Power Quality and Harmonics:

Causes, Effects and

Remediation Techniques

Carol Gowan
Chad Loomis, PE

Cornell University PDC

12/13/2006 Electrical Design Section
1
Overview

• What is Power Quality?

• What are some power quality concerns?
• What are Harmonics and what causes them?
• What effects do Poor PQ and Harmonics have on a
building power system and components?
• How can Power Quality and Harmonics Issues be
mitigated?
• Questions

2
What is Power Quality?

• Can be defined as:

– “Any power problem manifested in
• voltage,
• current,
• or frequency deviations

that results in failure or misoperation of customer

equipment”
3
What are general classes of
power quality problems per IEC?
(Int’l Electrotechnical Commission)

• Conducted low-frequency phenomena

– Signal systems (power line carrier)
– Voltage fluctuations (flicker)
– Voltage dips and interruptions
– Voltage Imbalance (unbalance)
– Power frequency variations
– Induced low-frequency voltages
– DC in ac networks
– Harmonics, interharmonics
• Radiated low-frequency phenomena
– Magnetic and Electric Fields
4
Categories and
Characteristics of
Power System
Electromagnetic
Phenomena (IEC)

5
Voltage Fluctuations within
Cornell’s Utility Distribution

Transients – very quick < 1 cycle

– Normal cause is lightning strike
– No lights flicker
– Cornell Utilities employs lightning arrestors
at substations and at primary switches
located at each building electric service
equipment
– End users need to purchase/install TVSS
equipment to further clamp the voltage
spike. 6
Voltage Fluctuations within
Cornell’s Utility Distribution

Sags / Swells
– Voltage imbalance lasting from 3-20 cycles
– Typical cause  NYSEG switching on the
incoming 115kV transmission line
– Lights flickering are indicative of this fault
– Utilities does not protect for this condition
7
 Voltage Fluctuations within
Cornell’s Utility Distribution

• Long term voltage fluctuations

– As load increases, voltage drops (and vice versa)
– Cornell Utilities compensates the long-duration
voltage variations through the use of automatic
load tap changers at the Maple Ave. substation
– System voltage tolerance limits are set in ANSI
C84.1. The Cornell system voltages are designed
to always operate in the range ‘A’ limits (108 –
126V)
• * refer to IEEE 141-1993
8
Voltage Fluctuations within
Cornell’s Utility Distribution

Harmonic Distortion
– Typically generated within a facility, not a
distribution issue
– Utilities does not protect for this condition

9
CBEMA curve for susceptibility of
120V Computer Equipment
Computer Business
Equipment
Manufacturers
Association

Early 1980’s CBEMA

designed the curve to
point out ways in
which system
reliability could be
provided for
10
electronic equipment
ITIC curve for susceptibility of
120V Computer Equipment

Information
Technology
Industry
Council

This derivation was

developed to show a
curve that more
accurately reflects
the performance of
typical single-phase,
60-Hz computers
and their peripherals 11
Computer
Equipment
Disturbance
Table

(Dranetz-BMI Field handbook

for PQ Analysis)
12
What are NOT proper descriptors of
power quality problems per IEC?
• Blackout • Glitch
• Blink • Outage
• Brownout • Interruption
• Bump • Power Surge
• Clean Ground • Raw power
• Clean Power • Spike
• Dirty Ground • Surge
• Dirty Power • Wink
We all need to define the power quality in proper terms to
address the problem. Is it voltage quality, harmonics, etc?
13
Metering and analysis is the best way to resolve the issue.
What are the causes of most trouble tickets
issued for computer problems at Cornell?

• Internally (building area specific) induced problems

– Shared neutrals
– Overloaded circuits (breakers tripping)
– Poorly or improperly grounded circuits

• Note there are VERY minimal utility / delivery issues

(we are very fortunate here at Cornell!)
• Handful of harmonic issues in the last 20 yrs, but
harmonics are becoming a larger concern with more
sophisticated systems and buildings.
14
What Are Harmonics?

