23rdInternational Conference on Electricity Distribution

Lyon, 15-18 June 2015

Paper 0344

THE ANALYSIS OF MAGNIFICATION OF NEUTRAL CURRENT IN THE PRESENCE OF

POWER QUALITY PROBLEMS
Alla Eldin ABD ELAZIZ
MEEDC Egypt
Meedco78@yahoo.com

Ahmed FATEHY
MEEDC Egypt
Meedco78@yahoo.com

Khalaf RUSHDY
MEEDC-Egypt
Eng.khallaf@yahoo.com

Nelly AHMED
MEEDC- Egypt
Nelly_7875@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the causes of the magnification of
neutral current in the presence of the power quality
problem such as "TripleN" that is, currents with a
harmonic order that is a multiple of third harmonic. This
issue is particularly important in low voltage systems
where harmonic pollution by single phase loads is an
increasingly serious problem. Electric distribution
Companies (EDCs) are responsible for keeping power
quality disturbance within the standard limits. Harmonic
distortion is caused by nonlinear devices in the power
system, sources of distortion are different at different
voltage levels. At low voltage level all kinds of non-linear
loads considered in the paper are connected, which
globally are the main source of distortion. The harmonic
indices are total harmonic distortion, spectrum harmonic
and harmonic loss factors. The measurements and load
survey were done on a set of common low voltage of
different activities. The results are divided into four
groups according to the value of neutral current and
reasons of its magnification. At some of the results the
large value of neutral current is due to the significant
value of the triple harmonic and its multiple besides the
presence of unbalanced loads as in the cases of study in
this paper. The precautions must be taken to prevent the
magnification of neutral currents and the solutions to
overcome the magnification of neutral current are given
and illustrated in this paper.

INTRODUCTION
The industrial activities were grouped in industrial
sectors such as textile, chemical engineering, food,
metallic and mining. Also the public utilities and
commercial institutions were grouped in several
sectors such as banks, hospitals, hotels, exchanges
and transportations. Depending on the kind of
activity if it is industrial, public or commercial
loads differ upon these activities. Since the share of
nonlinear loads in electrical disturbances they

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cause must be increasingly take into account effect

of harmonics is: transformer saturation, voltage
flicker and incorrect operation of voltage sensitive
devices, electromagnetic interference, shorter life of
insulation and malfunction of protective relays.
Table(1) illustrates sources and effect of harmonics.
Table(2) gives some examples of products and
processing in different activities. In industrial
applications, the loads that generate harmonics are
adjustable speed motor drives, switched mode
power supplies, converters, inverters, welding
machines, power control circuit and arc furnaces.
In
commercial
institutions,
loads
generating
harmonics are personal computers, discharge lamps
and uninterrupted power supply in fact, each
industrial and commercial load harmonic is a
combination between different individual load
harmonics and the only accurate way to know the
load harmonics values is by measuring the supply
loads.
Table 1: Sources & Effects of Harmonics
Source Of Harmonics
Supply
Demand Side
Side
System
Nonlinear loads
Resonance (rectifiers,
adjustable speed
controls,
fluorescent light,
computers)

Effect
1-Electronic control
malfunction.
2-Nuisance tripping
of circuit breakers.
3-Inconsistent meter
reading.
4-Data corruption
5-Overheating of
motors and
transformers.
6-Computer
malfunctions.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
In a star connected three phase system, the current in
the neutral conductor is the vector sum of the three
line currents with a balanced sinusoidal three- phase

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23rdInternational Conference on Electricity Distribution

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Paper 0344

Table 2: Some products and processing.

Activity
Textile

Chemical

Mining
&building
material
Engineering
& electrical

Product
Textured yarn
,raw cloth,
dressed
Socks
Paper, plastics,
rubbers,
paints, packaging
material
Ceramic pipes,
glass shields

Processing
Drawing, heating,
boiling, drying,
spinning, sewing

Tools

Milling, surface
grinding, turning
, drilling, cutting,
pressing

Pressing, grinding,
packing, drying
mixing
Cutting, grinding,
machining,
welding, sanding,
painting

system of currents, this summation is zero. Hence it

means that the neutral current under the normal conditions
usually equals zero, (Fig.1) illustrates that.
In the case of a threephase power system feeding linear
single phase loads, the current in the neutral conductor is
rarely zero because the load in each phase is different.
With an unbalanced 3 phase load the neutral current is not
zero, but it is smaller than the phase current as shown in
(Fig. 2). Where non linear loads are being supplied, even
when the load is well balanced across the phases, there is
likely to be substantial current in the neutral conductor.
With nonsinusoidal currents, the sum of the three line
currents, even with the same r.m.s value, may be different
from zero, (Fig. 3) illustrates this case with a non- linear
3 phase load, the neutral current is not zero and can also
be larger than the phase current because of homopolar
harmonics.

