harmonic

As industries are trying to automate their various processes to expand control over operations and save money on energy, the utilization of electronic equipment has likewise increased at the same time. The utilization of devices, for example, variable speed drives, rectifiers, and various other power electronic equipment cause harmonics in the system regularly ascribed inaccurately to different causes.

Harmonics, one of the dangerous power quality issues, affect the operation and life of critical equipment in a facility. Harmonic is defined as a Component of periodic wave (or a signal) whose frequency is an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency. Non-linear loads that draw current in abrupt pulses rather than a smooth sinusoidal manner create harmonics. The pulses of current cause distorted current wave shape, which in turn cause harmonic currents to flow back into other parts of the power system.

Harmonics also destabilizes the grid and affects users connected to the grid. The impact of Harmonics in a system includes:

  • High current flow in neutral conductors and temperature rise in cables
  • Motors and transformers running hot, shortening their lives
  • Increased susceptibility to voltage dips, potentially causing spurious resets
  • Reduced efficiency of a transformer or a larger unit is required to accommodate harmonics
  • Increase in eddy current and hysteresis loss
  • Failure of electromagnetic loads
  • Capacitor failure due to harmonic resonance
  • Circuit Breaker tripping due to inductive heating and overload

The solution for all these issues is the Harmonic Audit. Harmonic Audit will help us to determine whether the harmonics distortion levels are within the standard limits. Based on the harmonic study, we can also determine the filtering requirements to reduce both current and voltage harmonics within the limits.

What we can do?

Our Harmonic Audit includes field study to record the harmonics at Main Incomer and down to PCC, MCC levels. The harmonics are analyzed based on IEE 519-2014 standard and we will suggest the solutions to limit the harmonics. A detailed Harmonic Audit Report including the observations and recommendations will be submitted following the field study.