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Non-characteristic harmonics and interharmonics of power electronic

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Conference Paper · July 2005

DOI: 10.1049/cp:20051030 · Source: IEEE Xplore

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CIRED 18th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Turin, 6-9 June 2005

NON-CHARACTERISTIC HARMONICS AND INTERHARMONICS

OF POWER ELECTRONIC CONVERTERS

Václav KŮS, Zdeněk PEROUTKA, Pavel DRÁBEK

University of West Bohemia, Dept. of Electromechanical Engineering and Power Electronics
Univerzitní 8, 306 00 Plzeň, Czech Republic
Email: kus@kev.zcu.cz, peroutka@ieee.org, mank@seznam.cz

ABSTRACT
Power electronic converters produce not only characteristic
harmonics, but also both non-characteristic harmonics and
interharmonics. This paper presents physical background of
both non-characteristic harmonics and interharmonics.
Generation causes are explored and discussed in detail.
Extensive series of simulation of different power converter
topologies are provided and compared with experimental
results and existing standards. This research offers missing
background for standards covering low-frequency EMC.
Keywords Figure 1. Three-phase uncontrolled bridge rectifier
configuration
EMC/EMI, Low-frequency interference, Power grid, The non-characteristic frequency components arise in the
Harmonics, Harmonic analysis, Power factor, Power quality. consumed current spectra due to unbalanced condition in the
power grid (unbalanced voltage magnitude or phase non-
INTRODUCTION symmetry). Voltage and current waveforms under single
phase non-symmetry of the power source are shown in Fig. 2.
As the power electronic converters find wide application in
power systems, power quality is becoming more important
issue. The power quality is primarily influenced by the
electric appliances connected to the power grid. If a linear
load such as resistive heater is connected to the power grid,
the resulting current will be a sine wave and, therefore, only
the fundamental frequency will be introduced. However, if
the load is non-linear, drawing short pulses of current within
each cycle, the current shape will be distorted (non-
sinusoidal) and higher frequency current components will
occur [1], [2]. Thus, the resulting current will be composed of
the fundamental and higher frequency components. These
frequency components are transferred to the power grid,
where they can cause distortion of supply voltage, disturbance
of connected equipment (e.g. ripple control devices,
compensation units), etc.
In this paper, the main attention is paid to two types of the
converters: the uncontrolled diode bridge rectifiers with
capacitive load, which is employed as an input part of the
indirect frequency converters for supplying voltage source
inverters, and the three-phase fully controlled bridge rectifier
feeding an inductive load.
Figure 2. Voltage and current waveforms at single phase
THREE PHASE UNCONTROLLED BRIDGE voltage source non-symmetry
RECTIFIER
Power source non-symmetry causes distortion of phase
Three-phase bridge rectifier as an input part of the static currents and drift of basic harmonic wave of phase current
converter (Fig. 1) is modelled with the focus on the against phase voltage. The frequency spectrum of phase
calculation of all harmonic components presented in the current from Figure 2 contains non-characteristic harmonics
current taken by rectifier from a power distribution network. of odd multiple of three only and their amplitudes depend on
the voltage source non-symmetry (see Figure 3) [3].

CIRED2005

Session No 2
CIRED 18th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Turin, 6-9 June 2005

Figure 7. Size of voltage change ∆U has major influence on

Figure 3. Non-characteristic harmonics in dependence
of voltage power source non-symmetry
Amplitude of non-characteristic harmonics increases with
increasing voltage non-symmetry and it results in low
decrease of characteristic harmonics. The measurement of
harmonic components has been made (according to Figure 1)
by frequency analyser.
Waveforms of quantities in Figure 3 are displayed for definite
circuit configuration (Lq, LSS, CSS etc.). It is obvious, that
change of these circuit parameters influences phase currents
and consequently amplitudes of harmonics. Dependence of
non-characteristic harmonics on circuit parameters LSS and
CSS is displayed in Figure 4.
the interharmonics and it is determined in percent of phase
voltage amplitude within the calculation window TW=160 ms
(it means voltage decrease during eight fundamental periods).
Due to single phase voltage change, current waveforms are
heavily distorted that appears at frequency spectrum of
interharmonics. Also the DC bus voltage is distorted; it has
bigger ripple and lower pulsation (from six pulses it floats to
four pulses). For higher ∆U, distortion of phase currents is so
high that the classical double pulse waveform of phase
current is changing to single pulse waveform (Figure 6 –
second phase). This pulse change of phase current has good
influence on interharmonic components and they decrease
with increasing ∆U. On the other hand it has unfavourable
effect on harmonic components, mainly on the third non-
characteristic harmonic, which essentially increase.
Figure 5. Measured frequency spectrum of phase current

