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At present, the capacitors for detuned filter have been chosen wrongly. It may occur because users or owners have not k
detuned filter or suppliers have offered the wrong specification because of saving cost in marketing competitiveness. Bu
why the different suppliers have offered different specification of detuned filter. This article will explain why you should
right specification of detuned filter and know reason why you have to use it. After you read the article, you will make rig
decision about choosing capacitor and reactor suitable for detuned filter.

Example the capacitor units 50kVAR 400V have been used in your electrical system of building or factory. When you n
change them to be detuned filter, few suppliers may offer capacitor unit 53kVAR
56kVAR 440V or 70kVAR 480V or 75kVAR 500V or 80kVAR 525V with 6% o
detuned reactor. Why do they offer the different capacitor unit for one case? And
different are these capacitor units? What is advantage and disadvantage?

The reason is their understanding about detuned filter. Someone is right but som
wrong. In fact, there is just one theory for detuned filter based on each standard
IEC or IEEE or etc. IEC and IEEE standard have been used in Most electric util
standard. In this article, we will use IEC standard for calculation and use IEC sta
61000-2 about Compatibility levels for individual harmonic voltages in low volt
networks < 415 volts (Harmonic Limit)

This section of IEC 61000-2 is concerned with harmonic distortion in the voltag
to 415 volts. This section gives numerical compatibility levels for low voltage a.
distribution system with voltage up to 240V single phase and 415V three phase
disturbances of systems and its elements or networks or network devices. The am

each harmonic should not exceed the levels as follows:

Harmonic voltage order 1st not more than 10% (U1 < 10%)
Harmonic voltage order 3rd not more than 5% (U3 < 5%)
Harmonic voltage order 5th not more than 6% (U5 < 6%)
Harmonic voltage order 7th not more than 5% (U7 < 5%)
Harmonic voltage order 11st not more than 3.5% (U11 < 3.5%)
Harmonic voltage order 13rd not more than 3% (U13 < 3%)

With our consideration, we will choose harmonic order 1,3,5,7 because electronic equipments in Thailand have been con
DC power supply, six-pulse type. These equipments will generate the said harmonic order. However, we will revise som
each harmonic order as below:

Harmonic voltage order 1st not more than 6% (U1 = 6%) because most distribution transformers of buildings or fact
Thailand are 22000 / 400V or 22000/415V. The voltage over 400V is hard to occur at main bus bar of Main Distribution
Harmonic voltage order 3rd not more than 0.5% (U1 = 0.5%) because current of harmonic order 3rd or other orders
divisible by three are flowing to neutral point. But element connection inside capacitor is delta and no neutral, thus harm
3rd is not flowing to capacitor unit.
Harmonic voltage order 5th not more than 5% (U5 = 5%)
Harmonic voltage order 7th not more than 5% (U7 = 5%)
The voltage across the capacitor is system voltage plus other voltages as follows:
1. Induced voltage occurred by reactor when electric current is flowing it
2. Voltage occurred by harmonic current flowing to capacitor unit
Much value of reactive power or kVAR is, much the voltage across the capacitor is.

Calculation to choose capacitor units suitable for

detuned filter in 3 steps

Example, system voltage is 400 volts and reactive power of capacitor unit is 50k
for each step.
Step 1 : induced voltage calculation

We assign Un, U1 and p to be system voltage, the voltage across the capacitor af
reactor installation and ratio between impedance of reactor and impedance of ca
respectively. When the current is passing through reactor, U1 = Un / (1 - %p). W
voltage (U1) is higher, reactive power of capacitor (Q1) = Nc / (1 - %p) which N
reactive power of capacitor at system voltage or nominal voltage.

If you bring 6% reactor connected to capacitor in series and require reactive power of each
step equal to 50 kVAR at 400V, you can calculate U1 and Q1 as follows: Voltage across the capacitor (U1) = Un / (1 p)
Un = 400V, p = 6% or 0.06
U1 = 400 / (1 0.06) = 426 volts
Reactive power of capacitor (Q1) = Nc / (1 - %p)
Nc = 50kVAR, p = 6% or 0.06
Q1 = 50 / (1 0.06) = 53 kVAR
Step 2 : Harmonic current flowing to capacitor calculation
The voltage across the capacitor (U2) is occurred from harmonic current flowing to
capacitor in the following IEC standard. We will find impedance of capacitor (Xc) after
reactor installation and impedance of reactor (XL) at each frequency of each harmonic
order. Referring to electrical theory, Xc = 1 / 2fC and XL = 2fL which C is capacitance of
capacitor in Farad and L is inductance of reactor in Henry. Thus, total impedance of
detuned filter of each step is | XL Xc |.

