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CHAPTER 6
DETUNED CAPACITORS FOR POWER QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT A CASE STUDY

6.1

INTRODUCTION
Reduction of harmonic contents in loads can be done with existing

load equipment. An overexcited transformer can be brought back into


normal operation by lowering the applied voltage to correct range. PWM
drives that charge the dc bus capacitor directly from the line without any
intentional impedance are exception to this problem. Adding a line reactor
or transformer in series will significantly reduce harmonics as well as
provide

transient

protection

benefits.

Phase

shifting

transformer

connections can benefit loads by significantly reducing the fifth and


seventh harmonics. Delta connected transformers can block the flow of
zero sequence harmonics from the line. Automatic power factor correction
system (APFC) is based on fixed and predefined amount of KVAR. However,
the reactive power consumes current capability of the harmonic filter and
hence it is not main priority of APFC.
This chapter presents a practical example of improving the
power factor of the system by an appropriate design of detuned capacitor
filters. The advantage of using detuned capacitors as harmonic filters over
the use of plain capacitors for power factor correction is presented. The
different problems originated by harmonics and how filters prevent them
are reviewed, and a comparison between them is also presented.

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6.2

NEED FOR DETUNING CAPACITORS


Non-linear loads in industry typically contain a high fifth harmonic.

At the fifth harmonic, the tuned filter has a better behavior than the detuned
filter. However, for proper operation, the capacitor bank must be rated to a
higher voltage than the voltage level required for detuned filters. Because
tuned filters absorb more harmonics, they also carry higher harmonic currents
than the detuned filters. These features make tuned filters more expensive as
mentioned by Francisco Ferrandis et al (2003).
Tuned as well as detuned filters either absorb or reject harmonic
distortion and avoid harmonic currents to flow to other equipment or the rest
of the power system. A tuned filter is tuned to a frequency slightly below the
filtered harmonic. On the other hand, a detuned filter is tuned to a frequency
far below the filtered harmonic.
6.3

EFFECTS OF DETUNING CAPACITORS


Bridgeman et al (1998) and Gagaoudakis et al (1998) installed plain

capacitors on a system with a high level of harmonics, it needs to be replaced


with those capacitors to detuned capacitor bank (capacitors and reactors). The
first effect of the reactors is to suppress the risk of resonance with the
harmonics generated by the loads and in turn to protect the capacitors. If
suppressing is not done, the resonance would lead to an over sizing of active
filter connected in the circuit.
Secondly, although the detuned bank is not a passive filter, it will
have some filtering effect and harmonic distortion will be lower than if no
capacitor was installed.

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Calculating the minimum RMS current of the active filter to install


Irms (A) = 0.013(THDi initial THDi targeted) I1

(6.1)

Based on the appropriate voltage and frequency, active filter with


the RMS current directly superior to the minimum Irms can be used.
Besides the filtering functionality, reactive power compensation is
also possible with the active filter. Compared to traditional capacitor banks,
the reactive compensation of the power quality filter is continuous, fast and
smooth (no transients at switching). The compensation can be either
capacitive or inductive, depending on the load type.
6.4

METHODS

OF

MODIFYING

SYSTEM

FREQUENCY

RESPONSE
There are number of methods to modify adverse system
responses to harmonics in Dugan et al (2003).
-

Add a shunt filter. This shunt filter eliminates a


troublesome harmonic current off the system, but it
completely changes the system response.

Add a reactor to detune the system. Harmful resonances


generally occur between the system inductance and shunt
power factor correction capacitors. One method is to add a
reactor in series with a capacitor to move the system
resonance without actually tuning the capacitor to create a
filter. Other way is to add reactance in the line.

Changing the capacitor size is one of least expensive


options for both utilities and industrial consumers.

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Move a capacitor to a point on the system with different


short circuit impedance or higher losses. New bank causes
telephone interference for utilities, there by moving the
bank to another branch of the feeder may very well resolve
the problem. This is not an option for many of industrial
users because the capacitor cannot be moved far enough to
make a difference.

Remove the capacitor and simply accept the higher losses,


lower voltage, and power factor penalty. If technically
feasible, this is occasionally the best economic choice.

6.5

DESIGN

OF

DETUNED

CAPACITORS

FOR

PQ

IMPROVEMENT
The procedure used to convert an existing power factor correction
capacitor into a harmonic filter is shown in Figure 6.1. It is being utilized
for designing suitable detuned capacitor. Power factor correction capacitors
may produce harmonic resonance and magnify utility capacitor switching
transients. Therefore it is desirable to implement one or more capacitor
banks in a facility as a harmonic filter. System parameters are described as
single tuned notch filter connected to 480 V bus. The load is about
1200 KVA, power factor is 0.75 lagging. Current produced by load is of 30%
harmonics in the fundamental current. Maximum harmonics are 25% of fifth
harmonic current. It is supplied through transformer 1500 KVA with 6%
impedance.

