PSERC EMI, Power Quality, and Safety Workshop April 18-19, 2002

Single Phase Harmonic Limits

Ward Jewell Daniel J. Ward

Professor of Electrical Engineering Principal Engineer
Director, Center for Energy Studies Dominion Virginia Power
Wichita State University [email protected]
[email protected]

Abstract

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) sets limits for harmonics in the
current of small single-phase or three-phase loads, less than 16 A per phase, in Electromagnetic
compatibility (EMC) - Part 3-2: Limits - Limits for harmonic current emissions (IEC 61000-3-2).
The IEEE Single Phase Harmonics Task Force (P1495) is developing a similar standard for
single phase loads of less than 40 A. There is, however, still no agreement on what such limits
should be, or whether limits are even needed.
Electric utilities are concerned about the effects of harmonics on their systems: telephone
noise, excessive heating of transformers and other equipment, capacitor damage, and others, and
would like to limit the levels of harmonics produced by loads on their systems. Manufacturers,
however, are concerned about the cost of changes to their equipment to reduce harmonic
production. This paper summarizes the IEC limits and the proposed IEEE limits, discusses the
need for single phase harmonic limits, and presents what those limits might be.

Introduction

Harmonic currents in the power distribution system can cause:

o Transformer heating
o Transformer secondary voltage distortion
o Increased power losses
o Overloaded neutrals and capacitors
o Telephone and communication system noise
Existing penetrations of small single phase loads can create problems that require mitigation [1].
There are two ways to address the harmonics issues. The first is the traditional method of
mitigating problems after they adversely affect utilities and their customers. Mitigation options
include:
o Installing k-factor or derated transformers
o Oversizing neutrals and capacitor ampacity
o Detuning resonant circuits
o Appling passive or active filters
The mitigation expense is usually borne by those owning the equipment causing the harmonic
problem, or by those affected by it.
This mitigation philosophy accepts that part of the electrical load is harmonic and must
be served. This philosophy accepts the increased losses caused by harmonics, which raises the
question of whether utilities should charge for harmonic consumption, as they now charge for
reactive power. The drawback to the mitigation philosophy is that nothing is done until after a
problem arises, and the costs to those affected by the harmonics can be high before the problem
is solved.

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 PSERC EMI, Power Quality, and Safety Workshop April 18-19, 2002

The other option for addressing harmonics problems is to limit consumption of harmonic
currents by changing the design of the loads. This limiting philosophy says that we have a
constant frequency power system, and that loads should be limited in their consumption of other
frequencies.
The limiting philosophy affects mostly computer and other electronic equipment, because
the rectifier power supplies in those devices now consume high levels of harmonic current.
Many manufacturers oppose limits because. Competition with other manufacturers is not the
issue; the standards apply to all. But limits require additional investment, and the return on that
investment is low; the change to low-distortion supplies does not increase company profits.

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standards

The IEC, which governs the European Union, adopted a philosophy of requiring
manufacturers to limit their products’ consumption of current harmonics in their standard IEC
61000-3-2 [2]. This standard applies to all single-phase and three-phase loads rated at less than
16 A per phase. Products must be tested in approved laboratories to insure they meet the
standard. 61000-3-2 took effect on January 1, 2001, although enforcement seems to be limited.
The standard classifies electrical loads as shown in Table 1. The standard as originally
published used the classifications on the left side of this table, with the special waveshape
defined by Fig. 1. The special waveshape is the limiting envelope for the current waveshape. The
current has to fall within this waveshape for each half cycle 95% of the time.
After negotiations with manufacturers opposed to the limits, Amendment A14, with its
classifications on the right side of the table, was published, and manufacturers have three years
in which they could use either set of classifications [4]. After January 1, 2004, Amendment A14
will be in force.
The harmonic current limits for each class of equipment are shown in Tables 2-5. Note
that these limits are for individual harmonics, and do not specify total harmonic distortion
(THD). For 230 V Class D equipment (PCs, PC monitors, and television receivers) rated less
than 600 W, the distortion in a waveform that has the maximum allowable distortion at each
harmonic is 95% at present.

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EN 61000-3-2 Classifications Amendment A14 Classifications

Class A: Balanced 3 phase equipment, single Class A: Balanced 3 phase equipment;
phase equipment not in other classes household appliances excluding equipment
identified as Class D; tools (except portable),
dimmers for incandescent lamp (but not other
lighting equipment), audio equipment;
anything not otherwise classified
Class B: Portable power tools Class B: (no change)
Class C: Lighting Equipment over 25 W Class C: All lighting equipment except
incandescent lamp dimmers.
Class D: Not Class B or C, single phase, not Class D: Single phase, under 600 W, personal
motor driven, under 600 W, and possessing the computer, PC monitor, TV receiver.
"special waveshape."
Table 1. IEC 61000-3-2 load classifications [3].

Figure 1. Special waveshape [3].

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Harmonic order Maximum permissible

harmonic current
n (A)

Odd harmonics
3 2.30
5 1.14
7 0.77
9 0.40
11 0.33
13 0.21
15 < n < 39 2.25/n
Even harmonics
2 1.08
4 0.43
6 0.30
8 < n < 40 1.84/n
Table 2: Limits for Class A Equipment [3].

Harmonic order Maximum permissible

harmonic current
n (A)

Odd harmonics
3 3.45
5 1.71
7 1.155
9 0.60
11 0.495
13 0.315
15 < n < 39 3.375/n
Even harmonics
2 1.62
4 0.645
6 0.45
8 < n < 40 2.76/n
Table 3: Limits for Class B Equipment [5].

