Origin of harmonics: Difference between revisions

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The presence of harmonics indicates a distorted current or voltage wave. The distortion of the current or voltage wave means that the distribution of electrical energy is disturbed and power quality is not optimum.<br>Harmonic currents are caused by non-linear loads connected to the distribution network. The flow of harmonic currents causes harmonic voltages via distribution-network impedances and consequently distortion of the supply voltage.  
== Harmonic currents ==
Equipment comprising power electronics circuits are typical non-linear loads and generate harmonic currents. Such loads are increasingly frequent in all industrial, commercial and residential installations and their percentage in overall electrical
consumption is growing steadily.


===== '''Origin of harmonics'''  =====
=== Examples include:===
* Industrial equipment (welding machines, arc and induction furnaces, battery chargers),
* Variable Speed Drives for AC or DC motors{{fn|1}},
* Uninterruptible Power Supplies,
* Office equipment (PCs, printers, servers, etc.),
* Household appliances (TV sets, microwave ovens, fluorescent lighting, light dimmers).


Devices and systems that cause harmonics are present in all sectors, i.e. industrial, commercial and residential. Harmonics are caused by non-linear loads (i.e. loads that draw current with a waveform that is not the same as that of the supply voltage).<br>Examples of non-linear loads are:
== Harmonic voltages ==
In order to understand the origin of harmonic voltages, let's consider the simplified diagram on {{FigRef|M3}}.


*Industrial equipment (welding machines, arc furnaces, induction furnaces, rectifiers)
{{FigImage|DB422612_EN|svg|M3|Single-line diagram showing the impedance of the supply circuit for a non-linear load}}
*Variable-speed drives for asynchronous or DC motors
*UPSs
*Office equipment (computers, photocopy machines, fax machines, etc.)
*Home appliances (television sets, micro-wave ovens, fluorescent lighting)
*Certain devices involving magnetic saturation (transformers)


'''Disturbances caused by non-linear loads: harmonic current and voltage'''<br>Non-linear loads draw harmonic currents that flow in the distribution network. Harmonic voltages are caused by the flow of harmonic currents through the impedances of the supply circuits (transformer and distribution network for situations similar to that shown in '''Figure M2''').  
The reactance of a conductor increases as a function of the frequency of the current flowing through the conductor. For each harmonic current (order h), there is therefore an impedance Z<sub>h</sub> in the supply circuit.


----
The total system can be split into different circuits:
* One circuit representing the flow of current at the fundamental frequency,
* One circuit representing the flow of harmonic currents.


<br>[[Image:FigM02.jpg|left]] <br><br><br><br>
{{FigImage|DB422613_EN|svg|M4|Split of circuit into fundamental and harmonic circuits}}


'''''Fig. M2:&nbsp;'''''<i>Single-line diagram showing the impedance of the supply circuit for a harmonic of order h</i>  
When the harmonic current of order h flows through impedance Z<sub>h</sub>, it creates a harmonic voltage U<sub>h</sub>, where U<sub>h</sub> = Z<sub>h</sub> x I<sub>h</sub> (by Ohm's law).


----
The voltage at point B is therefore distorted. All devices supplied via point B receive a distorted voltage.


The reactance of a conductor increases as a function of the frequency of the current flowing through the conductor. For each harmonic current (order h), there is therefore an impedance Zh in the supply circuit.<br>When the harmonic current of order h flows through impedance Zh, it creates a harmonic voltage Uh, where Uh = Zh x Ih (Ohm law). The voltage at point B is therefore distorted. All devices supplied via point B receive a distorted voltage.<br>For a given harmonic current, the distortion is proportional to the impedance in the distribution network.<br>'''Flow of harmonic currents in distribution networks'''<br>The non-linear loads can be considered to reinject the harmonic currents upstream into the distribution network, toward the source.<br>'''Figures M3 and M4''' show an installation disturbed by harmonics. '''Figure M3 '''shows the flow of the current at 50 Hz in the installation and '''Figure M4''' shows the harmonic current (order h).<br>
For a given harmonic current, the voltage distortion is proportional to the impedance in the distribution network.


