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Harmonis
Harmonis
Harmonis
Written By
Ir. Tan Yoke Lee
MIEM, Mi-FIRE E
yokeleetan71@gmail.com
Reference materials and images credit to : Yaskawa Youtube on Harmonics
UNDERSTANDING HARMONICS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A MECHANICAL ENGINEER
What is harmonics?
When the load is linear as below, there is no distortion of the sine waves. So both current and voltage are in the
shapes of sine waves.
However when non linear loads such as LED lights, DC chargers for handphones and computers, AC/DC inverters,
VSD drives are connected, the current wave forms are distorted.
UNDERSTANDING HARMONICS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A MECHANICAL ENGINEER
The current value at each point of time can be defined as sum of the fundamental current and harmonics
current. A 3rd harmonic would have the frequency 3 x the fundamental frequency.
The bigger the amplitude of the harmonics current relative to fundamental, the bigger the distortion.
UNDERSTANDING HARMONICS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Note that in a balanced system such as motor, triplen harmonics are absent. And in an AC system, even harmonics
are absent.
Thus in balanced motor vsd, we need only consider 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th, 17th, 19th, etc.
UNDERSTANDING HARMONICS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Thus harmonics need to be mitigated. The few common methods of mitigations are:-
Thus harmonics need to be mitigated. The few common methods of mitigations are:-
Thus harmonics need to be mitigated. The few common methods of mitigations are:-
Installing higher pulse drives to mitigate harmonics amplitude. Most drives if not specified the pulse will have 6 pulse.
In conclusion
2. Non linear load creates distortion in current which can be expressed as combination of fundamental current and
harmonics current.
3. Excessive harmonics current will reduce capacity of transformer and genset. It also heats up equipment and
cable. Energy is wasted in terms of heat generated.
4. Thus harmonics should be mitigated where possible at source such as vsd drives. Drives with higher pulse will
have smaller harmonics distortion. Cheaper method will be by installing DC line choke and AC reactor.