WP#55 - Data Center Power System Harmonics

Overview

WP#55 is a Green Grid white paper dated 15 October 2013. It is the joint work of a large author group that includes Mietek Glinkowski, Lynn Simmons, David Loucks and Ian Bitterlin.

The white paper covers what harmonics are in data centre power systems, what they do and how to balance them against efficiency. It appears to offer a general engineering and operational view of the subject. In data centres dominated by power-electronic loads, harmonics are a genuine design issue for power quality and equipment compatibility.

The paper's most notable caution is that managers often request lower harmonics without knowing what level is appropriate. The abstract states plainly that zero harmonics does not necessarily mean a better operating environment. Demanding an overly tight harmonic figure in a specification can therefore be the wrong target in terms of cost and efficiency. Limits: the full text was not read, so harmonic limits, measurement methods and filter solutions are absent from this record. IEEE 519 and IEC 61000-3-12 are recorded as related standards. For a designer its value lies in steering harmonic targets toward limits set at the point of common coupling.

Key points

1. White paper dated 15 October 2013.
2. Managers often request lower harmonics without knowing appropriate values.
3. Zero harmonics does not necessarily mean a better operating environment.
4. Explains how to balance harmonics with efficiency.
5. Related standards: IEEE 519 and IEC 61000-3-12.

Using it in design

• Compare THDi and THDv against IEEE 519 limits at the PCC rather than demanding near-zero values.
• Flag generator and UPS compatibility when high-harmonic loads are on the generator.
• Justify the harmonic target in the specification together with efficiency and cost.
• Consult the paper itself and the related standards for exact limits and filter selection.

Who should read it

Engineers designing data centre power systems and managers writing harmonic specifications.

Related standards

• IEEE 519
• IEC 61000-3-12

Publication details

Authors

Mietek Glinkowski; Lynn Simmons; David Loucks; Dusty Becker; Ian Bitterlin; Bill Campbell; Harry Handlin; Pamela Lembke; Tom Earp; Darrin LeRoy; Andrew Lynch; Stephen McCluer; Jim Spitaels

Publisher

The Green Grid

Year

2013

Document number

WP 55

Document language

English

Source type

Industry body

Access

Citation only

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation