The Influence of Cable Capacitance, Generator
Neutral Grounding and Zig-zag Transformer to Third
Harmonic Produced by Synchronous Generator
M. F. Abdullah, N. H. Hamid, Z. Baharudin, M. H. S. A. Razak and M. I. B. Hisham
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
31750, Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia
mfaris_abdullah@petronas.com.my
Abstract—Salient pole synchronous generator is one of harmonic
sources that causes various power system harmonic problem
especially related to neutral. This paper aims to study the
characteristics of third harmonic voltage and current from
generator when connected to balanced load via cable, generator
load connection with different generator neutral grounding
resistor and generator load connection shunted by zig-zag
transformer. Lab scale experiments have been conducted to vary
all parameters related to cable capacitor and generator neutral
grounding resistor under various combined resistive and
inductive load. Cable capacitance which depends on cable length,
size and number of parallel cable, combined with load impedance
determines the third harmonic current magnitude. The presence
of cable capacitance that interact with generator inductance
resulted to series harmonic resonance at 9th and 15th harmonic
order that causes high 9th and 15th harmonic current flowing
between generator and cable capacitor. Generator neutral
grounding resistor can effectively reduce the third harmonic in
the phase and neutral. However care should be taken not to use
very high generator neutral grounding resistor that can also
restrict earth fault current that may pose problem to the
sensitivity of earth fault protection system. Zig-zag transformer
efficiently divert third harmonic current from generator to enter
the load but high circulating third harmonic current between
generator and zig-zag transformer may pose heating problem to
the equipments.
Keywords-Third harmonic voltage; third harmonic current;
synchronous generator; cable capacitance; grounding
I. INTRODUCTION
Harmonic becomes important when their presence in power
system can cause problem to equipment functionality. Some of
these problems related to harmonic voltage and the other to
harmonic current or both. The advancement of electronic
industry resulted in devices that are sensitive to the voltage and
current inputs.
Generally, harmonic study does not go beyond
50th harmonic since above that level their existence is
negligible due to high impedance posed by the power system
network at that frequency. Third harmonic is the first harmonic
number of triplen harmonic which are 3rd, 9th, 15th, etc. series.
Large round rotor synchronous generator in a thermal
power plant has been reported to produce harmonic even under
no load condition [1]. Experiment carried out by [2] revealed
that under various load condition, voltage regulation of
This work was supported in part by Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
(UTP)
978-1-4673-4584-2/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE
synchronous generator related to harmonic distortion level
produced by load. Parallel resonance contributed by network
capacitance in cable, inverter, and household with inductance
in transformer and cable has resulted higher voltage distortion.
While series resonance would cause higher current distortion
when large number of power inverters are connected in the
system [3].
Electrical parameters of the subsea cable such as cable
capacitance affect the frequency response characteristics for the
same length of different types of subsea cables, although its
influence is not as large as the cable length [4]. The influence
of subsea cable shunt capacitance on harmonic distortion due to
parallel resonance is investigated in detail by [5].
Triplen harmonic current from synchronous generator
return to its neutral via cable capacitance and has caused the
neutral grounding resistor to experience high temperature when
connected to distribution grid [6]. Various transformer winding
configuration of distributed generation interconnection
transformer and neutral grounding reactor sizing have positive
or negative impact on the triplen harmonic current [7]. Triplen
harmonic current is one of the causes contributed to neutral
grounding resistor failure apart from lightning, storms,
earthquakes, extreme temperature changes, vibration etc. [8].
Simulation conducted by [9] has shown that zig-zag
transformer is very effective to reduce triplen harmonic current
from utility entering the load.
The objective of this paper is to study the influence of cable
capacitance, generator neutral grounding resistor and zig-zag
transformer on third harmonic voltage and current produced by
low voltage synchronous generator directly connected to
balanced load. In varying the parameters, lab experiment was
conducted and the methodology is described in section II. The
experimental results is presented and discussed in Section III.
Finally the conclusion and recommendation is tabled in
section IV. The term generator will be used to represent salient
pole synchronous generator in the remaining text of this paper.
II. METHODOLOGY
The simulated results on the influence of cable length,
number of parallel cable, cable size and neutral grounding
resistor size on the magnitude of third harmonic current have
been reported by [10]. Lab scale experiment are conducted in
three parts namely, generator directly connected to balanced
load via cable, generator directly connected to balanced load
380 IPEC 2012
with different value of generator neutral grounding resistor and
generator directly connected to balanced load shunted by
zig-zag transformer. Due to generator’s reactive power
limitation, the cable is only represented by its capacitance
without resistance and inductance. All the experiments will be
using a three-phase 415 V, 50 Hz, 0.2 kW generator as
harmonic source.
A. Generator Connected to Load Via Cable
Generator and load are connected in star with no neutral
impedance. Cable capacitor is connected between the generator
and load. Common neutral connection is made for generator,
cable capacitor and load. Different combined resistive and
inductive load are varied with different values of cable
capacitances in the experiment. Third harmonic phase/neutral
currents and voltages measurements are taken at generator,
cable capacitor and load terminals.
B. Generator Neutral Grounding Resistor
Different value of generator neutral grounding resistor is
applied to generator and load that are connected in star.
in Fig. 1 for combined resistive and inductive load of
686+j686 .
The third harmonic current magnitude at generator terminal
is the vector sum of third harmonic current flowing through
cable capacitor and load. Therefore, the magnitude of third
harmonic current at generator terminal depends on combined
impedance of cable capacitor and load. Regardless of load
impedance phase angle magnitude, the magnitude of third
harmonic current at cable capacitor terminal always increase
with increase in cable capacitance. Fig. 2 shows the third
harmonic current magnitude at generator, cable capacitor and
load terminals for combined resistive and inductive load of
686+j686 .
Third Harmonic Voltage
14
12
10

