The 3rd Harmonic Problem

and how Delta configurations help

reduce its affects.

Derek Grant
Harmonics are multiples of the fundamental
frequency of a wave. They cause waveform
distortions like the one seen below.
 What causes harmonics?

• Non-linear components
• Diodes
• Transistors
• Electric motors
• SMPSs (switch-mode power supply)
• Etc.
Harmonics can be modeled in a system separately as a source with a frequency an
integer multiple of the fundamental frequency (60 Hz in our case). So a model
including harmonics can be seen as a source sending a 60 Hz sine wave to a load
(and since the load generates the harmonics) and a source bank at the load with
each source sending an integer multiple of 60 Hz sine wave.

So we see how the harmonics can be modeled as sources in the system.

Now we can examine why using a wye delta transformer can help us with
the 3rd harmonic problem.
In a balanced 3-phase wye system, the currents going into the neutral node are
supposed to cancel, so that there is no current on the neutral wire. Harmonic waves may
not behave this way, so we should investigate…

Harmonics can be modeled as current sources as we have seen, but equivalently, they
can be modeled as voltage sources. Lets look at the 2nd Harmonic…

Van 2 = E cos 2( wt + 0°) = E cos(2 wt + 0°) = E cos(2wt )

Vbn 2 = E cos 2( wt − 120°) = E cos(2 wt − 240°) = E cos(2wt + 120°)
Vcn2 = E cos 2( wt + 120°) = E cos(2 wt + 240°) = E cos(2 wt − 120°)

The system will still be balanced in the presence of the 2nd harmonic (except negative
sequence) and the current from the 2nd harmonic sources will still cancel in the neutral
wire! It can be shown that this is true with ANY even harmonic. Now lets examine the
3rd harmonic…

Van3 = E cos 3( wt + 0°) = E cos(3wt + 0°) = E cos(3wt )

Vbn3 = E cos 3( wt − 120°) = E cos(3wt − 360°) = E cos(3wt )
Vcn3 = E cos 3( wt + 120°) = E cos(3wt + 360°) = E cos(3wt )
There is something interesting that is immediately visible about the third harmonic voltage
equations we just found. All the waves are in phase with each other. This is well
illustrated in the following figure.

⇒ In = Ian3 + Ibn3 + Icn3 = 3 I cos(3wt )

Figure 2: phase waves and their 3rd Harmonic
3rd harmonic wave

In a similar derivation as the previous slide, with current instead of voltage we can get in
the neutral wire: Ian3 = Ibn3 = Icn3

⇒ In = Ian3 + Ibn3 + Icn3 = I cos(3wt )

In the 2nd harmonic, the current still cancels in the neutral wire, but the 3rd harmonic
current adds, producing a very large neutral current.

S = VI *
So we need to get rid of the neutral wire. By using a delta configuration, we can trap the
current in the delta loop and also take advantage of one useful property. We all know that
when going from line-to neutral voltage, to line-to-line voltage:

Vab = Van − Vbn

And since Van3 = Vbn3 = Vcn3

we can easily see that the power across the load in a delta loop due to the third
harmonic is zero.
S = VI *

S L 3 = (Vab3)( Iab3)* = (Van3 − Vbn3)( Iab)* = [ E cos(3wt ) − E cos(3wt )]( Iab)* = 0

 How does a delta configuration
help with the triplen harmonics?
When you use a delta
configuration, with the delta on
the load side, there is no
neutral wire for the harmonic
currents to travel in. The the
harmonics travel around the
load loop and get trapped in it.
As seen in the figure, the
triplen currents are not
traveling into the rest of the
sytem. Thus, they do not add
together and cause the wave
distortion that they do in a wye
connected system.
Figure 3: Triplen harmonics trapped in delta loop
 Harmonics still a problem
Because the delta loop traps the triplen harmonic currents
in itself, the problem stays in the load. Therefore the delta
configuration is the best configuration to use when the load
is non-linear, but harmonics still cause us to lose monetary
efficiency even when delta transformers are used. Even
though we can isolate the effects of the triplen harmonics to
the load, transformers must be derated to use a low
percentage of their capacity because of the high currents in
the secondary windings. With all the harmonic current
confined to the delta loop, the conductors would overheat if
we did not use a derated transformer.
 Works Cited
1. IAEI, “The 3rd Harmonic Blocking Filter”, Jan-Feb 2003, 2 Mar 2006,
http://www.iaei.org/subscriber/magazine/03_a/magazine_03_lowens
tein.htm
2. C. Sankaran, “The Basics of Delta-Wye Transformers”, 1 Dec 2000,
2 Mar 2006, http://www.ecmweb.com/mag/electric_basics_
deltawye_transformers/index.html
3. John Dedad, “Trouble Comes in Threes”, 1 Jul 2004, 2 Mar 2006,
http://www.ecmweb.com/mag/electric_trouble_comes_threes/
4. All About Circuits, “Harmonics in Polyphase Power Systems”, post
date unknown, 2 Mar 2006, http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/
chpt_10/7.html
– Figure 1, Figure 2
5. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, “Power System Harmonics”, Jan
1993, 2 Mar 2006, http://www.pge.com/docs/pdfs/biz/
power_quality/power_quality_notes/harmonics.pdf
– Figure 3
 Bonus (+3 on final grade) Question
• In the 7th slide, Mr. Grant has shown that
the power consumption on the delta loads
is zero for triplen harmonics. But in the 7th
slide, he has shown that there are triplen
harmonics circulating in delta connections.
Is there a contradiction?
• Please clarify why by email me power
point slides.
• Due on March 20, midnight.