ASHRAE SEMINAR 07

Dealing with Deregulation: What will Happen to Power Quality?

VSD Power Quality

The Harmonics Dilemma
1. Harmonics Issue
2. Cost Effective Mitigation Techniques
3. Future Technology

Author: Thomas F. Lowery

HVAC Marketing Manager

Presented By: Ed Swan

Hermetic Motor Marketing Manager
Both with Rockwell Automation Reliance Electric

This presentation was given at the ASHRAE 2000 show in

Dallas

Harmonics - What are they ?

Harmonics is a term used to describe the shape or characteristic of a voltage

or current waveform with respect to the fundamental frequency in an electrical
distribution system

+
Figure 1 : Fundamental Sine Wave

Figure 2 : 5th Harmonic with

Frequency = 5 times fundamental frequency

=
Figure 3 : Combination of the above two waveforms results in a distorted sine wave

Harmonics Distortion - the Problem

Energy efficiency is driving the need for more VSDs. Larger loads such as

chillers are being run on VSDs . The VSDs are contributing more non-linear
load as a percent of overall electricity consumption.

Current Distortion
Higher current peaks could cause transformer heating or nuisance tripping by
fuses, circuit breakers and other protective devices since they are typically not
rated for harmonically rich waveforms.
Voltage Distortion
A distorted current has higher peak values that cause non-sinusoidal voltage
drops across the distribution system The resulting voltage drops add or
subtract from the sinusoidal voltage supplied by the utility. Other utility
customers could get distorted voltage on the downstream side of the power
distribution circuit.

Harmonics Distortion - the Problem

Other erroneous electrical problems may occur such as

connected sensitive equipment under or over voltage trips.

Even harmonics cancel each other in a balanced system.

Since harmonics are much smaller than the fundamental,
they have minimal impact on the electrical circuit itself !

Where Does the Power Go?

Similar to
residential energy
consumption,
commercial
buildings use over
40% of electrical
power for HVAC. If
50% of these loads
are on VSDs, the
non-linear load is
roughly 25% of
overall building
electrical usage.

Todays AC VSDs are

Pulse Width Modulated
AC Line

Motor
Input rectifier

Inverter
Filter

Input rectifier converts AC line voltage to fixed voltage DC.

Most Drives use 6 Pulse Diode Bridge Rectifiers
DC voltage is filtered to reduce ripple caused by rectification. 6-Pulse generate
5,7,11,13,17,19,23,25 etc.. . harmonics
Inverter changes fixed voltage DC to adjustable AC voltage and frequency
which is fed to the motor.

The IEEE-519 Guidelines

IEEE-519 is a recommended guidelines for
designing electrical systems in buildings, NOT a
mandatory standard.
Harmonics is a system issue more than any particular equipment issue.
IEEE-519 sets limits on the voltage and current harmonics distortion at
the point of common coupling (PCC, usually the secondary of the
supply transformer).

The total harmonic distortion at the PCC is dependant on the percent of

harmonics distortion from each non-linear device with respect to the
total capacity of the transformer and the relative load of the system.

Consider this...
Line impedance dampens harmonics
Expected harmonic current distortion for VSDs having various amounts of total
input impedance:

Reactors are by far, the most economical way of reducing harmonic distortion on
a drive system

Consider this too...

Actual harmonic distortion is determined for linear and non-linear loads
both on the system. Harmonics distortion depends on the percentage of
non-linear loads on the system.

If the load was entirely made up of VSDs, each having a 5% impedance

line reactor, then the distortion at PCC would be:
35% THID x 100%VSD/100% total load = 35% THID at PCC
Now if the same VSDs were only 25% of the total load at PCC then:
35% THID x 25%VSD/100% total load = 8.6 % THID at PCC
(Source: Proceedings of the 12th International Power Quality 99 Conference)

Rocks and Ponds..

