The Quality of A.C. Supply

With increasing non-linear loads in the utilization field associated with the advent of solid-state control equipment for industrial drives, lighting equipment, rectifier applications, arc-furnaces, etc, the harmonic content of the general supply system is expected to increase, thus affecting the quality of A.C. supply. Limitation of harmonic voltages in the supply could impose restrictions on the design of power equipment and increase the costs of installations which may require filtering. A review of the effects on consumer equipment in the presence of harmonics and of some of the important system parameters is made. These could provide a guide to operating conditions which would represent a reasonable technical and economic compromise.