Lets start to calculate impedance of capacitor (Xc) and impedance of reactor (XL) for harmonic curre
calculation. As theory, we can calculate impedance in another way as Xc = U12 / Q1 which U1 and Q
voltage across capacitor and reactive power of capacitor after reactor installation.
If U1 = 426 V and Q1 = 53,000 Var (53kVAR), Xc is equal to 3.42 ohms and XL is equal to 3.42 x 0.
ohms (XL is 6% of Xc).

After we know value of Xc and XL, we have to calculate impedance of capacitor (Xc) and reactor (X
frequency of each harmonic order. You can find another way to calculate Xc and XL on each frequenc
know that frequency of harmonic order 5th is 250 Hz or 5 x 50Hz. It means frequency of harmonic order 5th is more tha
fundamental frequency 50Hz about 5 times. If we have a look in formula: Xc = 1 / 2fC and XL = 2fL which f is frequ
each harmonic order, we will find that if frequency is higher than 5 times, Xc will reduce 5 times and XL will increase 5

As the above mentioned reason, we can calculate impedance of capacitor (Xc) a

(XL) on each frequency of each harmonic order as below:
Harmonic order 1st f = 50 Hz
fundamental frequency 50Hz
X
XL1= 0.205
Harmonic order 3rd f = 150 Hz
increase 3 times compared with 50Hz X
XL3= 0.615
Harmonic order 5th f = 250 Hz
increase 5 times compared with 50Hz X
XL5= 1.025
Harmonic order 7th f = 350 Hz
increase 7 times compared with 50Hz X
XL7= 1.435

As our harmonic limit level indicated in above, U1 = 6%, U3=0.5%, U5=5% ???
We will keep this values to find out harmonic current on each order in later.
Harmonic current at order h (Ih) = Uh / (1.732 x | XLh Xch | )

Uh is harmonic voltage and

XLh and Xch is impedance of reactor and capacitor on frequency of each harmonic order h
Ic is rated current of capacitor unit at fundamental frequency or at U1
Harmonic order 1st
Harmonic order 3rd
Harmonic order 5th
Harmonic order 7th

U1=6%
U3=0.5%
U5=5%
U7=5%

I1 = (1+0.06) x Ic = 1.06 x 72.1

= 76.5 A
I3 = 0.005 x 400 / (1.732 x | 1.14 0.615 | ) = 2.2 A
I5 = 0.05 x 400 / (1.732 x | 0.684 1.025 | ) = 33.76 A
I7 = 0.05 x 400 / (1.732 x | 0.488 1.435 | ) = 12.18 A

Irms of total harmonic (Is) = v (I12 + I32 + I52 + I72) = v (76.52 + 2.22 + 33.762 + 12.182)
Thus, maximum current flowing to capacitor unit is 84.53 A. and
6% reactor, which is installed with capacitor, shall be designed to withstand maximum current about 1.05 x Irms = 1.05
88.75 A.
Step 3 : Maximum voltage across capacitor calculation

Now we know that impedance of 6% detuned reactor is 0.205 ohms and inductance value is 0.653 mH (XL = 2fL). Mo
will withstand the current about 88.75 A at least. For capacitor unit, it will withstand max. current about 84.53 A.

In the next step, we will choose voltage level suitable for 6% detuned filter. At first, we will concern the voltage across t
capacitor unit because impedance of capacitor 50kVAR 400V is 3.2 ohms but after reactor installation, the voltage acros
and reactive power become 426V and 53kVAR respectively. Therefore, impedance of capacitor will be 3.42 ohms ( Xc =
426 x 426 / 53,000)

Since we know value of harmonic current of each order in step 2, we will take those values to find out harmonic voltage
capacitor of each order. Harmonic voltage across capacitor of each order is equal to harmonic current of each order mult
impedance of capacitor of each order.

Thus, the harmonic voltage order h (Uh) = v 3 x Ih x Xc / h (Xc reduce h times when frequency increase h times compa
fundamental frequency 50Hz)
Harmonic order 1st
Harmonic order 3rd
Harmonic order 5th
Harmonic order 7th

U1=6%
I1 = 76.5 A
U3=0.5% I3 = 2.2 A
U5=5%
I5 = 33.76 A
U7=5%
I7 = 12.18 A

U1 = 1.732 x 76.5 x 3.42

= 453.2 V
U3 = 1.732 x 2.2 x 3.42 / 3
= 4.35 V
U5 = 1.732 x 33.76 x 3.42 / 5 = 40.0 V
U7 = 1.732 x 12.18 x 3.42 / 7 = 10.3 V

The maximum voltage across capacitor is equal to 453.2 + 4.35 + 40 + 10.3 = 508 Volts (system voltage plus induced vo
reactor and harmonic voltage occurred from harmonic current flowing to capacitor).

