Harmonic Distortion Limits According to Standards

Many countries have enacted their standards for harmonic limitations. IEC Standard Series 61000 provides internationally accepted information for the control of harmonics and interharmonics. The IEEE 519 standard provides recommended harmonic indices: depth of notches, total notch area, and distortion of bus voltage distorted by commutation notches, low-voltage systems, individual and total current distortion, and individual and total voltage distortion. The point of common coupling (PCC) could be located at the primary or secondary of the supply transformer, depending whether or not multiple customers are supplied from the transformer. IEEE 519 provides for probabilistic applications of harmonic distortion limits. The IEC Standards 61000-3-2 and 61000-2-2 define limits on harmonic current injected into a public distribution network by nonlinear appliances with an input current less than or equal to 16 A.