ETAP Knowledge Base

Harmonic Load Flow Calculation Verification & Validation

Description: Harmonic load flow verification and validation using IEEE standard 519-1992
Category: Harmonic Analysis, IEEE Standard 519 – 1992 pg. 89
Type: Informative
Keywords: Harmonic Analysis, Harmonic Load Flow, IEEE standard 519-1992

Description:
The application example provided on IEEE Standard 519 – 1992 pg. 89 contains some errors
on the Harmonic Current Distortion Spectrum described on table 13.1. The per-unit
fundamental currents shown there are too high for the 5, 7, 17, 19, 29, and 31 harmonic orders.
It appears that these values are higher a by a factor of 10.

In addition, table 13.1 lists the 36th harmonic order current distortion. This is clearly a mistake
because no even ordered harmonic distortion should be present on a typical 12-pulse static
converter load with perfectly matched semiconductor switches. The value listed on the table
should have been the 37th harmonic.

Furthermore, one last indication that table 13.1 is incorrectly printed is the table footnote. It
states, “The values in bold type are normally taken as 10% of the six-pulse value”; however, the
table does not show any values in bold type. This is just one more sign of the list of printing
errors that appear on the table.

Analysis:
To be able to obtain the same values for the impedance (Zh), current (Ih) and voltage (Zh)
distortion as those described on tables 13.2 & 13.3, the values for the 5, 7, 17, 19, 29, and 31
harmonic orders must be 10% of the values currently listed on the table.

Current Injection Method

The current injection method is the most widely used method for determining harmonic
distortion on an electrical system. It is a simple method and is based on modeling the harmonic
current distortion by the use of ideal sources. On the IEEE application example, ideal current
sources are used and they inject current into the electrical system described by figure 13.1.
ETAP uses the same method to calculate the voltage distortion. The following equation is used
to determine the voltage magnitude distortion based on harmonic current Ih and system
impedance Zh (calculated at the harmonic order frequency):
Vh = I h * Z h (Eq 8.3 IEEE 519 - 1992)

The results given by ETAP can be verified by comparison against the values calculated on the
IEEE standard.

This document is confidential and proprietary to Operation Technology, Inc. and may not be reproduced, published or disclosed to
others without the written authorization of Operation Technology, Inc., 17 Goodyear, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92618, USA. © 2010 by
Operation Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

© Operation Technology, Inc. Page 1 of 2 ETAPKB

ETAP Knowledge Base

Harmonic Load Flow Calculation Verification & Validation

Example
The fifth order harmonic voltage distortion calculated by ETAP is equal to 0.1199096 % of the
115 kV Nominal kV. The harmonic current calculated at the 115 kV level is 1.906146 % of
126.4249 Amps (fundamental current). Using these two values the impedance can be
determined using 10 MVA base as follows:

Vh := 0.1199096 (% Nom kV) Ih := 2.40984317 (Amps) h := 5 (harmonic order)

Ibase := ⎛⎜ ⎞
10000
⎟ base current in 10 MVA base
⎝ 3⋅ 115 ⎠
Vh⋅ Ibase
Zsys :=
Ih⋅ h ⋅ 100

−3
Zsys = 5 × 10 system impedance magnitude in per-unit

The impedance determined is equal to 0.005 Ω. This value is identical to the one listed on table
13.3 of IEEE 519 – 1992 for a system size of 2000 MVAsc. The ETAP verification & validation
example uses the same system size. The same procedure can be repeated for the remaining
harmonic orders under scrutiny.

Conclusion:
The previous results indicate that ETAP calculates the same harmonic current and harmonic
voltage magnitude at the 115 kV level. This shows that Ih, Vh and Zh match the results
published by IEEE. This indicates that the current spectrum values under scrutiny should be
10% of the values listed on table 13.1. The current injection method uses Ohms Law to find the
voltage distortion; therefore, it is not possible to match the results of tables 13.2 & 13.3 using
the current spectrum values listed on table 13.1.

This document is confidential and proprietary to Operation Technology, Inc. and may not be reproduced, published or disclosed to
others without the written authorization of Operation Technology, Inc., 17 Goodyear, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92618, USA. © 2010 by
Operation Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

© Operation Technology, Inc. Page 2 of 2 ETAPKB