University of KwaZuluNatal

School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering Mains Harmonics

ZM Mhlongo 208528095

Abstract
This report investigates the mains distortion caused by non linear loads. A rectifier connected to a resistive load is used as the non linear load. After observations are made with regards to performance various harmonic curbing techniques are investigated. Inductive coupling and 5th harmonic filter are employed and the results are discussed in terms of the effect each has on the system. Simulink SimPowerSystems library is used to simulate those circuits. The Analysis is done using the PowerGui FFT analysis tool. A comparison is made with the schemes given in five circuits and simulations divided, correspondingly to five parts.

Introduction
Electric utilities supply power at sinusoidally varying voltages, the frequency of these sinusoids is ussually 50 or 60Hz. In South Africa the standard is 50Hz. There are basically two types of loads, linear and non linear. The linear loads do not present a problem since the current drawn by them is sinusoidal as well. The problem comes when the loads connected to the power supply are non linear, these devices draw a non linear current and thus cause a distortion in the input current. The resulting waveform can be approximated using sinusoids via the Fourier analysis. The resulting sinusoids start at the power system frequency and appear as interger multiples of the fundamental frequency. The effect of these devices is not very desirable and can cause a decay in porformance of the power grid.

Theory
Definition
Harmonics are a mathematical way of describing distortion to a voltage or current waveform. Fourier analysis allows for the use of sinusoids to represent any waveform by a sum of sinusoids. The term harmonic refers to a component of a waveform that occurs at an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency. Figure 1 illustrates how harmonics affect the fundamental current.

Figure 1: Effects of harmonics on the fundamental frequency sinusoid.

Causes of Harmonics
Harmonics are caused by non linear loads, loads that draw a non sinusoidal current from a sinusoidal voltage source. These loads can be power electronic converters, which is the main concern for this practical, arc furnaces static VAR compensators, switch mode power supplies and many others.

Reducing Harmonic Content

Filters are often employed to reduce harmonics by filtering prominent harmonics, those that cause large distortions. The filters can be of two types, active and passive. Static Var compensators, in as much as they also contribute to harmonic distortions are also useful in counteracting the harmonics problems and also employed in industry.

Practical Simulations
Part 1
Testing the rectifier bridge; connected to a purely resistive load. This is done to evaluate the effect of the rectifier on the mains, to observe the harmonics it causes due to its non linear nature. The simulink model is shown in figure 2.

Figure 2 : Model Used for Testing the 6 Pulse Diode Bridge Rectifier

After a process of observing the load current and adjusting the resistive load, the current was set to 1A with some ripple. This was achieved when the resistor was set at 300 ohms. The waveform of the current through the load is shown in figure 3.

Figure 3 : Load Current Waveform The supply voltage waveform is shown in figure 4. Some harmonic distortion is present, although not alarmingly large. The rectifier shows minimal disturbance in the supply voltage.

Figure 4 : Supply Voltage Waveform The supply current waveform differs much from a sinusoid, indicating large harmonic distortion present in the current due to current blocking in the diodes in the rectifier. This is shown in figure 5.

Figure 5 : Supply Current Waveform

The load voltage is displayed in figure 6, with a ripple but centered to approximately 300V.

Figure 6 : Load Voltage Waveform The ripple in the voltage is calculated in this way

Figure 7 : FFt Analysis Tool for Part 1 Using the Power GUI analysis tool the results obtained were analyzed to give the following Fundamental value of input current(rms) Total harmonic distortion Total input current(rms) = 3. Harmonic Numbers Present Current : 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19 Voltage : 2, 4

4. & 5.

Figure 8 : Diode Voltage and Current Waveform For the diode current Fundamental value of input current(rms) Total harmonic distortion Total input current(rms) =

6. Diode rating A safety factor of 1.5 was used and the values obtained from the graph of the diodes current and voltage waveforms, together with the FFT tool for the current. The PIV was found to be approximately 325V

PIV rating = 1.5(PIV )= 1.5*(325) = 487.5V From the total input current(rms) Irms rating = 1.5*I = 1.5*0.4886 = 0.7329A Conclusion The bridge rectifier does not cause much voltage distortion when operating with a resistive load. The rectifier shows great disturbance in the current though, due to current blocking. The Total harmonic observed is 66.72%.

Part 2
Part two investigates the effect of the smoothing capacitor when in operation with the rectifier. The capacitor is connected in parallel with the resistor. The value chosen for the capacitor is 40 micro farad. The simulink model used to simulate the effect of the capacitor is shown next.

Figure 9 : Cicuit Model for Part Two

The current waveform shows some harmonic distortion but relatively less than that caused by the circuit in part one. Some starting transients are observed in the waveform as well. This is shown in figure 10.

Figure 10 : Supply Voltage Waveform with the Capacitor Connected

The supply current seems worse than that of part one, it displays no resemblance to a sinusoids. The culprit for this is the capacitors current-voltage characteristics which causes it to draw a current proportion to the rate of change of the voltage across it. Morover the current waveforms for the three phases appear to have different peaks, although the difference in phase angle is consistent.

Figure 11 : Current Waveforms for circuit two.

The inrush of current during starting causes the capacitor to add a proportinal voltage this causes a transient a during the circuit s startup. The voltage observed during startup peaks at an excess of 600V. After the current reaches a stedy varying waveform, the voltage stabilizes with some ripple.

Figure 12 : Voltage Waveform Across the Load

This ripple is larger by 22.2% when compared to that of part one.