Voltage (V)
Common neutral connection is made for generator with neutral 8
a' phase
grounding resistor and load. Combined resistive and inductive 6
loads are varied for every generator grounding resistor value. 4 b' phase

Third harmonic phase/neutral currents and voltages are 2 c' phase

measured at generator and load terminals. 0 Neutral
0.66uF 1.33uF 1.99uF 2.65uF
C. Generator Shunted by Zig-zag Transformer
Load=686+j686
In this experiment, generator and load are connected in star Generator terminal
with no neutral impedance. Zig-zag transformer is connected
between the generator and load. Common neutral connection is
made for generator, zig-zag transformer and load. Combined Third Harmonic Voltage
resistive and inductive loads are varied throughout the
14
experiment. Third harmonic phase/neutral currents and
12
voltages measurements are taken at generator, zig-zag
10
Voltage (V)

transformer and load terminals.

8
a' phase
III. RESULTS 6
4 b' phase
Recorded experimental third harmonic voltage and current 2 c' phase
are phase measurement. Symmetrical and balanced three phase 0 Neutral
harmonic voltages produced by generator are: 0.66uF 1.33uF 1.99uF 2.65uF
Va=V1ejwt+ V2ej2wt+ V3ej3wt+……. (1) Load=686+j686
2 jwt j2wt j3wt
Capacitor terminal
Vb=a V1e + aV2e + V3e +……. (2)
jwt 2 j2wt j3wt
Vc=aV1e + a V2e + V3e +……. (3)
ʹɎ
Third Harmonic Voltage
where, a=‡Œ ͵ 14
12
Therefore, third harmonic voltage:
10
Voltage (V)

Va= V3ej3wt (4) 8

a' phase
6
Vb= V3ej3wt (5) 4 b' phase

Vc= V3e j3wt

(6) 2 c' phase
0 Neutral
A. Generator Connected to Load Via Cable 0.66uF 1.33uF 1.99uF 2.65uF
The first part of the experiment is to vary the cable Load=686+j686
capacitance for different fixed loads. The third harmonic Load terminal
voltage magnitude at generator, cable capacitor and load
terminals decrease when the cable capacitance increase Fig. 1. Third harmonic voltage at generator, cable capacitor and load terminals
regardless of load impedance phase angle magnitude as shown for combined resistive and inductive load 686+j686 

381
 phase angle magnitude. Fig. 4 shows the third harmonic current
Third Harmonic Current magnitude at generator, cable capacitor and load terminals for
50 1.99μF cable capacitance.
40 The harmonic current spectrum when generator directly
Current(mA)

30 connected to a combined resistive and inductive load show that

a' phase almost no current at other harmonic number except third
20
b' phase harmonic. Harmonic series resonance is observed at 9th and 15th
10 c' phase harmonic number and the highest harmonic current of both
0 Neutral
harmonic numbers at resonance is shown in Fig. 5. Resonance
0.66uF 1.33uF 1.99uF 2.65uF
at 9th harmonic number occurred at higher capacitor value
while resonance at 15th harmonic number detected at lower
Load=686+j686
Generator terminal
capacitor value.

