HARMONICS FILTERING

Technical notes

Standards and recommandations relative to harmonics

Standard committees and power utilities have been very active in elaborating standards and
recommandations relative to harmonics. All these documents have different objectives and scopes.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the different published documents concerning harmonics
limitations in distribution networks. The most relevant documents are listed.

1- IEC 1000-2-2 (1990)

2- IEC 1000-2-4 (1994)
3- Standard EN50160
4- IEEE 519 (USA, 1992)
5- G 5/3 (UK, 1976)
6- IEC 555-2
7- IEC 61000-3-2
8- IEC 61000-3-4
9- EDF Contrat Emeraude
10- Recommandations UCS/VEO (Switzerland, Austria)
11- Recommandations EnergieNed (Netherlands)
12- Project G5/4 (UK)
13- Project P519 (USA)

1/17
1- IEC standard 1000-2-2 (1990)

Title:
Electromagnetic compatibility; Environment; Compatibility levels for low-frequency conducted
disturbances and signalling in public low-voltage power supply systems

Scope:
This standard is concerned with conducted disturbances in the frequency range up to 10kHz.
Consequently, it deals with harmonics, but also with other disturbances such as voltage fluctuations,
voltage dips and short supply interruptions, unbalance, etc... It gives numerical compatibility levels for
low-voltage 50 / 60Hz AC distribution networks, with a nominal voltage up to 240V single-phase or
415V three-phase.

Objective:
This standard specifies the compatibility levels to be respected on the low-voltage distribution
networks, which means:
- the cumulative emissions from all sources must result in a disturbance below the compatibility
level
- each equipment must operate correctly when in presence of such disturbances

Limits:

Compatibility levels for individual voltage harmonics are given in table 1:

Odd harmonics non- Odd harmonics multiple Even harmonics

multiple of 3 of 3
harmonic harmonic harmonic harmonic harmonic harmonic
order n voltage % order n voltage % order n voltage %
5 6 3 5 2 2
7 5 9 1,5 4 1
11 3,5 15 0,3 6 0,5
13 3 21 0,2 8 0,5
17 2 >21 0,2 10 0,5
19 1,5 12 0,2
23 1,5 >12 0,2
25 1,2
>25 0,2+0,5x25/n

Total harmonic distortion factor: < 8%

Table 1

Standards 2/17
2- IEC standard 1000-2-4 (1994)

Title:
Electromagnetic compatibility; Environment; Compatibility levels in industrial plants for low-frequency
conducted disturbances

Scope:
This standard applies to low-voltage or medium-voltage AC power supply at 50 / 60Hz.

Objective:
The compatibility levels are given for different classes of electromagnetic environment:

-class 1: protected supplies, compatibility levels lower than public network levels
-class 2: industrial environment in general. The compatibiity levels are identical to those of
public networks
-class 3: severe industrial environment

Limits:
As an example, the compatibility levels for individual voltage harmonics, non-multiple of 3, for different
classes are given in table 2.

harmonic order Class 1 Class 2 Class 3

n Un (%) Un (%) Un (%)
5 3 6 8
7 3 5 7
11 3 3,5 5
13 3 3 4,5
17 2 2 4
19 1,5 1,5 4
23 1,5 1,5 3,5
25 1,5 1,5 3,5
>25 0,2+12,5/n 0,2+12,5/n 5x11/n

THD 5 8 10

Table 2

Standards 3/17
3- CENELEC European Standard EN50160 (1994)

Title:
Voltage characteristics of electricity supplied by public distribution systems

Scope:
This standard describes, at the customer's point of connection, the major characteristics of the
supplied voltage, for a low-voltage or medium-voltage public distribution network, in normal operating
conditions.
The voltage supply characteristics given in this standard are not intended to be used as compatibility
levels or as emission limits for the customers disturbances.

Objective:
The objective of this standard is to define and describe the characteristic parameters of the supply
voltage, specially the waveshape.

Limits:
In normal operating conditions, during a one week period, 95% of the rms value of each harmonic
voltage averaged on a 10 minute period, must be lower than the values given in table 3.

The total harmonic voltage distortion factor must be lower than 8%.

Odd harmonics non- Odd harmonics multiple Even harmonics

multiple of 3 of 3
harmonic harmonic harmonic harmonic harmonic harmonic
order n voltage % order n voltage % order n voltage %
5 6 3 5 2 2
7 5 9 1,5 4 1
11 3,5 15 0,5 6 ... 24 0,5
13 3 21 0,5
17 2
19 1,5
23 1,5
25 1,5

Table 3

Standards 4/17
 4- IEEE 519 (USA, 1992)

Title:
Recommended practices and requirements for harmonic control in electrical power systems

Scope:
This document applies to all types of static converters used in industrial and commercial power
systems.

