Application Note:

Correcting unbalanced current and

voltage with PowerLogic™ AccuSine

Summary
Unbalance is listed as one of the possible
power quality problems that are common in
an electrical distribution system. Even so, it
is often overlooked and can damage
electrical components. This Application Note
reviews the causes and effects, and
describes possible solutions for, unbalanced
current or voltage in electrical networks.
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 2

Introduction What composes a balanced or unbalanced three-phase supply? In an electrical

distribution system, a three-phase AC voltage supply is defined by a source that
generates a sinusoidal voltage waveform of equal magnitude, that are 120 degrees
apart and have a phase rotation (clockwise or counter-clockwise) (see Figure 1). In
a case where the waveform magnitudes are uneven or when the phase shift
between phases differ from 120 degrees, the system is deemed to be unbalanced
or asymmetrical (see Figure 2). The same is true for balanced or unbalanced
current in three-phase AC networks.

Figure 1
Balanced three-phase
voltage waveform: A-B-
C sequence, 120˚apart
with the same
magnitude

Figure 2
Unbalanced three-
phase voltage
waveform due to
magnitude variation
between phases

Most utilities supply their customers with well-balanced voltage. In practical cases,
unbalanced current and voltage is caused by an asymmetry of single-phase loads
connected to the three-phase supply. Basically, the statistical spread or duty cycle
of single-phase loads cannot be guaranteed, so they create unbalanced current,
which in turn creates the unbalanced voltage supply. Abnormal system conditions
like phase-to-ground or phase-to-phase faults (short-circuits) can also cause
voltage supply asymmetry; however, these conditions are normally short-lived
because these faults are cleared by short circuit protection device like fuses or
circuit breakers. A defective three-phase load can also give rise to unbalanced
current. For example, a Power Factor Correction capacitor bank with defective
single-phase capacitors will create an unbalanced current draw.

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 3

Asymmetry in current or voltage can be calculated in a few ways. The calculation

Calculating from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), defines unbalanced
Asymmetry in voltage as a hundred times the absolute value of the maximum deviation of the line
voltage and voltage from the average voltage on a three-phase system, divided by the average
voltage. If we look at line to line voltage values of 455 V, 465 V & 475 V, we obtain
current an average voltage of 465 V, so we can calculate the unbalanced voltage as:

((465 V – 455 V) / 465 V) X 100 = 2.15%

The IEEE 1159 (recommended practice for monitoring electric power quality)
defines unbalance in three-phase networks as the ratio of magnitude of negative
sequence component to the magnitude of the positive sequence component,
expressed as a percentage. This definition applies to both voltage and current
unbalance.

Therefore:

% Unbalance in voltage = (V neg / V pos) x 100% or

% Unbalance in current = (I neg / I pos) x 100%

Positive and negative sequence will be explained later in this document.

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 4

What kind of impact does unbalanced current or voltage have on our electrical
Impacts of equipment? Here are a few examples:
asymmetry on
• Derating of transformers, cables and circuit breakers. For example, a three-
electrical phase circuit breaker will trip on the highest phase current, so if current is
equipment unbalanced your circuit breaker will trip on the phase that has the highest
current draw, and thereby not allowing the use of its full capacity.
• In three-phase induction motors unbalanced voltage leads to unbalanced
motor current six to ten times higher than the unbalanced voltage. This
excessive unbalanced current leads to overheated motor windings. For
example, a 3% unbalance in voltage will create an 18% temperature rise in a
motor, yielding a need for a 10% derating of the motor. Obviously, if the motor
is not derated it will be excessively stressed, which reduces motor life span.
• Unbalanced voltage also affects standard 6-pulse diode rectifier bridges
commonly used in power electronic equipment like VFD’s, UPS, battery
chargers, and more. When the diodes are supplied by balanced voltage, the
same amount of power flows through each diode; however, under unbalanced
voltage conditions the commutation between conducting diodes is no longer
even and some diodes must transmit more power to the DC bus. This
excessive power transmission translates into additional current carried by the
affected semi-conductors. This causes additional stress on the electronic
components, reducing their useful life. The change in power transmission also
affects the harmonic spectrum and magnitude (increased THDi) reflected on
the grid where non-typical zero sequence harmonic (3rd harmonic) arise from
these 6-pulse rectifier that normally has dominant positive and negative
sequence harmonics (5th, 7th, 11th, 13th H).