Figure 4. Non-characteristic harmonics in dependence of

parameters LSS and CSS
From previous figures is evident positive impact of LSS value
on harmonic currents. More information about problems of
non-characteristic harmonics can be found in [1], [3], [4].
Interharmonics
Excepting characteristic and non-characteristic harmonics
discussed in previous paragraph, we can also find
interharmonic components in frequency spectra of consumed
current (see Figure 5) [2], [5]. The interharmonics occur as a
consequence of dynamic changes of circuit parameters (power
supply voltage dips, load variation, control interventions Figure 6. Voltage and current waveforms under single phase
(machine start-up, speed reversal transient) - generally voltage source change (∆U = 8.8 % ≅ 29 V)
feedback controller impact). The interharmonic current
magnitudes are relatively small in comparison with
characteristic and non-characteristic harmonic components,
but they may impact proper function of neighbouring
appliances (e.g. interference of ripple control and tuned
filters).
At first, impact of single phase voltage change on the
interharmonics is explored. In case of single phase voltage
change, we will change amplitude of the second phase only as
is shown in Figure 6 and appropriate frequency spectrum is in
Figure7. Interharmonics under ∆U = 8.8 % ≅ 29 V

CIRED2005

Session No 2
CIRED 18th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Turin, 6-9 June 2005

Influence of unbalanced power source is shown on Figure 11.

Power source non-symmetry causes arising of the non-
characteristic harmonics, which order is the odd multiple of
three only [3]. Figure 12 illustrates their dependence on
power source non-symmetry. All non-characteristics of even
orders are equal zero.
The amplitude non-symmetry of power source causes also
change of the phase of line voltage; therefore, the cycle of
current conduction should be different from 2π/3.

Figure 8. Dependence of interharmonics on voltage decrease

under single phase voltage change
In case of three phase voltage change, we will change
amplitudes of all three phases of power source [5], [6].
Figure 9 illustrates dependence of interharmonic currents on
three phase voltage change.

Figure 11. Voltage at the load and phase current influenced by

non-symmetry of power source ∆u=5%.

5. characteristic harmonic and THD 3., 9., 15., 21. non-characteristic

harmonic
I(5)/I(1) [%] & THD [%]

40

30 1,5

I(n)/I(1) [%]
20 1

10 0,5
Figure 9. Dependence of interharmonics on voltage decrease 0 0
at three phase voltage change 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5

From Figure 9 is evident increase of interharmonic currents non-symmetry of power source [%] non-symmetry of power source [%]

with increasing ∆U (almost proportional dependence). THD 5. h. 3. h. 9. h. 15. h. 21. h.

THREE PHASE FULLY CONTROLLED BRIDGE
RECTIFIER
Basic disposition of three phase fully controlled bridge
rectifier is shown on Figure 10.
Figure 12. Dependence of the harmonics and THD on the power
source non-symmetry
Influence of firing pulses non-symmetry describes Figure 13.
It is the main source of non-characteristic harmonics of even
orders. All these components are directly proportional to the
value of firing pulses non-symmetry (see Figure 14). The
dependence is almost linear. It is obvious from the frequency
spectrum that the 2nd harmonic exceeds 12%. It is even larger
value then the magnitude of the 7th harmonic, which is
characteristic and is presented in the consumed current under
ideal conditions. It means that the level of harmonics is highly
dependent on the accuracy of thyristor firing.

Figure 10. Basic disposition of AC/DC converter

Waveform of consumed current is affected by unbalanced
power source, non-accurate firing of thyristors, different
transformer leakage inductance. Thanks to these effects the
non-characteristic harmonic components will appear. Unlike
well-known characteristic harmonics, these components Figure 13. Voltage on the load and phase current influenced
cannot be deduced by means of the “1 over n rule” – e.g. [1]. by firing pulses non-symmetry

CIRED2005

Session No 2
CIRED 18th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Turin, 6-9 June 2005

THD 2., 4., 8. non-characteristic harmonic variation. There are at least three possible firing pulses
changes – change of all firing pulses, change of one thyristor
32 15

31,5
group (anode group or cathode group) and change of one

I(n)/I(1) [%]
10
firing pulse only. On simulation and experimental bases, we
THD [%]

31

30,5
5 find out that change of all firing pulses (Figure 17, 18) has the
30 0 biggest influence on the interharmonics.
0 1 2 3 4 5
29,5
0 1 2 3 4 5 firing pulses non-symmetry [%] For comparison with another type, the dependence of
firing pulses non-symmetry [%]
2. h 4. h 8. h. interharmonics on the value of one firing pulse change only is
displayed in Figure 19.
Figure 14. Dependence of the harmonics and THD on the
value the firing pulses non-symmetry

Interharmonics
Similar to interharmonics of uncontrolled rectifier (mentioned
before), amplitudes of interharmonics are dependent on
dynamic changes of circuit quantities – voltage changes of
supply source, converter load changes, change of thyristor
firing pulses, etc.
At first, the impact of phase voltage change of power grid is
presented – let consider the voltage change in all three phases
(Figure 15).