Fig2: unbalanced 3 phase load.

Figure 3: non- linear 3 phase load.

OVERVIEW OF THE EXAMINED SYSTEM

Since 2000, the specialists of Middle Egypt
Electricity Distribution Company (MEEDC) carried
out more than 150 measurements of electrical
parameters (voltage current power power factor
harmonics ) in the low voltage (LV) and medium
voltage(MV) end user networks. The measurements
were done at low voltage bus, for some different
cases types of loads. These types such as central
telephone exchanges (E1, E2 and E3), One Botogas
filling manufactory (B), chemical operations M, two
public building (PB and SCC) and hospital building
(H). The measuring sites were selected to cover a
wide spread range of different facilities and load
types. Power quality analyzers are used for real time
monitoring, measurement of the electrical parameters
and store the data for later analysis. Computer
software provides methods to display the recorded
data. The measurements were carried out and
evaluated during one day at least.

Fig1: balanced 3 phase load

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Paper 0344

Table 3: Results of cases under study

Case
NO.

Customer Type of
activity

hospital

E1

IEEE
Limit
of THDi
(%)
15

Measured Value
of THDi at
Maximum
Current (%)
17

IEEE
Limit
Of Odd
Harmonics (<11)
12

Calculated
neutral
To Phase
%
35.6

Maximum
Phase
current
(Amper)
157

15

18.1

12

20.2

147.5

15

28.12

12

55

44.5

12

7.1

10

21.9

323.4

E3

Central
telephone
exchange
Public
Building
Central
telephone
exchange

15

7.7

12

22.2

134.9

Chemical

12

10

4.5

590.2

Botogas

12

1.96

10

7.1

257

SCC

Supervisory
15
Control Centre

14

12

43

124

PB
E2

The major focus of this study is on the value of neutral

current and THD values related to current for individual
transformers feeding various loads. Also the analysis of
the relation between the types of loads which generate
more large values of the individual current harmonics
which lead to great values of neutral current have been
carried out, the other reasons which causes the
magnification of the neutral current have been studied.
The data are checked in compliance with IEEE std.5191992 limit, the range for THD current is 5 % to 20 %. It is
calculated from the ratio of short circuit current available
and the point of common coupling to the maximum
fundamental load current. The results were classified into
four cases, table 3 illustrates these cases. The harmonic
spectrum of third harmonic in neutral conductor and the
phasor diagram of each case were illustrated in Figs.4, 5,
6, 7, 8,9,10 and 11 respectively.

RESULTS
The analysis of the results reveals these points: The maximum THDi is 28.12% (IEEE standard is
20%).
The maximum neutal to phase is 43% ( percentage
current unbalance shall not exceed 10%)
The maximum limit value of the odd harmonics is 12
% or 15 % depending on the value of short circuit

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current calculations related to each studied transformers.

Case 1 includes two cases representing a significant
source of harmonic pollution, especially in terms of
harmonic currents illustrated in the following harmonic
bar graph, THDi percentage of maximum current are
large and there is already unbalance current percentage
shown in the phasor diagram of the measurements. So,
this leads to amplification of neutral current amplitude
and gives a large value of the calculated neutral to phase
percentage.
This was shown in Fig.4 and Fig.5 for two customers this
case where the percentage value of current unbalance
(Iunb %) from the phasor diagram is greater than 10 %.
Case 2 includes three cases represents a significant source
of harmonic current pollution, especially in terms of 3rd
harmonics and its multiple but there is an acceptable
unbalance current percentage shown in the phasor
diagram of measurements. This leads to high neutral
current value and high calculated neutral to phase
percentage as shown in Fig.6,Fig.7 and Fig.8 respectively.
Case 3 includes two cases representing moderate source
of harmonic current pollution especially in terms of 3rd
harmonics and its multiple and there is already an
acceptable unbalance current percentage shown at phasor
diagram of measurements. So, this leads to moderate
neutral current value and the value of calculated neutral to
phase percentage is less than 10%. These results are
illustrated in Fig.9 and Fig.10.
Case 4 includes one case study which represents
moderate source of harmonic current pollution especially
in terms of 3rd harmonics and its multiple. There is a
large percentage value of unbalance current shown at
phasor diagram of measurements. So, the major part of

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23rdInternational Conference on Electricity Distribution

Lyon, 15-18 June 2015

Paper 0344
rd

calculated neutral to phase percentage is resulted due to

unbalance current, moreover load survey has been done,
so we found non symmetrical load distribution at three
phase power line, Fig. 11. Due to the variety of loads in
each customer of the previous cases , the generation of
THD in current and 3rd harmonics values are changed.
This leads to an appreciable effect in the value of neutral
current. Also, the nonsymmetriacl phase current causes
significant value of neutral current. Typically, the power
electronic devices generate large value of THDi in terms
of 3rd harmonics. It is clear in case 1 and case2. Where,
there are various loads such as communication devices,
computers and printers at customers were named E1,E2
and E3 which type of activity is central telephone
exchange. The same thing with customers were named
(H,Pb) which kind of activity is hospital and public
building respectively. Their loads are medical
instruments, computers, fluorescent lamps and other
office devices.

CH4 : 3 harmonic

Fig 6: case 2(E3)

rd

rd

CH4 : 3 harmonic

CH4 : 3 harmonic

Fig 7: case 2(E2)

Fig.4: case 1(E1)

rd

CH4 : 3 harmonic
rd

CH4 : 3 harmonic

Fig 5: case1 ( H)

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Fig 8: case 2(Pb)

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Lyon, 15-18 June 2015

Paper 0344

rd

CH4 : 3 harmonic

Fig 9: case3(B)
rd

CH4 : 3 harmonic

cancelling by vector addition. The neutral current

amplitude may exceed the phase current in amplitude
at the supply frequency due to the third harmonic.
These cause some bad effects such as:i. Addition power losses cause excessive stress
due to heat in the neutral conductors.
ii. Reduced forward operating torque and
overheating of induction motors
iii. Excessive electromagnetic interference
(EMI) to sensitive equipment in buildings.
iv. Additional error in power measurement system.
So, it can be recommend that :1- Using derating transformers or use K- factor
transformers.
2- Oversize all neutral components 1.73 times
rated full load current.
3- Use separate neutral conductors for
nonlinear loads and avoid shared neutral
conductors where practical.
4- Use neutral over current sensors to trip phase
conductors.

REFERENCES
[1]

Fig 10: case3( M)

rd

CH4 : 3 harmonic

Fig 11: case4( SCC)

CONCLUSION
In fact, third harmonic component (and all other
harmonics where the order is a multiple of three
the sixth, ninth, etc.) of the line currents are all in
phase with each other (i.e. they are homopolar
components), so the sum arithmetically rather than

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IEEE std.519-1992, " IEEE Recommended

Practices and Requirements for harmonics Control
in Electric Power System".
[2] Mohammad Alzoubi and Mohammad Obeidat,
2013, "Harmonic Penetration Assessment in
Residential Areas", Proceeding of CIRED 22nd
international conference, 148-151.
[3] Hafez El salmawy , Kamelia Youssef, Shereen
Abdulla and Iman Ahmed , 2012, " The Effects of
Harmonic Distortions On Transformers", Proceeding
of 8th international conference on electrical
engineering (ICEENG) , 17.
[4] K.Youssef , A.Khodeir ,M.Tantawi and A.Elsaeed,
2004, "Overview Of Electrical Anomalies",
Proceeding of 1st
international conference on
electrical engineering (ICEENG), 772777.
[5] Prof.Jan Desmetand and Prof.Anglo Baggini, 2003,
"Harmonics Neutral Sizing in Harmonic Rich
Installations", Power Quality Application Guide,
Copper Development Association.
[6] Dr.Prasad Enjeti, 2001, "Harmonics in low voltage
Three-Phase Four-Wire Electric Distribution
Systems and Filtering Solutions", PSERC
Online Seminar.
[7] A.ElMofty,2000, "Highlight and Guideline for
Commercial And Industrial Load Harmonics
Borders", Proceeding of 7th international MIDDLEEAST
Power
Systems
Conference(
MEPCON'2000), 38-43.
[8] Attia,M.Tantawy and K.youssef, 2000, "
Characterstics Of Electrical Loads For Banks ",
Proceeding of 7th international MIDDLE-EAST
Power Systems Conference ( MEPCON'2000),253258.

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