IMPACT OF HARMONICS ON CAPACITORS

In the earlier years, Harmonics were not prevalent in most of the industries, due to the
balanced linear loads using 3 phase Induction Motors along with incandescent lighting,
heating etc. This linear load draws sinusoidal current at the same frequency as that of
the voltage. Hence the operation of the total system was comparatively much healthier.
But the rapid advancement of the power electronics in the industrial application cause
industrial load of non-linear type. In simple phenomena the non-linear loads draws non-
sinusoidal load waveform (non-sinusoidal current waveform) from the sinusoidal voltage
waveform. The major contributors of the non-linear loads are AC/DC Drives, Soft
Starter, 6 / 12 Phase rectifiers etc. This non-linear loads distorts the current waveform.
This current waveform in-turn distorts the voltage waveform. Thus leading to waveform
distortion in both current waveform and voltage waveform.

BASICS OF HARMONICS :

Basically Harmonics indicate waveform distortion with polluting waveforms of sinusoidal

shape, but in multiples of the fundamental frequency. Waveform distortion can be
analysed using Fourier Analysis as a periodical oscillation at different frequencies
(multiples of fundamental frequencies). Here Odd, Even & Triplen Harmonics of
different magnitude of multiple frequencies are present in the electrical system which
directly affect the electrical system components. To a greater extent, the even and
triplen harmonics tend to cancel out each other, but during unbalanced load condition
these even & triplen Harmonics lead to neutral over loading / excessive heating.
However, the prime odd Harmonics like 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th Harmonics etc., affect the
performance of the electrical equipment.
For understanding of the effect of the Harmonics, the following figure indicates the effect
of 5th Harmonics distortion on sinusoidal waveform :

VOLTAGE

FREQUENCY

The Voltage and the current harmonics has different impacts on the electrical
equipment. But generally most of the electrical equipment are very sensitive to the
voltage harmonics. The major power equipment like motors, capacitors etc., are
affected by the voltage harmonics. Mainly the current harmonics cause magnetic
interference and also increase the losses in the distribution network. The current
harmonics are load dependent, whereas the level of voltage Harmonics depends on the
Supply System Stability and the Load Harmonics (Current Harmonics). Generally the
voltage harmonics will be lower than current harmonics.

RESONANCE :

Basically resonance of Inductance and Capacitance takes place in all types of loading.
But the effect of resonance is suppressed if the harmonics are not prevalent in the
distribution network. All inductive and capacitive combination, either in parallel or in
series, resonante at a particular frequency called resonance frequency. The resonance
frequency is a frequency at which the capacitive reactance XC and inductive reactance
XL are equal.

Sheet 2 of 11
For a given combination of industrial load consisting of the load inductance and/or
transformer reactance which acts as XL and the Power Factor Correction Capacitor
reactance which acts as XC, there will be a resonant frequency of this combination of LC.
The capacitance reactance decreases with respect to frequency i.e., XC is inversely
proportional to the frequency, whereas the inductive reactance increases with respect to
frequency i.e., XL is directly proportional to the frequency. This resonant frequency will
be varying in the industries due to the varying load pattern. This is further complicated
due to the fixed capacitance connected for the power factor correction. For clear
understanding of this phenomena, two types of resonance condition viz., series
resonance and parallel resonance need to be considered. The two possibilities are
discussed below :

SERIES RESONANCE :

A Series combination of Inductive and Capacitive reactance forms Series Resonance

circuit as illustrated in the figure given below :

Transformer Impedance

Supply Side
C
LV Power Capacitor

Due to the combination of the Inductance and capacitance in series, the nett impedance
reduces to a bare minimum level at resonant frequency and this impedance is basically
resistive in nature at resonant frequency, since at resonant frequency, the capacitive
reactance and the inductive reactance are equal. This low impedance to the input power
at resonant frequency will result in multiple increase in current. The figure given below
illustrates the nett impedance behaviour under the series resonance condition :

Sheet 3 of 11
 SERIES RESONANCE

CAPACITANCE INDUCTANCE
RESONANT FREQUENCY
IMPEDENCE

FREQUENCY
In industrial application, the power transformer reactance along with the power factor
correction capacitors on LV side acts as a Series resonance circuit for the high voltage
side of Transformer. If this resonance frequency of the combination of L & C coincide
with the Harmonic frequency prevalent in the industry, this will lead to multiple increase
in the current of the capacitors basically due to the low impedance path for Harmonics
offered by the Capacitors. Hence the LV Capacitors are over loaded to a very high level.
This also imposes additional loading on the Transformer. This phenomena leads to
voltage distortion on the low voltage network.

