Harmonics at the utility industrial interface: a real world example

This paper describes the application of 5th and 7th harmonic filters to an oil gathering and processing facility substation to reduce total harmonic voltage distortion on the local utility system to within IEEE Standard 519 recommended limits. The example oil company´s Beaver Creek Facility consists of producing fields and a gas processing plant, located in central Wyoming near the town of Riverton. Electrical power for the plant and field is provided by a small electric cooperative which serves and meters the facility at 69 kV. In addition, gas powered turbines provide cogenerated power. The use of the six-pulse variable speed drives coupled with the addition of power factor correction capacitors created a situation in which harmonic distortion levels on the local utility´s system exceeded recommended limits. This prompted the installation of 5th and 7th harmonic filters at the Beaver Creek substation