Filters

Filters:
There are two types of filters

1. Active filter
2. Passive filter
Passive filters
The simplest of all filters are the ones built using just resistors, capacitors and inductors. Such
filters are called passive filters, as they are constructed from passive components. In
electronics, passive components are those which do not produce energy of their own. They are
only capable of dissipating energy (in the case of resistors) or storing energy (in the case of
inductors and capacitors). Additionally, their output cannot be altered using a power supply.
Passive filters have a few drawbacks. The pass-band gain of passive filters is not zero. This
means that the signal decreases in intensity after passing through a passive filter. When we
cascade passive filters, it causes a loss in the amplitude, a phenomenon termed ‘inter-stage
loading’. Additionally, the load connected to the filter can change its cut-off frequency. These
drawbacks have led to the development of active filters.
Active Filters
Active filters are named so because they are constructed using active components, or
components that add energy to the circuits. Examples of active components include amplifiers,
transistors, oscillators, etc. In filters, the most commonly used active components are
operational amplifiers or op-amps for short. Amplifiers are used in filter circuits to overcome the
drawbacks of passive filters.
Active filters have a 0dB gain for the pass band, meaning that they do not attenuate the signals
in the pass band. They have high input and low output impedances, which correspond to two
advantages - one, the load impedance doesn't affect the performance of the filter, and two,
cascading multiple filters do not cause a decrease in gain, or it mitigates inter-stage loading.
These characteristics make them perfect for cascading. Since they are active devices, they can
be configured to boost the signals in the pass band.
As discussed above, the key difference between active and passive filters is that passive filters
are built from passive components like resistors, capacitors and inductors, whereas active filters
are made from active components like amplifiers in addition to passive components.
1. Active filters require a power source to operate, whereas passive filters don’t.
2. The output of passive filters changes with the load, whereas active filters maintain their
performance irrespective of the load connected.
3. Passive filters cannot apply additional gain to the signal, whereas active filters can. Even
if no gain is applied, active filters maintain the signal amplitude, whereas passive filters
attenuate the entire signal.
Passive Low Pass filters:
Inductive Low-Pass Filter
The inductor’s impedance increases with increasing frequency. This high impedance in series
tends to block high-frequency signals from getting to the load.
Inverted L – type Filter Circuit
This filter circuit employs a Inductor (choke) and a capacitor. The circuit of an inverted L-type
filter circuit.
Since the choke offers high reactance to high frequencies, it blocks them and the capacitor C
short them to ground as it offers negligible reactance to the high frequencies.
Thus only low frequencies below cutoff frequency fc are allowed to pass through without
significant attenuation. In this filter, the output is taken across the capacitor C.
T-type Filter Circuit
Such a filter circuit consists of a second choke connected on the output side in order to improve
the filtering action.
π-type Filter Circuit

Such a filter circuit is shown in fig. below.
Here a second capacitor C2 is added in the circuit to improve the filtering action by grounding
higher frequencies. The inductor or choke is always connected in series between the input and
output and the capacitors are grounded in parallel. The output voltage is taken across the
capacitor C2.
Low pass filters can be designed using different topologies depending on the applications. The
selection of these topologies determines the input and output impedance of filters suitable for
different scenarios. Here are the most common topologies for different impedance scenarios:
References:
https://www.wevolver.com/article/difference-between-active-and-passive-filters
https://electronicspost.com/explain-various-types-of-low-pass-filters/
https://medium.com/@emianalyst/emi-filter-insertion-loss-f4837d3ea051
https://www.rfpage.com/low-pass-high-pass-and-band-pass-filters-simple-explanation/
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/alternating-current/chpt-8/low-pass-filters/#:~:text=A
%20capacitive%20low%2Dpass%20filter%20requires%20an%20extra%20resistance%20in,is%20the
%20better%20design%20choice.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/electronic_circuits/electronic_circuits_filters.htm#
https://www.etechnog.com/2019/06/inductor-capacitor-block-ac-dc.html
Needed VAR = Q = PWatt(tanΦ1 −¿ tan Φ2)

Original pf: Φ1 = cos-1(pf) Improved pf: Φ2 = cos-1(pf)
Pwatt (tanΦ 1−tanΦ 2)
C= 2 πf Vrms 2
P: power of load in “watts”

V: operating voltage of capacitor “rms value”. In single phase it’s a phase-
neutral voltage but, In three-phase system its line-line voltage
Convert Q in “KVAR” and C in “µF”
Q = 2πfCVrms2

Filters

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Filters

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Filters

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Filters:

There are two types of filters

π-type Filter Circuit

Needed VAR = Q = PWatt(tanΦ1 −¿ tan Φ2)

P: power of load in “watts”

You might also like