• “A component frequency of a harmonic motion

of an electromagnetic wave that is an integral
multiple of the fundamental frequency”

• US fundamental frequency is 60 Hertz

– 3rd Harmonic is 3 x 60Hz or 180Hz
– 5th Harmonic is 5 x 60Hz or 300Hz, etc.

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What Causes Harmonics?

Non-Linear Loads

Current is not proportional to the applied voltage

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Linear vs. Non-linear loads and current waveforms

Linear loads and current waveforms.

Pure resistance, inductance, and
capacitance are all linear.
What that means:
If a sine wave voltage of a certain magnitude
is placed across a circuit containing pure
resistance, the current in the circuit follows
Ohm's Law: I = E ÷ R.
So, for a specific value of ohms, the
relationship of volts and amperes is a
straight line. The current will always be a
sine wave of the same frequency.

Linear Loads include Incandescent lighting,

heating loads, and motors
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Linear vs. Non-linear loads and current waveforms

Nonlinear loads and current waveforms.

Solid state electronics is based on the use of

semiconductors. These materials are totally
different in that their response to voltage is
not a straight line.

What this means:

With a nonlinear load, you cannot easily
predict the relationship between voltage and
current — unless you have an exact curve for
each device. With equipment containing
many solid-state devices, such an approach
is impossible.

Nonlinear loads are switched on for only part

of the cycle, as in a thyristor-controlled circuit,
or pulsed, as in a controlled-rectifier circuit.
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 Effect of harmonics on waveform

180 Out
of Phase

In
Phase

When a waveform is identical from one waveform to the next, it can be represented as
a sum of pure sine waves in which the frequency of each sinusoid is an integer
multiple of the fundamental frequency of the distorted wave.
The sum of the sinusoids created by harmonics can be analyzed using the 19
Fourier series concept
What do harmonics do?

• Harmonics are carried through the system from the

source and can nearly double the amount of current
on the neutral conductor in three phase four wire
distribution systems.

• Distorted currents from harmonic-producing loads

also distort the voltage as they pass through the
system impedence. Therefore, a distorted voltage
can be presented to other end users on the system.

• Overall electrical system and power quality is

affected by the introduction of harmonics. 20
Sources of Harmonics

• Solid State Electronic Devices which contain a poor

power supply
– Computers (PCs/CPUs) – Video display terminals
– Laser Printers – File Servers
– Copy Machines – Battery Chargers
• *Solid State UPS Units
• Solid State Devices (Fluorescent lighting ballasts)
• **Rectifiers (AC-DC Converters  VFDs)
• Welding Units
• Arc Furnaces 21
What are the order of typical harmonics
generated by non-linear loads?

22
Effects of Harmonics

• Distorted Voltage
• Overheated Transformers and Motors
– Increases Hysteresis (magnetization) losses in steel and iron
cores of transformers, motor and magnetic trip units of circuit
breakers (Equipment inefficiencies and overheating)
• Heating of Neutral Conductors
– Skin Effect  Increased amount of current flowing on the
outside of conductors (overheating)
• Low Voltage at End Loads
• High Neutral to Ground Voltages at End Loads
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Effects of Harmonics (cont)

• Operation Problems of Relays and Circuit Breakers

– Thermal/Magnetic Trip Circuit Breakers
• Fuses & bimetal strips respond to True RMS
• Harmonic currents increase eddy current losses in the core
steel of the metallic strip.
• This causes an OVERprotection situation… Increased losses
generate additional heat, this effect the thermal trip of the unit.
– Electronic Trip Circuit Breakers
• Magnitude and phase angle(s) of harmonic current(s) in
relationship to the fundamental current can cause:
– Overprotection when: Peak current sensing > True RMS
– Underprotection when: Peak current sensing < True RMS
• Changing power system loads will vary the magnitude and
phase angle, resulting in inaccurate and unpredictable sensing
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units and overload protection

Effects of Harmonics (cont)

• Communication Problems
– If sharing common parallel path, potential for harmonics to
have inductive coupling effect on unshielded cabling
• Current Measurement Problems (distorted waveform)
• Unreliable Operation of Electronic Equipment
– Mis-operation of electronic equipment that measures
frequency or uses the zero crossing point of a sine wave.
• Control of Speed and Voltage Problems on
Emergency Generators (supplying power)
• Capacitor Bank Application Problems (heating)
• Computer (PC/CPU) data errors / data loss
– Affects power supplies and sensitive electronics 25
 How can Harmonics be Reduced?