In VFD’s it’s also possible to see the device trip on an overload fault caused by the
phase that carries the additional current drawn by rectifier bridge.

Figure 3
Current drawn by a 6-
pulse rectifier bridge
supplied by a voltage
source with a 2%
unbalance.

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 5

Maintaining a correct balanced voltage supply in the electrical distribution from low
Maintaining a voltage to high voltage will yield benefits to the end users and to the energy
balanced providers. For that reason, the requirement for a balanced three-phase electrical
network is often part of the energy providers inter-connection contract where they
voltage supply set unbalance limits at the point of common coupling with their users. Unbalanced
voltage or current limits, as power quality indicators, are also highlighted in several
electrical standards (Table 1).

Standard Standard Voltage Current Note

description unbalance unbalance limit
Table 1 limit (%) (%)
IEEE 1159 Recommended practice 0.5% to 2% 1% to 30% Trigger levels
Unbalanced current for monitoring electric
power quality
and voltage limits NEMA MG1 National Electrical 1% At the motor
highlighted in several Manufacturer terminals
electrical standards Association, Motors &
Generators
ANSI C84.1 American National 3% Measured at
Standard for electric the revenue
power system and meter
equipment – voltage
ratings
EN 50160 Voltage characteristics 2% 95% of the
of electricity supplied by time, at LV or
public distribution MV
system
IEC 60034-1 Rotating electrical 1% On the supply
machines feeding the
machine

In order to understand potential solutions via Electronic Var Compensators

(AccuSine) or unbalanced calculations as per IEEE 1159, we must understand
symmetrical components. In 1918 Fortescue proved that an unbalanced set of
phasors from a polyphase signal could be transformed into a balanced set of
symmetrical components. To start, let’s represent our three-phase sinusoidal supply
(see figure 1 & 2) into a set of three phasors (vectors). In Figure 4 we can see the
vectorial representation of a balanced three-phase voltage supply (see Figure 1)
that has a counterclockwise rotation. It’s important to note that since this system is
balanced, it only has positive sequence components.

Figure 4*
Vectorial representation
of a balanced three-
phase AC voltage
supply

*Extracted from Cahier technique No. 18

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 6

In reality, most three-phase electrical distribution systems have some asymmetry.

This is where Fortescue’s theory can be employed. Symmetrical components in
current or voltage are composed of positive, negative or zero sequence, their
characteristics are illustrated below.

The characteristics of the positive sequence system are (Figure 5):

• Vectors have the same magnitude

• All vectors are shifted by 120˚
• The vectors are arranged such that a stationary observer sees them pass by
in the order of V1, V2 & V3

Figure 5*
Positive sequence
system

The characteristics of the negative sequence system are (Figure 6):

• Vectors have the same magnitude

• All vectors are shifted by 120˚
• The vectors are arranged such that a stationary observer sees them pass by
in the order of V1, V3 & V2

Figure 6*
Negative sequence
system

*Extracted from Cahier technique No. 18

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 7

The characteristics of the zero-sequence system are (Figure 7):

• Vectors have the same magnitude

• All vectors are in phase
• The vectors are arranged such that a stationary observer sees them pass at
the same time

Figure 7*
Zero sequence system

The best way to understand symmetrical components is to look at an unbalanced

system represented vectorially. In the example that follows (Figure 8), we have an
unbalanced three-phase network with its current draw on each phase. We can see
that this system is asymmetrical because of the variation in current magnitude
between phases and the uneven phase displacement. This system was
decomposed into symmetrical components that vectorially add to each phase
current. While reviewing the example you will find that the characteristics of
positive, negative and zero sequence components have been respected.

NOTE: To find out more about the calculations involved, please review
Schneider Electric Cahier technique no.18. The paper’s introduction of symmetrical
components improves understanding of how an Electronic Var Compensator can
help rebalance the current and ultimately the voltage on a three-phase network.