Harmonics are the
rocks and the
distribution system is
the pond
Small rocks in big
ponds are not a problem
Large rocks in small
ponds are a concern
Solutions:
Larger Ponds or Smaller
Rocks
Xformer, Reactors, Filters to
dampen the splash

Electrical Distribution Effects

Simple HP/KVA Ratios can help
you recognize if Voltage or
Current Harmonics may be a
problem:
HP/KVA >.40 -- Add Additional
Impedance.
KVA/HP < .30 -- Most Meet IEEE
519 without need for additional
equipment

Must Know the system, not just the Drive

To properly project harmonics you

must have the following minimum
electrical system data:
Point of Common Coupling (Where on the
pond are we predicting the splash?)
Upstream Xformer size and % impedance
(How big is the pond?)
Drive HP or running load amps (How big are
the rocks?)
Isolation Xformers, Line Reactors, Bus
Inductors, Filters or Multi-Pulse
cancellation devices on the system (splash
guards in the pond)

Voltage THD Vs. Motor HP/Input KVA

10%

% of Voltage D is tortion

9%
8%
7%
6%
5%
4%
3%
2%
1%
0%
06

06

06

0.

0.

0.

07

07

0.

0.

08

08

0.

0.

09

11

12

13

15

17

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

0.

24

0.

0.

1.

M otor H P/Trans forme r K VA

IE E E D e d.

IE E E Ge n.

IE E E Spc l.

N o A C C ho k e

5 % A C C ho k e

S1 2

Current THD Vs. Motor HP/Input KVA

30%

% Current Distortion

25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
06
0.
3
06
0.
7
06
0.

07
0.
5
07
0.

08
0.
6
08
0.
09
0.

1
0.
11
0.
12
0.
13
0.
15
0.
17
0.

2
0.
24
0.

3
0.

4
0.

6
0.

2
1.

Motor HP/Transformer KVA

IEEE Gen.

No AC Choke

5% AC Choke

S12

Engineering Specs Some Points to

Note:
The IEEE-519 recommended practice defines dedicated, general, and special

classifications. Hospitals and airports fit into the special category while most others
fit in the general classification. Systems with only VSD loads are defined by IEEE as
dedicated and allow higher distortion.

Limits for general installations are 5% Total Harmonic Voltage Distortion (THVD) and
12% Total Harmonic Current Distortion (THID). Limits for special applications are 3%
THVD and 8% THID. Dedicated systems allow 10%THVD and up to 22% THID.

IEEE States that the estimated load current should be an average running current for a
1 year period. If not known 80% of Full Load Amps is a good approximation.

IEEE-519 should not be blindly specified. Owners and engineers must be educated on
applying IEEE-519. Raising costs for customers without rational clarification of the
guidelines is not the optimum engineering solution - its like specifying 100,000 CFM
when only 20,000CFM is required.

Emerging Technologies
Ongoing research on AC to AC Inverter (Matrix
Converter)
Uses 9 Bi-directional Transistors (3 per phase) to convert fixed
frequency and voltage to variable frequency and voltage. No
Conversion to DC is required so no capacitors are required to
store energy. Does required a minimum of 5% line
impedance to operate.

Unity Power Factor.

No harmonics produced back on the line.

In Summary...
More VSDs means more

concern over power system

harmonic effects.
IEEE should be applied at the
system level and may have
impacts as utilities charge
penalties for harmonically rich
waveforms generated on the
grid.
In 3-5 years AC to AC
technology will obsolete
harmonic concerns when
applying VSDs.

Any Questions
30%

% Current Distortion

25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
06
0.
3
06
0.
7
06
0.

07
0.
5
07
0.

08
0.
6
08
0.
09
0.

1
0.
11
0.
12
0.
13
0.
15
0.
17
0.

24
0.

2
0.

3
0.

4
0.

6
0.

2
1.

Motor HP/Transformer KVA

IEEE Gen.

No AC Choke

5% AC Choke

S12