Third Harmonic Current Third Harmonic Voltage

70 16
60 14
Current(mA)

50 12

Voltage (V)
40 10
a' phase 8 a' phase
30
20 b' phase 6 b' phase
c' phase 4
10 c' phase
2
0 Neutral 0 Neutral
0.66uF 1.33uF 1.99uF 2.65uF 686+j120 686+j240 120+j960 686+j686 686+j1200
Load=686+j686 Cable capacitance=1.99uF
Capacitor terminal Generator terminal

Third Harmonic Current Third Harmonic Voltage

18 16
16
14
14
12 12
Voltage (V)

10
Current(mA)

10
a' phase 8 a' phase
8
6 b' phase 6 b' phase
4 4
c' phase c' phase
2 2
0 Neutral 0 Neutral
0.66uF 1.33uF 1.99uF 2.65uF 686+j120 686+j240 120+j960 686+j686 686+j1200
Load=686+j686 Cable capacitance=1.99uF
Load terminal Capacitor terminal

Fig. 2. Third harmonic current at generator, cable capacitor and load terminals
for combined resistive and inductive load 686+j686 
Third Harmonic Voltage
The combined resistive and inductive load is varied for 16
different fixed capacitance value in the second part of the 14
experiment. The third harmonic voltage magnitude at 12
Voltage (V)

generator, cable capacitor and load terminals are proportional 10

to the load impedance phase angle magnitude as shown in
Fig. 3 for 1.99μF cable capacitance. The bigger the load
impedance phase angle magnitude, the bigger the voltage
magnitude.
The third harmonic current magnitude at generator terminal
is the vector sum of third harmonic current flowing through
cable capacitor and load. Therefore, the magnitude of third
harmonic current at generator terminal depends on combined
impedance of cable capacitor and load. Regardless of cable
capacitance values, the magnitude of third harmonic current at
cable capacitor terminal is proportional to the load impedance
8 a' phase
6 b' phase
4
2 c' phase
0 Neutral
686+j120 686+j240 120+j960 686+j686 686+j1200
Cable capacitance=1.99uF
Load terminal
Fig. 3. Third harmonic voltage at generator, cable capacitor and load terminals
for 1.99μF cable capacitance

382
 Third Harmonic Current Harmonic Current Spectrum
60 60.00
50 50.00

Current(mA)
Current(mA)

40 40.00
30.00
30 a' phase
20.00 'a' phase
20 b' phase
10.00 'b' phase
10 c' phase
0.00 'c' phase
0 Neutral 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48
686+j120 686+j240 120+j960 686+j686 686+j1200
Harmonic number
Cable capacitance=1.99uF Load=686+j686 Capacitance=0.66uF
Generator terminal Capacitor terminal

Fig. 5. Harmonic current spectrum for 9th and 15th harmonic resonance
Third Harmonic Current
80
70 B. Generator Neutral Grounding Resistor
60
Current(mA)

50
The generator neutral grounding resistor is varied for
40 a' phase various combined resistive and inductive load. The third
30 b' phase
harmonic voltage at generator terminal is almost constant for
20 all generator neutral grounding resistor values. However, at
10 c' phase
load terminal, the third harmonic voltage decrease as the
0 Neutral
neutral grounding resistor values increase as shown in Fig. 6
686+j120 686+j240 120+j960 686+j686 686+j1200
for combined resistive and inductive load of 686+j686 . This
Cable capacitance=1.99uF
Capacitor terminal
is due to voltage drop at neutral grounding resistor since the
third harmonic current is present in the neutral. The magnitude
reduction of third harmonic voltage is influenced by the
Third Harmonic Current neutral grounding resistance because the neutral third
harmonic current is small.
40
35
The phase and neutral third harmonic current at generator
30 and load terminals decrease as the neutral grounding resistor
Current(mA)

25 values increase as shown in Fig. 7. Almost zero sequence in

20 a' phase nature, the phase neutral current sum at neutral hence resulting
15 b' phase neutral current almost three times phase current magnitude.
10
5 c' phase The net series impedance of neutral grounding resistor value
0 Neutral and combined resistive and inductive load value determine the
686+j120 686+j240 120+j960 686+j686 686+j1200 phase/neutral third harmonic current magnitude.
Cable capacitance=1.99uF
Load terminal
Third harmonic voltage
Fig. 4. Third harmonic current at generator, cable capacitor and load terminals 14.00
for 1.99μF cable capacitance 12.00
10.00
Voltage (V)

