Mitsubishi Electric: Harmonics and Power Factor

Ideally, the alternating current (AC) supply of a building should be represented by a pure sinusoidal wave form with a frequency of either 50 or 60 Hertz (Hz), depending on where you are in the world. In reality, however, there is never a perfect sine wave because the use in the network of particular components and devices creates harmonic disturbances, which alter it. This is the case of inverters (VSD, Variable Speed Drive) and electronically commutated motors (EC), increasingly used in air conditioning systems on pumps, fans, and compressors, but also of electronically commutated motors (EC), electronic devices such as computers and servers, LED lamps or uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).