PARALLEL RESONANCE :

A Parallel resonance is the combination of Inductive and Capacitive reactance which is

illustrated in the following figure :

L
Supply Side (Load Inductance)
C
(LV Power Capacitor)

Sheet 4 of 11
Here the impedance behaviour will be reverse to that of the Series Resonance which is
illustrated in the figure given below . At resonant frequency, the resultant impedance of
the circuit increase to a very high value. This leads to excitation of parallel resonance
circuit between Power Factor Correction Capacitors and Load Inductance resulting to a
high voltage across the impedances and very high circulating current inside the loop.

CAPACITANCE INDUCTANCE
IMPEDENCE

RESONANT
FREQUENCY

FREQUENCY
In the industrial application, the power factor correction capacitor forms a parallel
resonance circuit with the load inductance. The Harmonics generated from the load side
increases the network reactance thereby blocking the supply side Harmonics. This
leads to parallel resonance of the capacitance and the load inductance. The parallel LC
circuit starts resonating between them leading to very high voltage and high circulating
current inside the loop of the LC circuit. This result in damage to the total LV side of the
electrical system.

Parallel resonance is comparatively complicated to isolate than the series resonance.

This is basically due to the varying industrial load from time to time, thereby shifting
resonance frequency. The following figure illustrates the effect of fixed capacitance and
varying inductance :

Sheet 5 of 11

SHIFTING OF RESONANCE - FIXED CAP

This continuous shifting of the resonance frequency may result in matching to the
harmonic frequency at that time which may result in high voltage and high current
leading to failure of electrical components. Thus for both Parallel and series resonance,
Power Capacitors are affected thereby necessitating additional safety and protection
devices for the power capacitors. This necessitates clear understanding on the power
capacitors before making correction for the effect of Harmonics & Resonance.

POWER CAPACITORS :

Power Factor Correction capacitors are sensitive to harmonics and most of the failures
of power capacitors indicates the following nature of failures :

1. Harmonics - 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th Harmonics etc.

2. Resonance
3. Over Voltage
4. Switching Surges - Inrush Current
- Transient Re-striking Voltage
- Discharge / re-closing voltage
Sheet 6 of 11
Due to the basic constructional design Over Voltage, Over Current & Harmonics
withstanding limits are essential to avoid deration or failure of capacitors.

Basically the capacitors creates switching surges which are broadly classified as inrush
current and transient over voltage.

Inrush current is a phenomena happening while switching ON the capacitors. The

impedance offered by the capacitors is very low basically resistive in nature. This leads
to high inrush current of the magnitude of 50 to 100 times the rated current to pass
through the capacitors, since the Transformer impedance is only resisting the current
flow at the time of switching ON of the capacitors. This has further complicated in
parallel multiple bank capacitor switching where the inrush current may go up to a level
of 200 times to 300 times of the rated current. This is due to the inrush current addition
due to the discharge of already charged parallel capacitors. The following illustrates this
pattern. Such a high inrush current causes distortion in the voltage waveform in addition
to distortion in current waveform.

Charged New Switch ON

Capacitors Capacitor

During Switching OFF of the capacitors, depending on the charge held by the capacitors
there will be a higher transient over voltage at the time of switching off of the capacitors
which may lead to re-striking at the contacts.

The capacitor once switched off holds the electrical charge and the same is discharged
using discharge resistors. The discharge time is generally between 30 to 60 seconds.
Till such time the discharge is effectively taken place, the capacitors cannot be allowed
to re-close. Any re-closure before the full discharge will again lead to increase in the
inrush current.
Sheet 7 of 11

In addition to the Harmonic Blocking devices being illustrated in the next heading for
proper healthiness of the capacitors, damping devices for the switching surges like
inrush current, transient over voltage etc., needs to be addressed properly.