8.00
a' phase
6.00
Harmonic Current Spectrum 4.00 b' phase

200.00 2.00 c' phase

0.00 Neutral
150.00
Current(mA)

0 80 120 240 480 960

100.00 Neutral Grounding Resistor value (ohm)
'a' phase Generator Terminal
50.00
'b' phase
0.00 'c' phase
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48

Harmonic number
Load=686+j120 Capacitance=2.65uF
Capacitor terminal

383
 times phase current magnitude. In Fig. 9, almost all third
Third harmonic voltage harmonic current for phase and neutral from generator flow
14.00 through zig-zag transformer and very small amount flow to the
12.00 load for all combined resistive and inductive load. This is
10.00 because zig-zag transformer provides the least impedance to
Voltage (V)

8.00 ground as compared to combined resistive and inductive load

a' phase
6.00 for third harmonic current to flow.
4.00 b' phase

2.00 c' phase

0.00 Neutral
0 80 120 240 480 960 Third harmonic voltage
Neutral Grounding Resistor value (ohm) 6.00
Load Terminal
5.00

4.00

Voltage (V)
Fig. 6. Third harmonic voltage at generator and load terminals for combined
a' phase
resistive and inductive load 686+j686  3.00
b' phase
2.00
c' phase
1.00
Neutral
Third harmonic current 0.00
686+j686 686+j1200 686+j4800 4800+j686
18.00
16.00 Generator terminal
14.00
Current (mA)

12.00
10.00
a' phase
8.00 Third harmonic voltage
6.00 b' phase
4.00 6.00
c' phase
2.00
0.00 5.00
Neutral
0 80 120 240 480 960 4.00
Voltage (V)

a' phase
Neutral Grounding Resistor value (ohm) 3.00
Generator Terminal b' phase
2.00
c' phase
1.00
Neutral
Third harmonic current 0.00
686+j686 686+j1200 686+j4800 4800+j686
18.00
16.00 Zig-zag transformer terminal
14.00
Current (mA)

12.00
10.00
a' phase
8.00 Third harmonic voltage
6.00 b' phase
4.00 6.00
c' phase
2.00
5.00
0.00 Neutral
0 80 120 240 480 960 4.00
Voltage (V)

a' phase
Neutral Grounding Resistor value (ohm) 3.00
Load Terminal b' phase
2.00
c' phase
1.00
Fig. 7. Third harmonic current at generator and load terminals for combined Neutral
resistive and inductive load 686+j686  0.00
686+j686 686+j1200 686+j4800 4800+j686

Load Terminal
C. Generator Shunted by Zig-zag Transformer
The third harmonic voltage at generator, zig-zag Fig. 8. Third harmonic voltage at generator, zig-zag transformer and load
transformer and load terminals are quite constant for every terminals for combined resistive and inductive load
combined resistive and inductive load as shown in Fig. 8.
Higher load impedance phase angle magnitude yield higher
voltage magnitude at generator, zig-zag transformer and load
terminals.
Almost zero sequence in nature, the phase neutral current
sum at neutral hence resulting neutral current almost three

384
 Generator neutral grounding resistor provides additional
Third harmonic current impedance in the neutral and their resultant impedance with
350.00 combined resistive and inductive load determines the
300.00 magnitude of third harmonic current. Practically, generator
250.00 neutral grounding resistor can be used to reduce third harmonic
Current (mA)

200.00
current from generator.
a' phase
150.00 b' phase Zig-zag transformer exhibits low impedance earth path for
100.00 c' phase third harmonic current to return to generator neutral. It diverts
50.00 the generator third harmonic current from flowing to the load
Neutral
0.00 but very high third harmonic current circulating between
686+j686 686+j1200 686+j4800 4800+j686 generator and zig-zag transformer. This may pose heating
problem to generator, zig-zag transformer and generator neutral
Generator terminal
grounding resistor.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Third harmonic current The authors would like to thank Universiti Teknologi
350.00 PETRONAS (UTP) in particular Research & Innovation Office
300.00 (RIO) in providing Short Term Internal Research Fund
250.00 (STIRF) for this study.
Current (mA)

200.00 a' phase

150.00
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b' phase
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