A unified theory of uncontrolled rectifiers, discharge lamps and arc furnaces. I. An analytical approach for normalized harmonic emission calculations

Under certain assumptions, similar models can be applied for rectifiers and devices with electric arc characteristic. The analysis considers single and three-phase uncontrolled rectifiers with continuous and discontinuous evolution of the AC current. It leads to four possible situations which fit with the harmonic behaviour of discharge lamps, arc furnaces and rectifiers with capacitive DC smoothing. A very useful set of compact and powerful analytical expressions for different magnitudes as well as for the harmonics currents are derived. It offers a direct method of selecting different operating points with their corresponding harmonic emissions. Normalized diagrams and tables of these magnitudes are depicted in a friendly way. Over these diagrams, harmonic emission limits of standard IEC 1000-3-2 and IEC 1000-3-4 are specified for Class C and Class D single-phase equipment and for three-phase equipment. Passive solutions applied to the aforementioned rectifiers to comply IEC 1000-3-2 and 1000-3-4 are obtained in a direct and normalized way.