Importance of Grounding

• Primary purpose of grounding is safety ‒ people first, then equipment.

Good grounding also helps eliminate induced electrical noise
• The first step taken to deal with PQ problems should be to inspect the
wiring and grounding, and clean and tighten all connections. Loose
connections come from vibration, oxidation, corrosion, and age.

For safety, only a qualified person should attempt

these measures.
Source: Inspectapedia.com

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Harmonics
• Harmonics are multiples of the
fundamental frequency.
• If the fundamental frequency is 50 hertz, the
2nd harmonic is 100 Hz, the 3rd is 150 Hz, etc.

•Generated by solid-state-based:
•Power supplies in PCs,
•DC drives, VFDs, etc.

Total harmonic distortion (THD) is a

measure of power quality
Murata

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 IEEE 519 PQ Standards
• IEEE Standard 519 provides recommended practices and
requirements for harmonic control in electrical power systems.
• THD (E) is Voltage Total Harmonic Distortion
• For low voltage systems (less than 69 kV), the limits are:
• General Systems (voltage) 5%
• Special Applications (Hospitals, MRI Machines, etc.) 3%

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Impacts from Harmonics

Harmonics are generally caused by electronic switching devices causing with worst
typically being N +/- 1
• A 12 pulse inverter (VSD) would likely cause harmonics worst at the 11th and 13th Harmonic.
• 5th and 11th Harmonic are known as “negative sequence” and cause torque pulsation - with the potential
to destroy shaft couplers, loads and / or shafts themselves. (lower is worst)

• Higher order harmonics tend to cause “nuisance” trips of circuit breakers as the magnetic
action of the breaker is enhanced at higher frequencies.

• Motor bearings can be damaged by shaft circulating currents (install insulated bearing
sleeve – one end only - generally known as “glass bearing”.

• Other “Weirdness” of electronic equipment (lights flicker, clocks running fast, etc.)

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 Assessing Harmonics
• Power Quality meters provide the ability to see what harmonics (if
any) exist, and of what magnitude they are.
• 5% THD seen as acceptable for general facilities but 3% would be more
desirable in more “sensitive” type facilities – e.g. Hospitals, electronic
semiconductor manufacture etc.

• Different harmonics tend to cause different types of issues.

• Lower order harmonics tend to cause more “power” type issues
• Higher order harmonics tend to cause more “interference” types issues.

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Mitigating Harmonics
• Single Harmonic impacts are generally treated using an inductor
• Multiple Harmonics are generally treated by electronic filters

Approaches:
• Install an isolating transformer
• connected close to the load and back to a “strong” point in the supply.
• Oversizing neutrals
Get a Harmonics Expert involved

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