We should choose voltage of capacitor more than 508 volts. In Thailand market, there are power capacitor for voltage le
If we choose this voltage level of capacitor, we have to bring this voltage level to find out reactive power.
As electrical formula, Q2 = Q1 x (V22 / V12) ; V2 = 525V, V1 = 426V and Q1 = 53kVAR. (V1 and Q1 is reactive powe
capacitor and voltage across capacitor after reactor installation)
Thus, Q2 = Q1 x (V22 / V12) = 53 x ( 525 x 525) / (426 x 426) = 80.5 kVAR

Summary

As the mentioned above, if you use capacitor unit 50kVAR for each step at 400V, you will use 6% reactor that impedanc
reactor 0.205 ohms or 0.653 mH and withstand max. current about 88.75 A. For capacitor unit for detuned filter, its volt
shall be more than 508 volts and its reactive power is near 80.5kVAR. (Please be aware of reactive power value of capac
Because the reactive power is much more or less than the calculated one, it causes reactor will be re-calculated and chan
not forget, impedance of reactor is 6% of impedance of capacitor unit)

We hope this article will help you calculating or considering about choose right capacitor and reactor for detuned filter i
following standard.

ning and
vantage of
uned filter

When we talked about electrical system in buildings and factories, capacitor bank is one o
equipments which is concerned because it increase power factor in electrical system. But a
present, you have heard about detuned filter instead of capacitor bank for increasing powe
Why ???

The reason is technology of electronic equipments help you working or manufacturing. Th

many kinds of electronic devices involved in everywhere. The electronic device or DC pow
will generate harmonic which effects to some electrical equipments connected to the same
system.

Harmonic is a component frequency of the

is an integer multiple of the fundamental fr
such as 50Hz in Thailand. If the fundamen
frequency is f, the harmonics have frequen
3f, 4f, etc. The harmonic voltage subseque
operation of other sensitive equipment con
the same line. Harmonic voltage distortion
cause motors operating on the line to overh
Capacitor bank can be damaged by harmon
and Neutral line can be overheated by harm
current which is divided by 3 without fract
Frequency of harmonic order 3rd is 150 H
Hz)
Frequency of harmonic order 5th is 250 H
Hz)
Frequency of harmonic order 7th is 350 H
Hz)

and go on ...

In fact all electrical system around the world there are many order of harmonics. Somebod
What kind of electrical equipment can it generate harmonic? We answer simply that all e
equipments, which have ac to dc inverter, ac to dc converter or something like this, can ge
harmonics in your electrical system. Some special equipments working with fault current s
welding machine, arc furnace, hardener, etc. can generate many order of harmonics.

You can see at electrical equipments you use. You will find almost equipments consisting o
component generating harmonic. We will describe how the generated harmonic effect to c
bank in the next step.

Impact of Harmonic current affecting to Capacitor bank

Except for harmonic order 1st or fundamental 50Hz (Thailand) electrical equipment use, o
harmonic orders are not used but they can disrupt operation of sensitive equipments and ov
some equipments. Capacitor bank will be damaged or declined by harmonic current.

More frequency (f) of electrical current passing through, more impedance of capacitor uni
reduces. Referring to electrical formula impedance of capacitor (Xc) = 1 / 2 fC ; it shows
frequency (f) is higher as divider in equation, value of Xc is less. As of electrical circuit th
electrical current will go to where impedance is lower. Thus other harmonic orders such as
order 5th, 7th, 11th are high frequency as 250Hz, 350Hz, 550Hz respectively, impedance o
(Xc) will highly decrease. Most of the said harmonic currents will go to capacitor bank an
capacitor unit damaged by overcurrent or overvoltage or overheat. Service life of capacito

As the mentioned above, detuned filter will be used instead of capacitor bank. The detuned
consists of capacitor unit and series reactor. The reactor will block some harmonic current
through capacitor unit because impedance of reactor (XL) will increase when frequency (f
electrical current is higher as formula XL = 2 fL. Thus, impedance of detuned filter, whic
impedance of capacitor adding with impedance of reactor, will be higher.

Detuned filter will be indicated to be 6%, 7% or 13%. The percentage is ratio between imp
reactor and impedance of capacitor. If the percentage is higher, harmonic current pass thro
capacitor unit less.

Somebody may ask if harmonic current is not passing through capacitor unit, where does i
answer is the harmonic current will go to electrical line of electrical utility. Harmonic curr
through electrical utility will be compatible with Electrical utility s regulation.