Harmonics Mitigation

Harmonics, multiples of the UK’s 50HZ supply frequency, are caused by non-linear loads, and the increasing use of semi-conductors in electrical equipment. PCs, monitors, lighting, variable speed drives and UPS systems are examples. They are damaging and wasteful, accounting for up to 8% of your electrical bills.

Problems with Harmonics

Harmonic Current leads to overheating of conductors and their insulation, overheated transformers and increased losses. They are also rsponsible for overloaded Neutral conductors, Neutral to Earth potential, overheating and failure of capacitors and, ultimately, premature ageing or failure of equipment. What is more, exporting harmonic distortion to the supply network may be in breach of the regulatory requirements of G5/4-1.

Harmonic Voltage causes linear loads to draw non-linear current (resulting in current distortion effects), torque pulsation in motors, capacitor dielectric failure, insulation breakdown, PC monitor and power supply failure, electronic lighting failure, malfunction of sensitive electronic equipment, nusiance tripping of circuit breakers and, again, excessive distortion in distribution supply networks.

Electrical and facility managers are increasingly wise to the problems of harmonics, and sometimes use active filter to address these. They have drawbacks:

X Waste energy
X Connect in series
X Generate harmonics (through injection)
X Have limited fixed sizes and are not expandable
X Are bulky and expensive

ElectroFlow™ provides:

Broadband harmonics filtering
Elimination of associated wasted energy
Modular system for additional load