The Harmonic Problem...

Harmonic distortion and related problems in electrical power systems are becoming more and more prevalent in electrical distribution systems!!

Problems created by harmonics

• Excessive heating and failure of capacitors, capacitor fuses, transformers, motors, fluorescent lighting ballasts, etc.
• Nuisance tripping of circuit breaker or blown fuses
• Presence of the third harmonic & multiples of the 3rd harmonic in neutral grounding systems may require the derating of neutral conductors
• Noise from harmonics that lead to erroneous operation of control system components
• Damage to sensitive electronic equipment
• Electronic communications interference

Any device with non-linear operating characteristics can produce harmonics
in your power system. If you are currently using equipment that can cause harmonics or have experienced harmonic related problems, capacitor reactor or filter bank equipment may be the solution.

The Harmonic Solution...

Capacitor, de-tuned capacitor and filter bank products from ABB Inc.!!

Your ABB Solution to harmonics
ABB is the world's largest manufacturer of dry type low voltage capacitors and we utilize this experience in recommend ing three options to solve the problems associated with applying capacitors to systems having harmonic distortion:

1. Apply the correct amount of capacitance (kvar) to the network to avoid resonance with the source. This may be difficult, especially in automatic systems as the capacitance is always changing. This solution usually means connecting less capacitance to the system than is actually needed for optimum power factor correction.
2. Install reactors in series with capacitors to lower the resonance below critical order harmonics; i.e., 5th, 7th, 11th & 13th. This design tunes the resonant frequency of the system well below the 5th harmonic and is called a detuned filter bank. This solution allows the capacitors to operate in a harmonic environment.
3. Filters are recommended if a problem exists with harmonic distortion before the application of power factor correction, or if the harmonic distortion is above the limits recommended in IEEE 519, "Guide for Harmonic Control and Reactive Compensation of Static
Power Converters". (The recommend ed limits for voltage distortion in IEEE 519 are presently 5% for general applications.) Tuned filters sized to reduce the harmonic distortion at critical frequencies have the benefits of correcting the power factor and improving the network power quality.

With our knowledge of harmonics, ABB provides a complete range of products from in dividual capacitors, fixed banks and automatic banks, to power filter systems. All these products utilize dry type low voltage ABB power factor correction capacitor elements which are self-healing for internal faults.

To maintain stringent quality control standards, most control components found in ABB automatic, reactor and filter capacitor bank products are also ABB products. These products include contactors, circuit breakers, control relays, disconnect switches, power factor relays and pushbutton devices.

ABB Capacitor features & services
Every ABB low voltage capacitor product in corporates our unique dry type design. Therefore, environmental and personnel concerns associated with leakage or flammability of conventional oil-filled units are eliminated.
Other features include:

• Patented Sequential Protection System includes dry, self-healing design; internally protected elements;
  and dry, non-flammable vermiculite filler
  
• Individual units, fi xed andautomatic capacitor bank designs, 208-600V
  
• Automatic and fi xed tuned or detuned capacitor banks
  
• On-site power factor and harmonic studies
  
• U.L. Listed and CSA approved