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Figure 6.1 Design procedure of detuned capacitors for PQ improvement


6.6

SIMULATION RESULTS
This section presents the results of installing detuned filters in an

industrial plant with a significant amount of non-linear loads. For studying the
effect of capacitor on harmonic resonance, various sizes of capacitor with
varied load condition are simulated by MATLAB software.

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The source voltage, current at the PCC and the current at load bus
are analyzed using waveforms. The harmonic distortion in the voltage and
current waveforms are compared for the cases of compensation. From the
figure, the cases to be considered are:
Case 1: With fixed capacitor compensation
The magnitude of harmonic currents in an individual non-linear
load depends greatly on the total effective input reactance, which is comprised
of the source reactance plus added line reactance. In the case of non-linear
load, we can predict the resultant input current harmonic spectrum based on
the input reactance. The value of source reactance and its harmonic content
are inversely proportional. The voltage and current harmonic waveforms with

Voltage (V), Current (A) waveforms of


source, bus 1 and bus 2

fixed capacitor compensation are presented.

Time in seconds

Figure 6.2

Voltage and current waveforms with fixed capacitor


compensation

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Figure 6.3 THD of current at PCC (With fixed capacitor compensation)


Case 2: Compensation with detuned capacitor
To avoid these resonances, a reactor is connected in series with the
capacitor, in such a manner that the fundamental reactive power is

Voltage (V), Current (A) waveforms of


source, bus 1 and bus 2

compensated but the harmonics are not amplified.

Time in seconds

Figure 6.4

Voltage and current waveforms with detuned capacitor


compensation

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The fifth order voltage and current harmonics are 4.1% and 33.3%.
The detuned capacitor bank of 75 KVAR, 525 V with 7% reactor tuned for 5th
order which has given output of 53.76 KVAR @ 415 V.

Figure 6.5 THD of current at PCC (With detuned capacitor compensation)


Table 6.1 Comparison of total harmonic distortions in different
compensation
Total harmonic distortion (THD) in %
Without

With fixed

Detuned

capacitor

capacitor

capacitor

Source voltage

17.05

15.63

1.54

Current at PCC

31.82

12.64

8.91

Current at load bus

33.82

10.15

8.96

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6.7

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS INDUSTRIAL CASE STUDY


This section presents the results of installing detuned filters in an

industrial plant with a significant amount of non-linear loads. The detuned


capacitor filters installed in Adwaith Textiles Private Limited at Coimbatore,
India. The filters where connected on the point of common coupling (PCC).
The capacity of plant is 1750 KVA / 1100 KW. There are three transformers
with the capacity of 750 KVA, 1000 KVA and 1600 KVA supplying energy
to linear and nonlinear loads.
It is connected with 2 nos. of 25 KVAR fixed capacitors. By replacing the
fixed capacitors by detuned capacitor bank of 75 KVAR, 525 V with 7 %
reactors, the reactors will give an output of 50 KVAR @ 415 V. Hence there
will be a definite reduction in the KW, since the harmonic currents are
reduced and the compensation will be adequate.
Parameters of industrial plant are listed below.
Capacity of the industry

: 24,000 spindles.

Transformer capacity

: 1) 1000 KVA with impedance : 5.49%


2) 750 KVA with impedance : 4.90%
3) 1600 KVA with impedance : 5.99%

Total sanctioned demand load

: 1750 KVA / 1100 KW

Total utilized load 60% @ 40%


power cut

: 1064.2 KVA

Average power factor

: 0.75

Type of loading

: Balanced Load

Total installed load of machines

: 3265 KW

Normal loads

: 2000 KW

Non linear loads (with drives)

: 525 KW

Unutilized loads

: 740 KW

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Non linear loads are listed below.


Ring spinning frames

: 20 Nos.

Auto-coner frames

: 06 Nos.

Carding machines

: 23 Nos. (with drives)

Simplex frames

: 08 Nos.

Linear loads are listed below.