*Extracted from Cahier technique No. 18

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 8

Figure 8
Vectorial representation of
an unbalance current
drawn on a three-phase
system with its associated
Positive, Negative and
Zero sequence vectors

Historically, even distribution of single-phase loads in three-phase networks have

been the first line of defense against voltage and current asymmetry; in large
networks STATCOM devices have also been used. Today with advancements in
control in Active Harmonic Filtering (AHF), load balancing can also be achieved in
parallel with harmonic mitigation and power factor correction.

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 9

For example, the PowerLogic AccuSine PCS+ or AccuSine PCSn from Schneider
Electric can simultaneously correct three power quality issues in real time by
injecting the required compensating current.

They can:

• Mitigate harmonics up to the 51st order

• Correct Power Factor up to unity
• Correct for 100% of the unbalanced current

The principal of load current balancing with PowerLogic AccuSine is to have the
AHF supply the loads with the negative and/or zero sequence current instead of the
source. The result is that the source must only supply the positive sequence
current, just like a naturally perfectly balanced system would. By doing so, the
AccuSine balances the current upstream of its installation point (at the node) which
in turn rebalances the voltage supply.

It’s important to note that AccuSine requires no real power, other than its low losses,
in order to inject the load balancing current. A balanced voltage supply benefits all
loads in the plant and helps the user meet grid code requirements when load
balancing is an integral part of their contract with the utility. Keep in mind that
AccuSine cannot correct for unbalanced voltage generated by upstream
neighboring facilities or by the utility itself.

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 10

A three-phase three-wire network with a 100 Ampere single-phase resistive load

Examples of (4.8 Ω) connected between phase A and B is generating a highly asymmetrical
load current current at the source (Figure 9). Looking at Table 2 below we can see that without
compensation there is 100 Ampere flowing between phase A and B at the source,
balancing with and that we manage to balance the current evenly to 57.7 A on all three-phases
PowerLogic when the AccuSine PCS+ is supplying the negative sequence current into the
AccuSine system. In this example we can clearly see that the source must only supply the
positive sequence current when the AccuSine PCS+ is in service (Figure 10).

Without Compensation With AccuSine PCS+

Table 2 Symmetrical Components Neg Seq (A)
I Source
A 3-phase 3-wire injected by the
Phase I Source (A) Pos Seq (A) Neg Seq (A) (A)
network with a 100 PCS+
Ampere single-phase A 100 57.7 57.7 57.7 57.7
resistive load B 100 57.7 57.7 57.7 57.7
C 0 57.7 57.7 57.7 57.7

12.47 kV

Figure 9
Current flow without
compensation
100 A
480 V, 60 Hz
A
B
C
100 A
4.8 Ω

1 phase load

12.47 kV

Figure 10
Current flow with PCS+
compensation
57.7 A 57.7 A
57.7 A 480 V, 60 Hz
A
B
C
100 A
4.8 Ω

1 phase load

AccuSine
PCS+

3Ø / 3W

57.7 A injected
per phase

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 11

The next example is a three-phase four-wire network with a 100 Ampere single-
phase resistive load (2.3 Ω) connected between phase A and the neutral, again
generating a highly asymmetrical current at the source (Figure 11). As Table 3
indicates, without compensation there is 100 Ampere flowing between phase A and
the neutral at the source, and that current is balanced evenly to 33.3 A on all three-
phases when the AccuSine PCSn supplies the negative and zero sequence current
into the system. Again, clearly the source only has to supply the positive sequence
current when the AccuSine PCSn is in service (Figure 12).

Table 3 Without Compensation With AccuSine PCSn

A three-phase four-wire Symmetrical Components Neg Seq Zero Seq
network with a 100 Phase I Source Pos Neg Zero I (A) injected (A)
Ampere single-phase (A) Seq Seq Seq (A) Source by the Injected by
resistive load (A) (A) (A) PCSn the PCSn
A 100 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3
B 0 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3
C 0 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3

11 kV

Figure 11
Current flow without
compensation 100 A
230/400 V, 50 hz
A
B
C
N
100 A
2.3 Ω

1 phase load

11 kV

Figure 12 33.3 A
Current flow with 33.3 A
33.3 A
230/400 V, 50 hz
compensation A
B
C
N
100 A
2.3 Ω

1 phase load
AccuSine
PCSn

3Ø / 4W

66.7 A injected
per phase

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 12

Finally, this application has a 60 Ampere RMS AccuSine PCSn operating on a three-
phase four-wire network. To assist with this performance analysis, actual screen
captures from the PCSn HMI are included in this three-step review:

1. PCSn OFF: Network rich in harmonics and network unbalanced (Figure 13,
Figure 17 A).
2. PCSn Harmonic mode ON only: Drastic decrease in harmonics but network
current remains unbalanced (Figure 14, Figure 17 B).
3. PCSn 3 modes of compensation activated: Great harmonic mitigation, PF
corrected to unity, balancing of the phase current and reduction of current
flow in the neutral (Figure 15, 16, 17 C).

