Power Conditioning by Shunt Active Filter
Power Conditioning by Shunt Active Filter
Power Conditioning by Shunt Active Filter
Abstract
In modern distribution systems the proliferation of non-linear loads results in a deterioration of the quality of voltage waveforms
at the point of common coupling (PCC) of various consumers. Therefore, power-conditioning equipment is becoming more
important for electric utilities and their customers. With the rapid development of semiconductor devices in power and control
circuits, a new generation of equipment for power quality, the active power filters, has been developed. Their advantages over
conventional means are more flexibility and very fast control response. The control of an active filter comprises two major parts:
the reference current computation and the current control. There are two fundamental methods of generating the reference
current: (i) frequencydomain methods, based on the Fourier analysis and (ii) time-domain analyze, based on the theory of
instantaneous imaginary power in the three-phase circuits, often called p-q theory.
Keywords: Active Filters, PWM-VSI, Point of common coupling (PCC), Current Reference, Harmonic compensation,
and IEEE-519 etc.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I. INTRODUCTION
In view of the wide spread use of harmonics-sensitive electronic equipment, power conditioning equipment is becoming more
important for both electric utilities and their customers. With rapid development of power semiconductor devices in power and
control circuits, a new generation of equipments that help maintaining a good level of power quality, namely active power filters,
has been developed. Theirs advantages over conventional means are more flexibility and very fast control response. This paper
aim to present the actual status of active power filters based on state of the art power electronics technology and also their future
prospects and directions.
The wide use of power devices (based on semi-conductor switches) in power electronic appliances (diode and thyristor
rectifiers, electronic starters, UPS and HVDC systems, arc furnaces, etc) induces the appearance of the dangerous
phenomenon of harmonic currents flow in the electrical feeder networks, producing distortions in the current/voltage waveforms.
As a result, harmful consequences occur: equipment overheating, malfunction of solid-state material, interferences with
telecommunication systems, etc... Damping harmonics devices must be investigated when the distortion rate exceeds the
thresholds fixed by the ICE 61000 and IEEE 519 standards.
The common application of active filtering combines the tasks of harmonic filtering and power factor compensation. Apart
from this complex comprehensive active filters have been proposed in the context of total power quality management concept.
Some of the powers filtering applications are categorized as custom power devices.
Advantages of active filters over conventional mean of compensation such as passive filters, special transformer connections and
specially designed transformers are mainly:
Flexibility in defining and implementing the functions of the filter, a very fast control response, and no additional problems
caused by possible resonant frequencies or network configuration.
105
D. Control Strategy
The control strategies of active filters are mainly based on the Fourier analysis and instantaneous reactive power theory.
A shunt active filter is designed to be connected in parallel with the load. It detects the harmonic current of load and injects
into the system a compensating current, identical with the load harmonic current but in opposite phase. Therefore, the net current
drawn from the distribution network at the point of coupling of filter and the load will be a sinusoidal current of only
fundamental frequency. Fig.1 shows the principle of operation and the connection scheme of a shunt active filter (made of a
static power converter).
106
Load current detection and supply current detection are recommended for shunt active filters working locally, for individual
non-linear high-power consumers. Voltage detection is suggested for: (a) shunt active filters functioning in complex equipments,
so called uniform power quality conditioner, whose destination is mostly to equip the distribution substations; (b) shunt active
filters located in the distribution system and supported by utilities. The series active filters are mostly controlled on the basis of
supply current detection.
107
Fig. 4: waveforms of phase-A (a) distorted load current (b) compensating current by filter (c) source current after compensation
Fig. 5: harmonics spectrum of phase-A (a) distorted load current (b) compensating current by filter (c) source current after compensation
Fig. 6: Wave Forms of (a) Distorted Load Current in Phase-A and (b) THD of Load Current (28.66%)
108
Fig. 7: Wave Forms of (a) Compensated Source Current in Phase-a, and (b) THD of Source Current (2.57%)
Fig. 8: Wave Form of the Voltage across Capacitor Connected on D.C. Side of Inverter
VII. CONCLUSIONS
Proliferation of the power electronic equipments leads to an increasing harmonic contamination in power transmission or
distribution systems. Many researchers from the field of the power systems and automation have searched for different
approaches to solve the problem. One way was open by introducing the harmonic compensation by using active filters.
Simulation results were obtained before and after the use of the active filtering. From the analysis of the experimental data, in
case of a nonlinear load of rectifier type, one may observe that there are different levels of current distortion produced depending
on the load and its control mode, with high values of the total current harmonic distortion and low power factor.
Using the active filter, the experimental data show that the total harmonic distortion of current (THDi) decreases to 1%-4%, and
the power factor rises up to 0.98-1. A 30% decrease of the r.m.s. value of the current was also recorded.
REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]
Akagi, H., Modern active filters and traditional passive filters; Bulletin of The Polish Academy of Sciences Technical Sciences; Vol. 54, No. 3, pp. 255269; 2006.
Akagi, H., New trends in active filters for improving power quality, in Proc. of the International Conference on Power Electronics, Drives and Energy
Systems for Industrial Growth, 1996,Vol. 1, Issue 8-11, Jan. 1996, pp. 417 - 425.
Gligor, A., Contribuii privind sistemele avansate de conducere i optimizare a proceselor energetice n instalaiile electrice la consumatori, PhD Thesis,
Universitatea Tehnic Cluj-Napoca, 2007.
109
110