• Isolate harmonic loads on separate circuits

(with or without harmonic filters)
• Harmonic mitigating transformers
• Phase shifting (zig-zag) transformers
– Used to cancel out specific harmonics by making
one voltage circuit 180 degrees out-of-phase
• Filter capacitor backs

26
 How can Harmonics be Reduced?

• For VFD and UPS specifically:

– Line Reactors
– K-Rated / Drive Isolation Transformers
– Harmonic Mitigating / Phase Shifting Transformers
– 12, 18 or 24 pulse Converters
– Passive parallel / series tuned Filters
– Active Filters

27
 How can Harmonics be Reduced?

• PROPER GROUNDING
– Neutral to ground conductor connection at one location; at
main panel or transformer secondary
• When neutral is connected to ground at multiple
locations, interference can occur with sensitive electronic
devices.
– Run power and control conductors in separate raceways
– Sensitive loads should not share neutral and ground
conductors.
– Avoid using conduit as the ground return path, run dedicated
ground wire with circuit conductors
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– Refer to IEEE Std 1100-1992 (Emerald Book)
Computer Equipment Grounding
TOP  Radial or “daisy
chain” grounding
Although Code
compliant per NEC,
small differences in
potential can cause
unintended ground
loops

BOTTOM  Best
method for grounding
is via dedicated
equipment grounding
conductors back to
the source 29
IEEE Defined Harmonic Current Limits

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Voltage
Limit /
Harmonics
Evaluation
Procedure

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 Questions?

Thank You!

Cornell Planning, Design & Construction

Carol Gowan 254-1457 cag57@cornell.edu
Chad Loomis 255-8039 cel36@cornell.edu

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Simplified Distribution System Diagram
1

1 Phase Conductors – Heating from Skin Effect

Conduits – Heating from Skin Effect and eddy currents 33
Simplified Distribution System Diagram

2 Circuit breakers – False tripping due to high heat and

higher frequencies caused by harmonics
34
Peak sensing CB’s may trip because of higher peaks
Simplified Distribution System Diagram

3 Neutral conductors – high current from zero sequence triplen

harmonics (3rd & 9th) can add as much as 30% to neutral current
even if phases are balanced. Shared neutrals or reduced size 35

neutral can be hazardous (no CB to protect from overcurrent!)

Simplified Distribution System Diagram

4 Neutral to ground voltage at receptacle – Excessive neutral

current results in high voltage drops between neutral and
36
ground at the outlet
Simplified Distribution System Diagram

5 Neutral bus bar – overloading and heat from zero

sequence harmonics (3rd and 9th)
37
Simplified Distribution System Diagram
6

6 Panelboard enclosure – heating from eddy currents

(induced currents caused by magnetic fluxes), as well as
vibration (“buzzing” sound).
38
Simplified Distribution System Diagram

7 Transformers – heating from eddy currents reduces the life

8 of a transformer insulation system, and lowers efficiency.
39
Simplified Distribution System Diagram

9 Induction Motor Leads – Heating from eddy currents and negative

sequence harmonics (5th, 11th, 17th,etc.)
Note – Negative sequence harmonics work AGAINST a motor’s 40

natural rotation, making it work harder!

Simplified Distribution System Diagram

10

10 Power factor (kVAR) Capacitors – since they are lowest

impedence, resultant high harmonic current can overheat
41
capacitors and/or blow fuses.
Simplified Distribution System Diagram

11

11 kW and kVAR meter – may have reading errors when

harmonic currents are present.
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Simplified Distribution System Diagram

In addition, emergency generators can have speed control and

voltage supply issues caused by harmonics, and harmonics can
impact communications cabling and sensitive electronic 43

equipment.
Typical PQ Evaluation Process

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