6 kV

Metering point
Figure 13
Network current with the
AccuSine PCSn OFF 230/400 V, 50 hz
A
B
C
N

AccuSine
PCSn
60 A RMS
1 phase loads
3Ø / 4W

OFF

6 kV

Metering point

Figure 14 230/400 V, 50 hz
Network current with A
B

PCSn mitigating C
N

harmonics only

AccuSine
PCSn
60 A RMS
1 phase loads
3Ø / 4W

Harmonic mitigation ON only

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 13

6 kV
Figure 15
Metering point
Load balancing
accomplished along with
PF correction &
harmonic mitigation A
230/400 V, 50 hz
B
C
N

AccuSine
PCSn
60 A RMS
1 phase loads
3Ø / 4W

3 modes of compensation ON

Figure 16
Source current (Blue)
free of harmonics and in
phase with the voltage
supply (Orange). The
green waveform shows
the current before
compensation

A B C
PCSn OFF Harmonic mitigation PCSn 3 modes of
Figure 17
mode ON only compensation activated
Three-phase source
current: A) PCSn OFF, B)
Harmonic mitigation
mode ON only,
C) PCSn 3 modes of
compensation activated
(Harmonic mitigation, PF
compensation & Load
balancing)

We can clearly see how PowerLogic AccuSine PCSn modulates its current injection
to inject fundamental current to correct the Displacement Power Factor and
rebalance the current in each phase. Simultaneously, it injects harmonic mitigating
current to attenuate the flow of high frequencies in the network. Finally, it reduces
the flow of RMS current in the neutral.

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 14

Conclusion Advancements in controls of current source inverters like AccuSine make it possible
to correct unbalanced load current and ultimately correct unbalanced voltage in a
three-phase low voltage power supply. This provides great benefits to electrical
distribution systems as they can operate more efficiently, reduce stress on rotating
electrodynamic machines, and allow users to meet their utility grid code
requirements.

For more information on PowerLogic AccuSine offers as well as other power quality
components from Schneider Electric, please visit the Power Quality and Power
Factor Correction pages.

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 15

References 1. Benoit de Metz-Noblat, Analysis of Three-phase network in disturbed

operating conditions using symmetrical components, Schneider Electric
Cahier technique no. 18, October 2005.
2. Roland Calvas, Electrical disturbances in LV, Schneider Electric Cahier
technique no. 141, March 2000.
3. US Department of Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office, Motor Systems tip
sheet #7, document number DOE/Go-102012-3733, November 2012.
4. Jacques Schonek, Principal of load current balancing with Electronic Var
Compensator, November 2012.
5. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Voltage unbalance and Motors, October
2009
6. Dr Johan Driesen & Dr Thierry Van Graenenbroeck, ECI, Voltage
disturbances, Introduction to unbalance, 5.1.3, May 2002
7. User Manual PHA 596669-01: AccuSine PCSn Active Harmonic Filter,
December 2019

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine
 Schneider Electric Rev 0 16

About the author

Remi Bolduc is a Product Application Engineer for Digital Power in
Schneider Electric. He started his career with the Hydro-Quebec Utility in
service and maintenance of HV switchgear, followed by 6 years with S&C
Electric in application of MV switchgear. For the past 21 years, he has held
various technical and commercial roles for Schneider Electric where he
has specialized in Power Quality Correction. Mr. Bolduc graduated with a
degree in Electrodynamics and has lectured in over 200 Power Quality
seminars around the world.

Acknowledgement
This paper would not have been possible to produce without the support
of M. Nanda Marwali, John Cheng and the AccuSine engineering team.
Thank you for your ongoing support.

Application Note – Correcting unbalanced current and voltage with PowerLogic AccuSine