

• IEEE 519 does not mean THD < 5%

• Find out PCC, ISC, and IL, Apply the

Spirit of IEEE 519 correctly

YASKAWA Page. 54
 Conclusions
• Avoid capacitor based harmonic filter

• 12-pulse techniques can achieve low TDD at drive input

– Hybrid 12-pulse is attractive, less bulky and cost-effective

– Isolation transformer based method is best when input is MV

• Use 18-pulse only when Customer demands (Less than

5% TDD)
– Hybrid 18-pulse is attractive

– Isolation transformer based method is best when input is MV

YASKAWA Page. 55