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Interharmonics - 1
1999 IEEE T&D Show
New Orleans
Panel Session PN13
Non-periodic Currents:
Causes, Effects and Identification

Interharmonics in Power Systems

Erich W. Gunther
Electrotek Concepts, Inc.
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Interharmonics in Power Systems
Definition
Standards
Sources
Impacts
Solutions
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Interharmonics - Definition
IEC-61000-2-1 defines Interharmonics as:
Between the harmonics of the power frequency
voltage and current, further frequencies can be
observed which are not an integer of the
fundamental. They can appear as discrete
frequencies or as a wide-band spectrum
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Standards and Working Groups
IEC 61000-4-7 - Measurements
IEEE Task Force on Interharmonics
IEEE 519 - under revision - adds interharmonics
Cigre 36.05 - Voltage Quality Working Group
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IEC Harmonic / Interharmonic
Measurement Standard: IEC 61000-4-7
Number of cycles to sample chosen to provide 5 Hz
frequency bins
10 Cycles for 50 Hz Systems
12 Cycles for 60 Hz Systems
Grouping concept
Harmonic factors calculated as the square root of the sum of
the squares of the harmonic bin and two adjacent bins.
Interharmonic factors calculated as the square root of the
sum of the squares of the bins in between the harmonic bins
(not including the bins directly adjacent to the harmonic bin).

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Frequency Bin Grouping
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Frequency Bin Grouping
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Interharmonic Sources

Arc furnaces
Cycloconverters
Power line carrier communications
PWM power electronic systems
Interaction of controls and power system
components
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Example Case Where dc Arc Furnace
Caused Unacceptable Flicker Levels
Converter control problems result in increased
interharmonic generation
System resonance magnifies the interharmonic
component (186 Hertz)
Result is 6 Hertz modulation that causes light flicker
over a wide area
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Example System One Line Diagram
for Harmonic and Flicker Evaluations
Customer
Customer
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Frequency Response with
Initial Filter Design
186 hertz
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Voltage at the 26 kV Bus
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Current at the 26 kV Bus
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Effect of the Rolling Mill
Modern rolling mills will typically use
cycloconverters. They also generate significant
interharmonic components.
Example waveform and spectrum used for design
purposes:
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Impacts
Similar to impact of harmonic distortion
Heating
Altered/multiple zero crossing
Telecommunications interference
Unique impacts
Light flicker
Torsional oscillation excitation
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Light Flicker due to Interharmonics
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Solutions
Fix control problems to reduce level of
interharmonic generation.
Non-characteristic harmonics and interharmonics
must be considered in the filter design for dc arc
furnaces and other interharmonic producing loads.
Resonances created by the filters in parallel with
the system inductance can magnify interharmonic
components causing high distortion and flicker.
Damping should be included in filter designs to
avoid interharmonic problems.
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Conclusions
Interharmonics have always been around, they are
just becoming more important and visible.
Power electronic advances are resulting in
increasing levels of interharmonic distortion.
Traditional filter designs can result in resonances
that make interharmonic problems worse.
Light flicker is the most common impact.
Measurement is difficult, but standards make them
possible and the results comparable.