Figure 17. Voltage at the load, phase current and voltage

influenced by firing pulses change

Figure 15. Voltage at the load, phase current and voltage

influenced by three phase voltage change

The voltage change ∆U has major influence on interharmonic

components (Figure 16) and it is determined in percent of Figure 18. Dependence of interharmonics on the value of all
phase voltage amplitude. firing pulses change

Figure 16. Dependence of interharmonics on voltage

Figure 19. Dependence of interharmonics on the value of one
decrease at three phase voltage change
firing pulse change

In the next step, we will describe the impact of firing pulses

CIRED2005

Session No 2
CIRED 18th International Conference on Electricity Distribution
The special case of all firing pulses change illustrates
Figure 20. There is shown for example case of AC/DC
converter under transient conditions – dc machine breaking.
This figure presents the impact of control intervention on the
harmonic contents. As evident from Figure 20, during
converter stop, the phase current is heavily distorted. This
effect will appear in appropriated frequency spectrum
(Figure 21). From the interharmonic components point of
view this is the worst case of firing pulses change.
Figure 20. AC/DC converter under transient conditions –
converter stop (e.g. dc machine breaking)
Figure 21. Frequency spectrum of AC/DC converter under
transient conditions – see Figure 20
CONCLUSION
This paper describes behaviour of the three phase
uncontrolled bridge rectifier and fully controlled three-phase
bridge rectifier from the Electromagnetic Compatibility
(EMC) point of view with respect to low-frequency
interference. The first issue of this paper is non-characteristic
harmonics. These frequency components arise due to
unbalanced condition in the power grid (such as unbalanced
voltage) and converter non-symmetry (e.g. non-symmetrical
firing angles). The second important part of this contribution
is focused on the interhamonics. The interharmonics occur as
a consequence of dynamic changes of circuit parameters
(power supply voltage dips, load variation, control
interventions (machine start-up, speed reversal transient) -
generally feedback controller impact).
In the real power systems the waveforms of consumed
currents are always affected by combinations of many
CIRED2005
Session No 2
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Turin, 6-9 June 2005
influences. It is not easy to distinguish, which effect causes
increasing of each individual non-characteristic harmonic and
interharmonic. Consequently there are each of power source
non-symmetry and other influences considered separately.
Paper presents physical background of both non-characteristic
harmonics and interharmonics. Generation causes are
explored and discussed in detail. Major factors affecting to
the consumed current (Unbalanced Power Source, DC Bus
CSS and LSS, dynamic changes) have been described.
Extensive series of simulation of different power converter
topologies are provided and compared with experimental
results and existing standards. The measurement difficulties
are discussed (measurements were performed in compliance
with actual standards).
REFERENCES
[1] Kůs, V., “Impact of power electronic converters on power
distribution network.” BEN-technická literatura. Praha,
Czech Republic, 2002. (in Czech)
[2] Peroutka, Z., Drábek, P., “Electromagnetic Compatibility
Issues of Variable Speed Drives,” In: IEEE International
Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
2002. Minneapolis, MN, USA. 2002. pp. 308 – 313.
[3] Ruppert, M., “Analysis of non-characteristic harmonic
currents of power electronic converters.” [Dissertation].
University of West Bohemia, Plzeň, Czech Republic,
2002. (in Czech).
[4] Bauta, M., Grötzbach, M., “Noncharacteristic Line
Harmonics of AC/DC Converters with High DC Current
Ripple,” In: 8th IEEE-ICHQP, Athens, Proc. Vol. II,
pp. 755-760, 1998.
[5] Drábek, P., “Analysis of interharmonic currents of power
electronic converters.” [Dissertation]. University of West
Bohemia, Plzeň, Czech Republic, 2004. (in Czech).
[6] Drábek, P., Kůs, V., “Unfavourable Effects of Frequency
Converters on Power Distribution Network.” In: Power
Electronics, Inteligent Motion, Power Quality (PCIM)
2002. Nuremberg, Germany. 2002, pp. 51-56.