Various health organizations have also shown an increased interest
in stray magnetic and electric fields, resulting in guidelines on the levels
of these fields [1.31]. Since currents create magnetic fields, it is possi-
ble to lessen AC magnetic fields by reducing harmonic currents present
in the line-voltage conductors.
Harmonic pollution on a power line can be quantified by a measure
known as total harmonic distortion or THD.
1
High harmonic distortion can
negatively impact a facility’s electric distribution system, and can gener-
ate excessive heat in motors, causing early failures. Heat also builds up
in wire insulation causing breakdown and failure. Increased operating tem-
peratures can affect other equipment as well, resulting in malfunctions and
early failure. In addition, harmonics on the power line can prompt com-
puters to restart and adversely affect other sensitive analog circuits.
The reasons for the increased interest in power quality can be sum-
marized as follows [1.32]:
■
Metering: Poor power quality can affect the accuracy of utility
metering.
■
Protective relays: Poor power quality can cause protective relays
to malfunction.
■
Downtime: Poor power quality can result in equipment downtime
and/or damage, resulting in a loss of productivity.
■
Cost: Poor power quality can result in increased costs due to the pre-
ceding effects.
■
Electromagnetic compatibility: Poor power quality can result in
problems with electromagnetic compatibility and noise [1.33–1.39].
Ideal Voltage Waveform
Ideal power quality for the source of energy to an electrical load is rep-
resented by the single-phase waveform of voltage shown in Figure 1.1
and the three-phase waveforms of voltage shown in Figure 1.2. The
amplitude, frequency, and any distortion of the waveforms would remain
within prescribed limits.
When the voltages shown in Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2 are applied to
electrical loads, the load currents will have frequency and amplitudes
dependent on the impedance or other characteristics of the load. If the
waveform of the load current is also sinusoidal, the load is termed
“linear.” If the waveform of the load current is distorted, the load is
termed “nonlinear.” The load current with distorted waveform can produce
2 Chapter One
1
THD and other metrics are discussed in Chapter 4.