Objective:
The objectives of this document are:
- description of the harmonic phenomena generated by static converters
- description of the effects of harmonics, particularly on reactive compensation equipments
- guidance for solving problems related to harmonics
- give recommanded limits for harmonic emissions injected in distribution networks

Limits:
The harmonic current limits are given depending on the ratio between the equipment power and the
short circuit power at the point of connection. The ratio Isc / IL is the ratio of the maximum short-circuit
current available at the point of common coupling, to the maximum fundamental load current.

Current distortion limits for general distribution systems (120V 69kV):

Isc / IL h<11 11h<17 17h<23 23h<35 35h THD (%)

<20 4 2 1,5 0,6 0,3 5
20 => 50 7 3,5 2,5 1 0,5 8
50 => 100 10 4,5 4 1,5 0,7 12
100 => 1000 12 5,5 5 2 1 15
> 1000 15 7 6 2,5 1,4 20

Table 4-1

The distortion limits given in the table below establish the maximum voltage distortion at the point of
common coupling with each consumer.

If the limits are exceeded, corrective actions must be taken: reduction of harmonic emissons,
installation of filters, increase of short-circuit power.

Bus voltage at PCC Individual voltage THD (%)

Uh (%)
U 69kV 3 5
69kV < U 161kV 1,5 2,5
U > 161 kV 1 1,5

Table 4-2

Standards 5/17
5- G 5/3 (1976)

Title:
Limits for harmonics in the United Kingdom Electricity supply system. Engineering recommendation.

Scope:
This document provides guidance as to the limits of harmonic currents that may be fed into the
electricity supply system by consumers supplied from low or higher voltage systems and to the limits of
harmonic voltage distortion caused thereby.

Objective:
The method of approach enables the problem of acceptance of loads with non-linear characteristics to
be dealt with in stages, according to the size and type of equipment.

Limits:

Stage 1: concerning low-power equipments.

For example, on the 415V supply, the maximum size of a "6-pulse", 3-phase converter that may be
connected without detailed consideration by the supply authority is 12kVA. Beyond this limit, the
converter must be a "12-pulse" type.

Stage 2: concerning higher power equipments.

The connection of equipment whose size exceeds the stage 1 limits may be agreed if the consumer's
total installation does not produce, at the point of common coupling, currents exceeding some limits,
depending on the supply voltage. Limits for a 415V supply are given in table 5-1.

harmonic Max current

order (A)
2 48
3 34
4 22
5 56
6 11
7 40
8 9
9 8
10 7
11 19
12 6
13 16
14 5
15 5
16 5
17 6
18 4
19 6

Table 5-1

Standards 6/17
 Stage 3: conditionnal connection
When a non-linear load does not comply with the limits of stage 2 or if the resulting voltage distortion is
too high, it may still be possible to connect the load after a detailed examination of existing harmonic
current and voltage conditions and the conditions resulting from the new load. The voltage distortion
expected after connection should not exceed the following values :

Supply voltage at PCC THD (%) Individual harmonic voltage

(kV) Uh (%)
Odd Even
0,415 5 4 2
6,6 - 11 4 3 1,75
33 - 66 3 2 1
132 1,5 1 0,5

Tableau 5-2

Standards 7/17
6- IEC standard 555-2 (1987)

Title:
Disturbances in supply systems caused by household appliances and similar electrical equipment;
Harmonics.

Scope:
Standard applicable to electrical and electronic household appliances and similar equipments,
intended to be connected to low-voltage 50 / 60Hz AC distribution networks, with a nominal voltage up
to 240V single-phase or 415V three-phase.

Examples of equipments concerned: heating and cooking apparatus, portable tools, dimming devices,
TV recievers.
This standard is not applicable to equipments for exclusive professional use.

Objective:
This standard specifies limits of harmonic components of the input current which may be produced by
equipment tested under specified conditions.

Limits:

Harmonic order Max admissible

harmonic current
(A)
Odd harmonics

3 2,3
5 1,14
7 0,77
11 0,4
13 0,21
15 n 39 0,15 x 15/n
Even harmonics
2 1,08
4 0,43
6 0,3
8 n 40 0,23 x 8/n

Table 6

Note:
This standard is often mentionned, but is now replaced by IEC 1000-3-2, which scope is wider.

Standards 8/17
7- IEC standard 1000-3-2 (1995)

Title:
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC); Limits for harmonic current emissions (equipment current 16A
per phase)

Scope:
This standard is applicable to electrical and electronic equipment intended to be connected to the
public low-voltage supply system.