HARMONIC BLOCKING DEVICES :

For healthy operation of the power capacitors it is necessary that the resonance
frequency of the LC circuit comprising of the load inductance and power factor correction
capacitors needs to be shifted away from the minimum harmonic frequency. For
example harmonic generated in the system which affects the Power Capacitors are 5th,
7th, 11th, 13th Harmonics etc. The lowest Harmonics which has effect on the Power
Capacitors is 5th Harmonics i.e., operating at a frequency of 250 Hz. Basically, if the
capacitors are provided with the series inductors and the selection of the inductance
 value is done in such a fashion, the series LC combination resonate at a frequency
below 250 Hz then at all harmonic frequencies, the combination of capacitance and
series inductance will act like a Inductor combination and the possibility of resonance is
totally avoided for 5th or any higher harmonics. The following figure illustrates the de-
tuning of the capacitors :

Series Inductor
Load Inductance
Detuned Power Capacitors
Capacitors

This combination of inductance and capacitance wherein the resonance frequency is

tuned to a frequency away from the Harmonic frequency is called De-Tuned LC Circuit.
The Factor of De-Tuning is the ratio of the reactance to the capacitance. In the de-tuned
capacitance circuit, basically the inductance acts like Harmonic Blocking Device. For the
capacitors, the normal de-tuning factor is around 7% which will tune the resonance
frequency to 189 Hz. Sheet 8 of 11

However, de-tuning of 5.67% is also used which will have a resonance frequency of 210
Hz. Both degree of de-tuning ensures blocking of harmonics to the capacitors. The
following figure illustrate the degree of de-tuning :

Detuned - Fixed Capacitance Detuned Varying Capacitance

IMPEDENCE

IMPEDENCE

FREQUENCY FREQUENCY
50 150 189 250
DE-TUNING CAPACITOR BANKS :

De-tuning the capacitor banks needs to account the following major points :

• Selection of Degree of De-Tuning.

• Calculation of total required capacitor output.
• Calculation of voltage increase by the series inductors.

The degree of de-tuning is decided based on the present Harmonics. It is necessary to

make measurement of the load side harmonics to decide the degree of de-tuning. Here
the level of voltage harmonic is relevant for this computation.
Sheet 9 of 11
50 150 189 250
The capacitor output and the voltage ratings needs to be considered based on the
degree of de-tuning. For example for 7% de-tuning to achieve 200 KVAR output @ 400
volts, we need to select 240 KVAR @ 440 Volts Power Capacitors. This is due to the
voltage increase by the series inductance. Similarly to achieve 200 KVAR output @ 440
Volts, we need to select 240 KVAR @ 480 Volts Power Capacitors.

The calculation of voltage increase due to series reactance is based on the de-tuning
and the same is calculated in the following manner :

Capacitor Voltage = (Normal rated Voltage) / (1 - Degree of detuning)

IDEAL CAPACITANCE SYSTEM :

For Power Factor Improvement in the present industrial load consisting of Harmonics
and Resonance, a System of Capacitance connection shall have essentially the
following features :

Varying capacitance based on Reactive Power to avoid shifting of Resonance

Frequency. This involves correct selection of APFC Panels. The APFC Panel
shall have the following features :

v Sensor shall continuously monitor the level of voltage Harmonics and protect
the capacitors under higher level of harmonics.

v Selectable Harmonic limits for 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th Harmonics and Total
Harmonics Distortion to set to the safe limits and also to alter in case of future
variation in Harmonics.

v RMS current monitoring to protect the capacitors under any resonance

condition.

v Control characteristics to avoid excessive capacitance under light load

condition.
Sheet 10 of 11
 v Heavy Duty capacitance with specific guarantee on the following :

Over load capacity : Minimum 2 times the rated current continuously and 350
times the rated current during inrush current.

Specific confirmation on over voltage capability, 10% over and above the
rated voltage continuously.

Harmonic withstanding capability, guarantee limits for 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th
Harmonics and also for THD limits.

v De-Tuned Inductance circuit to block the Harmonics ( Load Harmonic

pattern shall be measured before deciding the Degree of De-Tuning).

v Selection of Capacitor rating and voltage rating based on the degree of de-
tuning.

v Switching devices with in-built dampening devices to dampen the switching

surges to the power capacitors.

Essentially these features coupled with the proper load voltage harmonics study ensure
the effect of Harmonics / Resonance are blocked from damaging capacitors thereby
increasing the life of the capacitors and reliability of the total electrical system.

Baron Power Ltd., is in the field of De-Tuned APFC system for the Past 6 years to
various Industrial Clients.

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