PQ02 Harmonics and Interharmonics

1. Description of the phenomena

Decomposition of distorted waveform,
how to apply system of symmetrical components to describe harmonics
which harmonic orders correspond to positive, negative and zero sequence component
main mathematical formulas describing harmonic distortion

2. Sources of current harmonics
Very fundamental explanation that electrical machines when entering saturation condition
may become source of harmonics because even a small voltage increase above the nominal
value results in a large increase in the magnetizing current.
electric furnaces with their current turbulances and thus also voltage harmonics and in smaller
scale welding equipment
electronic ballasts which are only slightly if ever more efficient than magnetic ballasts
fluorescent lamps
electronic and power electronic equipment mainly SMPS, all supplies requiring rectifier
regime. Dependence on number of pulses.
3. Harmonic measurement
Fourier Transform Discretization that is how we process signals, grouping, smoothing and
aggregation of results
4. Voltage and current harmonics
What role a system impedance plays? How a current supplying non-linear load, produces the
voltage drop across the supply network equivalent impedance
5. Effects
The relation between harmonics and reactive power
Thermal effects on phase and neutral conductors
How harmonics work in practice in different electrical equipment, particularly interactions
between static converters and loads
Explaining effects of parallel resonance and potential harmonic amplification in case of
misuse of capacitors
6. Mitigation
Decreasing impedance
Use of passive components like reactors and capacitors,
Active shaping of the converter input current
Description of all filtering techniques
7. Standards
IEC 61000, limits also IEEE for comparison
8. Interharmonics
What are interharmonics, which are non-integer multiple of the fundamental frequency. Sources,
effects and mitigation which are quite often pretty similar
9. Location of harmonic sources in power system
In the event of significant distortion of supply network voltage at the PCC between the
electricity supplier and customer, the source of disturbance should be located. This becomes of
particular significance when formulating contracts for electric power supply or charging for
worsening the quality of supply. Comparison of harmonic active power
Appendix A: Electrical power theories (advanced)
Active and apparent power models
Appendix B: Active power filters (advanced)
How power theories have been used in control algorithms of shunt active power filters
Appendix C: Reactive power compensation with distorted load current
How to correctly apply reactive power compensation under variable conditions in terms of
active and reactive power flows
Appendix D: Parallel resonance during a capacitor bank operation
Examples of parallel resonance in number of substations