Interharmonics 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.

Interharmonics - 2 Interharmonics in Power Systems n Definition n Standards n Sources n Impacts n Solutions

Interharmonics - 3 Interharmonics - Definition n IEC 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

Interharmonics - 4 Standards and Working Groups n IEC Measurements n IEEE Task Force on Interharmonics n IEEE under revision - adds interharmonics n Cigre Voltage Quality Working Group

Interharmonics - 5 IEC Harmonic / Interharmonic Measurement Standard: IEC n Number of cycles to sample chosen to provide 5 Hz frequency bins 10 Cycles for 50 Hz Systems 12 Cycles for 60 Hz Systems n 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).

Interharmonics - 6 Frequency Bin Grouping

Interharmonics - 7 Frequency Bin Grouping

Interharmonics - 8 Interharmonic Sources n Arc furnaces n Cycloconverters n Power line carrier communications n PWM power electronic systems n Interaction of controls and power system components

Interharmonics - 9 Example Case Where dc Arc Furnace Caused Unacceptable Flicker Levels n Converter control problems result in increased interharmonic generation n System resonance magnifies the interharmonic component (186 Hertz) n Result is 6 Hertz modulation that causes light flicker over a wide area

Interharmonics - 10 Example System One Line Diagram for Harmonic and Flicker Evaluations

Interharmonics - 11 Frequency Response with Initial Filter Design 186 hertz

Interharmonics - 12 Voltage at the 26 kV Bus

Interharmonics - 13 Current at the 26 kV Bus

Interharmonics - 14 Effect of the Rolling Mill n Modern rolling mills will typically use cycloconverters. They also generate significant interharmonic components. n Example waveform and spectrum used for design purposes:

Interharmonics - 15 Impacts n Similar to impact of harmonic distortion Heating Altered/multiple zero crossing Telecommunications interference n Unique impacts Light flicker Torsional oscillation excitation

Interharmonics - 16 Light Flicker due to Interharmonics

Interharmonics - 17 Solutions n Fix control problems to reduce level of interharmonic generation. n Non-characteristic harmonics and interharmonics must be considered in the filter design for dc arc furnaces and other interharmonic producing loads. n Resonances created by the filters in parallel with the system inductance can magnify interharmonic components causing high distortion and flicker. n Damping should be included in filter designs to avoid interharmonic problems.

Interharmonics - 18 Conclusions n Interharmonics have always been around, they are just becoming more important and visible. n Power electronic advances are resulting in increasing levels of interharmonic distortion. n Traditional filter designs can result in resonances that make interharmonic problems worse. n Light flicker is the most common impact. n Measurement is difficult, but standards make them possible and the results comparable.