Harmonic currents generated by personal computers and their effects on the distribution system neutral current

Author

Aintablian, H.O. ; Hill, H.W., Jr.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Ohio Univ., Athens, OH, USA

fYear

1993

fDate

2-8 Oct 1993

Firstpage

1483

Abstract

The switching mode power supplies used in personal computers are major sources of harmonic currents. Measured and calculated waveforms and harmonic levels of input currents of various types of personal computers are presented. Harmonics of odd order are present in the input currents of personal computers. The magnitudes of the harmonic currents up to the eleventh harmonic are significant. The harmonic currents of two or more simultaneous PC loads of the same type add in phase. The third, the fifth, and the seventh order harmonics in different types of personal computers strongly reinforce one another. Large third-harmonic currents (up to 87% of the fundamental) are present in all kinds of computers. These currents generate neutral currents that are as high as 1.7 times the life current. Recommendations are made on preventing potential problems

Keywords

distribution networks; load (electric); microcomputers; power supplies to apparatus; power system harmonics; switched mode power supplies; distribution system neutral current; harmonic currents; life current; loads; personal computers; power systems; switching mode power supplies; waveforms; Circuits; Diodes; Harmonic analysis; Microcomputers; Power engineering computing; Power generation; Power supplies; Power system harmonics; Rectifiers; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting, 1993., Conference Record of the 1993 IEEE

Conference_Location

Toronto, Ont.

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1462-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IAS.1993.299203

Filename

299203