Power Quality/Harmonic Detection: Harmonic Control in Electric Power Systems for the Telecommunications Industry

The control of harmonics in power systems continues to be a major concern in the telecommunications industry. AC/DC telecommunication conversion equipment has rarely been thought of as playing a major role in the harmonic interaction problem. Yet, in today's sensitive electronics, the input conversion is likely to generate high harmonic currents upstream into the power source. The output side may be expected to handle a non-sinusoidal current and is to do so without causing voltage distortion. This paper reviews the origin and causes of harmonics, the bad effects of harmonics, the acceptable harmonic distortion limits in the telecommunication power system and the best methods for harmonic detection and mitigation