Figure 13: FFT Analysis Results. Fundamental value of input current(rms) Total harmonic distortion Total input current(rms) = 3. Harmonic Numbers Present Current : From 2 to 19 are present Voltage : None Virtually no harmonics can be are present in the voltage waveform, the current shows more harmonics and the effect of 2 to 19, as shown by the FFT tool, is evident.

Figure 14 : Diode Voltage & Current plot For the diode current Fundamental value of input current(rms) Total harmonic distortion Total input current(rms) = 6. Diode rating PIV rating = 1.5(PIV )= 1.5*(346) = 519V Irms rating = 1.5*I = 1.5*1.036 = 1.554A

Conclusion.
The addition of the capacitor reduces the harmonics in the supply voltage. This can be seen as a good result. However, the total harmonic distortion in the current waveform increased from 66.72% to 216.74%. This coupled with the fact that the current waveforms appear different from each other leads to the conclusion that the capacitor is detrimental to the system.

Part 3
Inductors were added in the circuit of part two to form the third circuit. The effect of linking the rectifier and supply with inductors is investigated next. The model used is shown in figure

Figure 15 : Model for Part 3

The voltage outpu from the supply is smoother, with less harmonics affecting it. As evident in figure 16.

Figure 16 : Supply Voltage Against time

The addition of the inductors positively influenced the durrent waveform, less harmonic distortion is observed. Although the harmonics were reduced, the problem of different pahse current magnitudes is not solved by this addition.

Figure 17 : Supply Current After the Addition of Inductors

Figure 18 : Load Voltage waveform

Besides the increase in the magnitude of the transient, a lower ripple is observed as compared to parts 1 and 2. The ripple voltage is 41% lower than that of part one.

Figure 19: FFT Results Fundamental value of input current(rms) Total harmonic distortion Total input current(rms) = 3. Harmonic Numbers Present Current : 5, 7, 11, 13 Voltage : None

Figure 20 : Diode Voltage and Current waveforms For the diode current Fundamental value of input current(rms) Total harmonic distortion Total input current(rms) = 6. Diode rating PIV rating = 1.5(PIV )= 1.5*(329) = 493.5V Irms rating = 1.5*I = 1.5*1.036 = 0.924A

Conclusion
The total harmonic distortion has decreased to 66.72%, from the 216.74% when there was no inductive link. The diodes use will require a lower rating since the PIV is lower and the rms Input current as well. The inductive link can be regarded as a good addition since it improved all aspects of the circuits.

Part 4
Part four investigates the effect of inductively linking the parallel RC load with the rectifier. The effects if this is shown on the supply voltage and current as well as the load.

Figure 21 : Model Used to simulate Circuit Four

Figure 22 : Supply Voltage Plot Against Time

The supply voltage deteriorated with this new configuration. There is more distortion, although close resemblance to a sinusoid is evident. The method used earlier, in circuit three is better.

Figure 23 : Supply Current Plot

Figure 24 : DC Output Voltage

Fundamental value of input current(rms) Total harmonic distortion Total input current(rms) = 3. Harmonic Numbers Present Current : 3, 5, 7 Voltage : None

For the diode current Fundamental value of input current(rms) Total harmonic distortion Total input current(rms) = 6. Diode rating PIV rating = 1.5(PIV )= 1.5*(325) = 487.5V Irms rating = 1.5*I = 1.5*0.578 = 0.867A

Conclusion
Although this scheme causes some distortion in the supply voltage waveform, the distortion is quite small. The main benefit that differs from the previous scheme is that the current waveforms are the same and the distortion is less (56.52% compared to 68.2%). The ripple voltage is the same

Part 5

The DC ripple voltage is varies and its maximum is :

While its minimum is

Fundamental value of input current(rms) Total harmonic distortion Total input current(rms) = 3. Harmonic Numbers Present Current : 5 Voltage : 5

For the diode current Fundamental value of input current(rms) Total harmonic distortion Total input current(rms) = 6. Diode rating PIV rating = 1.5(PIV)= 1.5*(355) = 532.5V Irms rating = 1.5*I = 1.5*1.206 = 1.8087A

Conclusion
The filter increases the distortion of the voltage and current. From the FFT analysis it can be seen that the 5th order harmonic which is supposed to be filtered, is the more prominent one compared to the other harmonics. This might be a result of the limited elements available for its design. The input current shows an increase also. The ratings of the diode have to be increased as well if the filter is in use campared to the other schemes

Overall Conclusion
Harmonics are detrimental to the power system and the equipment adjacent to the device causing them. Various schemes to minimize this were investigated, inductive coupling of the load, inductive coupling of the source with the rectifier and the fifth order filter were simulated and analyzed in this practical. Some results were rather difficult to explain. The differences between these schemes were observed in the simulations. From the simulation, linking the rectifier and the supply with inductors proved most effective albeit the different current waveforms for the different phases. In an application where the current waveform similarity is crucial, the method of inductively linking the load is prudent. The filter, although thought to be the best manner to handle harmonics, proved ineffective and actually detrimental.

References
1.Ellis, R., 2001. Power System Harmonics. [Online]. http://samplecode.rockwellautomation.com/idc/groups/literature/documents/wp/mvb-wp011_-en-p.pdf [01 June 2011]
2. http://www.joliettech.com/abb_guide-to-harmonics-with-ac-drives.htm [01 June 2011]

3. Kreide, P., Power Quality [Online] http://www.docstoc.com/docs/21314824/REDUCTION-OF-LINELOSSES-VOLTAGE-STABILIZATION-POWER-FACTOR [01 June 2011]