----
== Flow of harmonic currents in distribution networks==
The non-linear loads can be considered to inject the harmonic currents upstream into the distribution network, towards the source. The harmonic currents generated by the different loads sum up at the busbar level creating the harmonic distortion.


<br>[[Image:FigM03.jpg|left]] <br><br><br><br><br>'''''Fig. M3:&nbsp;'''''<i>Installation supplying a non-linear load, where only the phenomena concerning the 50 Hz frequency (fundamental frequency) are shown</i>
Because of the different technologies of loads, harmonic currents of the same order are generally not in phase. This diversity effect results in a partial summation.


----
{{FigImage|DB422614_EN|svg|M5|Flow of harmonic currents in a distribution network}}


<br>[[Image:FigM04.jpg|left]] <br><br><br><br><br><br><br>'''''Fig. M4: '''Same installation, where only the phenomena concerning the frequency of harmonic order h are shown''
{{footnotes}}
 
<references>
----
{{fn-detail|1|to know more about harmonics mitigation related to Variable Speed Drives, please refer to our Schneider Electric White Paper '''[https://www.se.com/ww/en/download/document/WP2121101EN/ "Choose the best harmonic mitigation solution for your drive"]'''}}
 
</references>
Supply of the non-linear load creates the flow of a current I50Hz (shown in'''figure M3'''), to which is added each of the harmonic currents Ih (shown in '''figure M4'''), corresponding to each harmonic order h.<br>Still considering that the loads reinject harmonic current upstream into the distribution network, it is possible to create a diagram showing the harmonic currents in the network (see '''Fig. M5''').
 
----
 
<br>[[Image:FigM05.jpg|left]] <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
 
<br>'''''Fig. M5: '''Flow of harmonic currents in a distribution network''
 
----
 
Harmonics have major economic effects in installations:
 
*Increases in energy costs
*Premature ageing of equipment
*Production losses<br>
 
[[ru:Причины появления гармонических искажений]]

Latest revision as of 09:49, 22 June 2022

Harmonic currents

Equipment comprising power electronics circuits are typical non-linear loads and generate harmonic currents. Such loads are increasingly frequent in all industrial, commercial and residential installations and their percentage in overall electrical consumption is growing steadily.

Examples include:

  • Industrial equipment (welding machines, arc and induction furnaces, battery chargers),
  • Variable Speed Drives for AC or DC motors[1],
  • Uninterruptible Power Supplies,
  • Office equipment (PCs, printers, servers, etc.),
  • Household appliances (TV sets, microwave ovens, fluorescent lighting, light dimmers).

Harmonic voltages

In order to understand the origin of harmonic voltages, let's consider the simplified diagram on Fig. M3.

Fig. M3 – Single-line diagram showing the impedance of the supply circuit for a non-linear load

The reactance of a conductor increases as a function of the frequency of the current flowing through the conductor. For each harmonic current (order h), there is therefore an impedance Zh in the supply circuit.

The total system can be split into different circuits:

  • One circuit representing the flow of current at the fundamental frequency,
  • One circuit representing the flow of harmonic currents.
Fig. M4 – Split of circuit into fundamental and harmonic circuits

When the harmonic current of order h flows through impedance Zh, it creates a harmonic voltage Uh, where Uh = Zh x Ih (by Ohm's law).

The voltage at point B is therefore distorted. All devices supplied via point B receive a distorted voltage.

For a given harmonic current, the voltage distortion is proportional to the impedance in the distribution network.

Flow of harmonic currents in distribution networks

The non-linear loads can be considered to inject the harmonic currents upstream into the distribution network, towards the source. The harmonic currents generated by the different loads sum up at the busbar level creating the harmonic distortion.

Because of the different technologies of loads, harmonic currents of the same order are generally not in phase. This diversity effect results in a partial summation.

Fig. M5 – Flow of harmonic currents in a distribution network

Notes

  1. ^ to know more about harmonics mitigation related to Variable Speed Drives, please refer to our Schneider Electric White Paper "Choose the best harmonic mitigation solution for your drive"
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