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 PSERC EMI, Power Quality, and Safety Workshop April 18-19, 2002

Harmonic order Maximum permissible

harmonic current
n (% of fundamental)
2 2
3 30 x circuit power factor
5 10
7 7
9 5
11 < n < 39 3
Table 4: Limits for Class C Equipment [6].

Harmonic order 75 W < P < 600 W P > 600 W

Maximum permissible Maximum permissible
harmonic current harmonic current
n (mA/W) (A)

3 3.4 2.30
5 1.9 1.14
7 1.0 0.77
9 0.5 0.40
11 0.35 0.33
13 0.296 0.21
15 < n < 39 3.85/n 2.25/n
Table 5: Limits for Class D Equipment [7].

US Standards

A number of differences between European and US power systems [8] suggest that any
harmonic limits for the US should be different from the IEC standard. The European system uses
no neutral on overhead medium voltage distribution and a cable sheath for the underground
portion, and they use delta wye transformers to step down the voltage to 400/230 V. As a result,
it is less susceptible to triplen (3, 6, 9…) harmonic distortion than the US system. The European
system includes extensive 400/230 V secondary distribution, creating higher-impedance utility
distribution than the US system. The US system has higher secondary impedance beyond the
point of common coupling, however, because of smaller distribution transformers used.

Draft IEEE Guide

IEEE considered these differences, and studies that relate distribution current distortion
to voltage distortion [9, 10], IEEE has drafted a guide to limit harmonic current consumption by
single-phase loads rated less than 600 V and 40 A [8]. This draft guide divides the loads into two
classes:

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1. “Higher wattage nonlinear loads like heat pumps and EV battery chargers as well as large
concentrations of lower wattage devices like computer workstations and electronic
ballasts found in typical commercial offices and businesses. [8]” The recommended
maximum levels of current distortion allowed for these loads are shown in Table 6. The
guide also suggests a minimum power factor of 0.95 for the high wattage loads.

Maximum THDI 15%

rd
Maximum 3 harmonic current 10%
Table 6. Recommended harmonic current limits.

2. “Lower wattage nonlinear loads not concentrated in a small area. [8]” Table 7 shows the
recommended limits, which are double the values in Table 6, for these loads.

Maximum THDI 30 %
rd
Maximum 3 harmonic current 20 %
Table 7. Recommended harmonic current limits.

Other US Standards

Because of high concentrations of computers in their offices, the US Social Security

Administration adopted a limit of 15% current THD for computers purchased after 1999 [8].
While computer vendors are not meeting this limit, they are supplying computers that draw about
35% current THD, far better than the 90-100% current THD of most computers purchased today.
The California Energy Commission, working with the National Electric Vehicle
Infrastructure Working Council, adopted standards for electric vehicle battery chargers [8].
These limit current distortion to 20% THD and specify a minimum power factor of 0.95. Charger
vendors have met these requirements.

The Future of Harmonic Current Limits in the US

Some US manufacturers oppose harmonic current limits. The question is, which option
for addressing harmonic problems creates the lowest societal cost? Research is needed to answer
this question, which includes:
o Cost of mitigating problems as they arise
o Cost of lost production caused by harmonic problems before they are solved
o Cost to manufacturers to meet proposed limits
Further technical research on acceptable levels of distribution current harmonics, and how those
relate to harmonic consumption of individual loads.

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References

1. Ward Jewell, Bill Miller, Tom Casey, “Filtering Dispersed Harmonic Sources on
Distribution,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 15, No. 3, July 2000, pp. 1045-
1051.
2. IEC 61000-3-2 (2001-10) Consolidated Edition. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part
3-2: Limits - Limits for harmonic current emissions (equipment input current <= 16A per
phase)
3. Isidor Straus, Changes Are Coming To The EU’s Power Line Harmonic Requirements,
Conformity, January 2001, http://www.conformity.com/0101reflections.html.
4. J. M. Woodgate, EMC – Low frequency conducted emissions, Curtis-Straus Update, Sept. 8,
2000, http://www.conformity-update.com/iec-61000-000908.htm
5. Philip D Slade, Harmonics and Flicker - the low frequency end of the EMC spectrum, EMC
Compliance Journal, http://www.compliance-club.com/archive1/990619.html.
6. Nils Borg, Natan Gothelf, Lighting power Quality Standards - A Brief International
Overview, International Association for Energy-Efficient Lighting (IAEEL) Newsletter,
March-April 1995,
http://www.iaeel.org/IAEEL/NEWSL/1995/trefyra1995/LiTech_c_3_4_95.html
7. Giorgio Spiazzi, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Low-Frequency Standards, August
2000, http://www.dsce.fee.unicamp.br/~antenor/pdffiles/IEC.pdf
8. Draft Guide for Harmonic Limits for Single-Phase Equipment, P1495/D3, Sponsored by the
Transmission and Distribution Committee of the IEEE Power Engineering Society, January
26, 2002.
9. Pileggi, D.J. et al, “The Effect of Modern Compact Fluorescent Lights on Voltage
Distortion”, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, v8, n3, July 1993, pp 1451-59.
10. R.S. Thallam, W.M. Grady, M.J. Samotyj, “Estimating Future Harmonic Distortion Levels
Due to Single Phase Adjustable-Speed Drive Air Conditioners”, IEEE ICHPS 1992.

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