Objective:
The objective of this standard is to set limits for harmonic emissions of equipment so that compliance
with the limits ensures that harmonic disturbance levels do not exceed the compatibility levels defined
in IEC 1000-2-2.

Lmits:
Equipments are classified as follows:

- class A: balanced 3-phase equipment and all other equipment, except that stated in one of the
following classes
- class B: portable tool
- class C: lighting equipment
- class D: equipment having an input power 600W and an input current with a "special
waveshape".
Example: TV reciever

Limits for class A equipment are those given in IEC 555-2.

Limits for high power-equipment (>1kW) for professional use are under study.

Standards 9/17
 8- IEC 1000-3-4

Title:
Electromagnetic compatibility; Limitation of emission of harmonic currents in low-voltage supply
systems for equipment with rated current greater than 16A.

Scope:
The recommandations included in this document are applicable to electrical and electronic equipment
having a rated current exceeding 16A and intended to be connected to public low-voltage 50 / 60Hz
AC distribution systems, with a nominal voltage up to 240V single-phase or 600V three-phase.

Objective:
The objective of this technical report is to give recommandations for connecting harmonic generating
equipments.

The general idea is to consider 3 stages:

- stage 1: definition of a class of low-emission equipments, with no restriction for connection to the
public supply system. Limits for admissible harmonic current percentage (related to the
fundamental current) are given:

Order Ih/I1 (%)

3 21,6
5 10,7
7 7,2
9 3,8
11 3,1
13 2
15 0,7
17 1,2
19 1,1
21 0,6
23 0,9
25 0,8
27 0,6
29 0,7
31 0,7
33 0,6
even <8/h or 0,6

- stage 2: equipments not complying with stage 1 may be connected to the supply system
provided the ratio RSCE of the short-circuit power to the equipment power does not exceed a given
value. Depending on this ratio, different limits of harmonic percentage are applied.
(PWHD: partial weighted harmonic distortion, considering harmonics of order 14 to 40)

For balanced three-phase equipments:

RSCE min THD (%) PWHD (%) I5/ I1 (%) I7/ I1 (%) I11/ I1 (%) I13 /I1 (%)
66 16 25 14 11 10 8
120 18 29 16 12 11 8
175 25 33 20 14 12 8
250 35 39 30 18 13 8
350 48 46 40 25 15 10
450 58 51 50 35 20 15
>600 70 57 60 40 25 18

- stage 3: if the limits of stage 2 are exceeded, some mitigation methods should be used, or a
special agreement with the supply authority is required.

Standards 10/17
9- Electricit de France "Emeraude" contracts

Objective:
In the general approach of improving the quality of electricity supplied by EDF to its MV customers,
EDF is proposing the "Emeraude" contract. This contract includes a clause concerning harmonics.
Presently, the connecting rules are given only for information, but customers are asked to comply to
these limits, as they will be mandatory in 1998.

Limit values:
The limits are determined as a function of the subscribed power and the corresponding line current Isc:

Odd harmonics Ih/ Isc (%) Even harmonics Ih/ Isc (%)
3 4 2 2
5&7 5 4 1
9 2 >4 0,5
11 & 13 3
>13 2

Standards 11/17
10- Recommandations UCS (Union des Centrales Suisses d'lectricit, Switzerland)
VEO (Verband der Elektrizittzwerke sterreichs, Austria)

Title:
Recommandations for assessment of electrical disturbances in medium voltage and low voltage public
distribution networks

Scope:
Medium and low voltage public distribution networks

Objective:
The objective of this recommandation is to unify the assessment procedure for disturbances, based on
standard or advisable limit values.
The following disturbances are considered: voltage fluctuations, flicker, asymetry, harmonics, notches,
mains signalling voltages.

Limit Values:
The limit values of harmonic current emission are calculated the following way :

Ih p S p
h . sc h . RSCE
I A 1000 S A 1000

with: Ih harmonic current of order h

IA connection current (corresponding to the subscribed power)
Ssc short-circuit power
SA subscribed power
RSCE short-circuit ratio

The values of factor ph are given in the table, depending on the harmonic order h :

order h 5 7 11 13 17 19 >19
ph 15 10 5 4 2 1,5 1

Example:

I A .15
I5 . RSCE
1000
15. I A
If RSCE =100, then I5
100

Limit value for the current distortion (referenced to the connection current) :

18 S
THDIA . SC
1000 S A

Standards 12/17
In addition, for a low voltage connection in Switzerland, it is considered that of the compatibility level
defined by IEC 1000-2-2 is available. The available distortion is shared between the different
customers using the following formula :

0 , 4
S
U h U CL . sc
SA

with: Uh harmonic voltage of order h generated by the load (contribution)

UCL compatibility level

A simplified procedure is used to predict whether corrective actions are necessary or not.
SOS is defined as the power of harmonic generating loads of the customer.