Draw frames

04 Nos. (without drives)

Comber frames

15 Nos.

Compressor

03 Nos.

Blow room machines

01 No. (without drives)

Humidification plant

01 No.

HT Panel meter readings


Voltage harmonics THD %
R Phase = 6 % , Y Phase = 6 % , B Phase = 5 %
Current harmonics THD %
R Phase = 14 %, Y Phase = 14 % , B Phase = 13 %
At transformer no : 1
1000 kVA at secondary side of the meter at the main PCC Panel.
Current harmonics :
3 rd [Peak]

5 th [Peak]

7 th [Peak]

18.8

18.8

18.7

17.6

17.3

17.4

21.3

21.4

17.2

PHASE

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Voltage harmonics :
3rd [Peak]

5th [Peak]

7th [Peak]

RY

3.1 @ 6.2 V

3.2 @ 12 V

3.2 @ 4.6 V

YB

3.1 @ 1.1 V

3.0 @ 11.4 V

3.1 @ 5.6 V

BR

3.2 @ 0.8 V

3.3 @ 12.5 V

3.3 @ 5.5 V

PHASE

Comments : Heavy duty capacitors would be fine. 525 V to be suitably


derated.
Fixed Capacitor Bank + 7 % Reactor connected in series can be erected at the
power house itself.
At transformer no : 2
750 kVA reading could not be taken because of No Load.
At transformer no : 3
1600 kVA at secondary side of the meter at the main PCC Panel.
Current harmonics :
PHASE

3 rd [Peak]

5th [ Peak ]

7 th [ Peak ]

9.8

10.0

10.4

9.7

10.4

10.9

10.3

10.4

10.4

Voltage harmonics :
PHASE

3 rd [Peak]

5 th [Peak]

7 th [Peak]

RY

2.4 @ 0.6 V

2.3 @ 8.9 V

2.5 @ 4.0 V

YB

2.4 @ 0.8 V

2.4 @ 9.4 V

2.3 @ 3.6 V

BR

2.4 @ 0.7 V

2.5 @ 9.4 V

2.4 @ 3.4 V

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It is connected with 2 nos. of 25 KVAR fixed capacitors. By


replacing the fixed capacitors by detuned capacitor bank of 75 KVAR, 525 V
with 7 % reactors, the reactors will give an output of 50 KVAR @ 415 V.
Hence there will be a definite reduction in the KW, since the harmonic
currents are reduced and the compensation will be adequate.
Based on the industrial load, the measurements in installing the
filters before and after compensation are presented together with waveforms.
The comparison is made in Table 6.2.

Equivalent line voltage in volts

Figure 6.6 THD of three phase voltage waveform

Harmonic order

Figure 6.7 Spectrum of 5th order voltage harmonics values

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Harmonic order

Figure 6.8 Spectrum of 5th order current harmonics values

Time in seconds

Figure 6.9 voltage and current waveforms after detuned compensation

Harmonic order

Figure 6.10 Harmonic spectrum after detuned compensation

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Power factor is calculated based on the capacitor rating with respect


to reactive power multiplier factors. The power factor before and after
compensation was 0.75 and 0.99. The voltage THD satisfies IEEE limit and
the appropriate reduction in current THD from 57.5 to 48.8. With effect of
detuning capacitors, there is a significant reduction in power consumed about
20.16%.
6.7.1

Comparison of Results

Table 6.2 Industrial system parameters of fixed and detuned capacitors

System parameters
Total RMS current demand

With detuned
With detuned
capacitor bank [off] capacitor bank [on]
177 Amps

142 Amps

Average kW required

94.5 kW

94.5 kW

Average kVA required

126 kVA

101 kVA

Average power factor

0.75

0.93

th

10.5

4.27

th

5 order current harmonics

53.2

40.1

Voltage THD

18.2

4.7

Current THD

57.5

48.8

5 order voltage harmonics

Table 6.3 Reduction in industrial system parameters


Reduction in system parameters
35 amps

19.77%

25 kVA

19.84%

By implementing the detuned capacitor banks in the above system,


there is a reduction in average current consumption from 172 A to 142 A.
Similarly the average kVA required is reduced from 126 kVA to 101 kVA.

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The reduction in system parameters shows potential improvement in terms of


efficiency as well as economical savings.
6.8

CONCLUSION
This chapter presented an industrial case study. The plant is having

a significant number of non linear loads. The installation of detuned filters


under harmonic conditions shows improvement in power factor. It establishes
a practical and economical way to recover p.f. It is found that the voltage
THD satisfies IEEE limit but the current THD reduces from 57.5 to 48.8.
With effect of detuning capacitors, there is a significant reduction in kVA
required about 19.84%. The power factor was increased from 75% to 99%
after installing detuned filters.

The individual THD increases as TDD

decreases. The overall conclusion is that detuned filter ensures less power
requirement, but the effect in harmonic reduction is not so significant.

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