We must have:

S OS S
0,082. SC in low voltage,
SA SA

S OS S
0,058. SC in medium voltage.
SA SA

Standards 13/17
11- Recommandations EnergieNed (Netherlands)

Title:
Recommandations regarding maximum permissible harmonic currents

Scope:
Connection of 3-phase equipments exceeding 11kVA (phase current >16A if the nominal voltage is
230/400V) usually installed in an industrial or comparable environment.

Objective:
These recommandations are characterized by a two-stage approach :

- stage 1: focused directly on the individual sources of voltage distortion

- stage 2: characterized by central compensating measures

Limits:
Stage 1: the following table is giving the limits for harmonic currents generated by the non-linear load,
in percent of the fundamental, depending on the installation connection voltage level.

order HV MV LV
Ih (%) Ih (%) Ih (%)
5 27 26,5 25
7 14,5 14 12,5
11 11 10 7,5
13 8 7 4,5
17 6,5 5 3
19 5,5 4 2
23 5 3 1,5
25 4 2,5 1
29 3,5 2 1
31 3,5 1,5 1
35 3 1 0,5
37 3 1 0,5
41 2,5 1 0,5
43 2,5 0,5 0,5
47 2 0,5 0,5
49 2 0,5 0,5

Stage 2: If compatibility levels are exceeded, central compensating measures must be applied.

Standards 14/17
12- Project G5/4 (UK)

Title:
Planning levels for harmonic voltage distortion and the connection of non-linear loads to public
electricity supply systems

This document will supersede Engineering Recommandations G5/3 (see paragraph 5).

Scope:
This document is concerning the connection of non-linear loads to the Transmission System and
Public Electricity Suppliers Distribution systems.

Objective:
This recommandation uses a 3-stage approach which enables non-linear loads to be connected in a
cost effective manner :

- stage 1: simplified connection

- stage 2: connection possible, depending on on-site measurements
- stage 3: detailed analysis is required if stage 2 limits are exceeded

Limits:

Stage 1:
Equipments meeting the following conditions may be connected without any restriction :

- equipments having a rated input current <16A and complying with standard EN60555-2 until the year
2001
- equipments having a rated input current >16A:
single phase 230V with power < 5kVA
single phase 460V with power < 7,5kVA
3-phase "6-pulse" with power < 12kVA
3-phase "12-pulse"
- equipments having a rated input current between 16 and 75A respecting the following limits;

order h Ih (A)
2 26,6
3 44,4
4 8,3
5 53,3
6 5,6
7 38,1
8 3,3
9 8,9
10 2,7
11 18,2
12 1,1
13 12,8
14 1,0
15 1,3
16 0,8
17 6,3
18 0,7

Standards 15/17
Stage 2:
Applies on equipments exceeding the limits of stage 1 and for 6.6 and 11kV supplies.

The 4 first customers may be connected provided they are meeting the limits given in the following
table:

order h Ih (A)
2 5
3 6,5
4 1,7
5 7,5
6 1
7 5,6
8 1,3
9 3,5
10 1
11 4,8
12 0,4
13 4
14 0,4
15 0,8
16 0,3
17 2,5
18 0,3
19 1,7

Other loads may be connected using the following procedure:

- measuring the levels of distortion already existing on the system

- calculating the distortion which will be caused by the new load
- calculating the resulting distortion

Voltage distortion limits:

Taking the existing background distortion into account, the connection of the load is possible if the
resulting voltage distortion does not exceed:
5% for a 400V supply
4% for a 6.6 or 11kV supply.

Stage 3:
The procedure is the same as in stage 2, but more detailed datas are necessary in order to consider
resonances in particular:
- measuring the levels of distortion already existing on the system
- calculating the distortion which will be caused by the new load
- calculating the resulting distortion

Limit:
The voltage distortion for a 400V supply must not exceed 5%.

Standards 16/17
13- Project P519A (USA)

Title:
Guide for applying harmonic limits on power systems

Scope:
This document is related to the connection of power static converters on any distribution network in
industrial or commercial sectors.

Objective:
The objective of this document is to complete the IEEE 519 - 1992 standard (see paragraph 4) in
presenting examples of evaluation procedures and harmonic mitigation methods.

Limits:
Identical to the limits given in IEEE 519.

Standards 17/17