A Review

of
ACTIVE POWER FILTERS
2001. 02. 09

Prepared by

PARK KI-WON
R&D Center , POSCON

1. Issues on Harmonics
Nature of Harmonics
Generalized power theory
Measurement / Metering
Impacts of Harmonics
Parallel / Series Resonance, RMS / Peak Value Increase
Source of Harmonics
Voltage source vs.Current source
Static vs. Dynamic
Standards on Harmonics: Harmonic Limits
Utility companies / Customers / Manufacturers
IEC / IEEE
Harmonics Reduction/Elimination
2

2. Source of Harmonics
Non-linear magnetization of a transformer
Very small compared to rated current
[Wb]

(t )

i (t )

t[sec]

i[A]

Power electronics based equipment

UPS, PC, Welder, Printer
Rectifier, Variable Speed Drive
Due to discontinuous current flows

Voltage Source Type Harmonic

Diode rectifiers with capacitive filtering

iline (t )
AC
Supply

Load
C

Current Source Type Harmonic

Thyristor converters with inductive filtering

L
iline (t )
AC
Supply

Load

3. Standards/Guides on Harmonic Limits

IEC 1000-3-2( International Electrotechnical Commission )
Harmonic current emission limits for individual equipments
Small equipments < 16A
European standard (CELENEC)
IEC 1000-3-4
Harmonic current limits of overall installation
Medium to large installations >16A
Related to line stiffness (SCC)
IEEE 519-1992
Limits at PCC (Interfacing)
Harmonic voltage limits for utility company
Harmonic current limit for customers(<69kV)
Related to line stiffness

4. How Harmonic Reduction/Elimination?

Line-Friendly Load
Multi-pulsed system : Series and/or parallel
Active current shaping( PFC converter )
Passive Filters
Simple, low cost, robust
Sensitive to environments: line impedance, load change, ageing of component
Subject to parallel/series resonance
Easily overloadable : switch off or be damaged, plant modification
Over Compensation at which have already a good power factor
Active Filters

5. Passive Filters
Series vs. Shunt
Shunt Tuned Filter
High voltage: 50 < Q < 150
Low voltage: 10 < Q < 50
Z F ( )

1
C

L
C

ZF

Q=

1
R

L
C

1
LC

Damped High-Pass Filter (2nd order)

Z F ( )

1
C

R

L

Rb

ZF

Rb

1
LC

Rb C

Typical Passive Filter System

Power
system

IS I1

I5

I7

I11

Ih

IL
Non-linear
load

5th
tuned
filter

7th
tuned
filter

11th
tuned
filter

10

High-pass
filter

6. Parallel Resonance

Due to load current harmonic

Voltage distortion will be very high
Overvoltage

AC
Supply

Z parallel

ih

1
jL
jC
=
=
( when 2 LC = 1)
2
1
1 LC
jL +
jC
jL

Z parallel

11

ih

Parallel Resonance with Passive Filter

LS
Z SF = Z S || Z F

L
( LS || L)

Z SF

ZS

1
C
ZF

I Lh

I Fh

R
1
( LS + L)C
I Sh

Qp

1
LS C

1
LC

1
( LS || L)C

I Lh
I Sh
I Lh

1
( L S + L)C

1
R + RS

1
2

LS C
L
LS + L

LS + L
C

1 (0dB)

Parallel resonance

12

Tuned frequency

Possible Cause of Parallel Resonance

Detuning Filter : shift of resonance frequency
Capacitance change due to fuse blow
C and L may be damaged
Temperature
Line structure change
Typical Design Practice
Tuned to slightly lower harmonic frequency (3~10%)
Effect of Ls (SCC)
High Ls : good for avoiding parallel resonance
Higher Ls : Higher Q for parallel resonance

13

7. Series Resonance

Due to line voltage harmonics

Excessive harmonic current flow
Overload, Breakdown

Distorted
Supply
Z series

vh

vh

Z series = jL +

1
1
1

)
= j L
0 ( when L =
C
C
jC

14

ih

Series Resonance Due to Neighborhood Harmonic Source

AC
Supply
Z TR1

PCC

Plant # 1

Plant # 2
ih

Z TR 2

...
Filter

15

Equivalent Circuits Transforms

Z TR 2

Ih

Z TR1

ZF

IL

ZF

IL

PCC
Z TR1

Z TR 2

ZS
VSh

VSh = I h ZTR1

Series Resonance
will be occurred

16

8. Troubles due to Harmonic Pollutions

Parallel and Series Resonance will occured
Increase of RMS and Peak Value
Excessive Neutral Currents

Heating of the electrical equipment

Trip of circuit breaker
Fuse blown
Capacitor damage
kWh fault
Loss of motor winding and iron
Perturbing torques on the motor shaft
Damage of Sensitive electronic equipment
Malfunction of PLL circuit
Communication interference

17

9. Motivations for taking action against Harmonics

Harmonics lead to premature ageing of the electrical Installation

Excessive amount of harmonics must eliminate

for economic reasons

The utility company impose penalties on users

Harmonic pollution may disturb equipment in other plants

THD limitation of voltage / current present at PCC
IEC 1000-3-6 : Assessment of emission limits for disturbing loads
in MV and HV power systems

18

10. Function of APFs

Main function
Compensate current and voltage harmonic.
Additional functions
Current-related compensation
Reactive power, current unbalance, neutral current
Using shunt-APF for the most part
Voltage-related compensation
Voltage unbalance, flicker, spikes, regulation
Using series-APF for the most part

19

13. Topology based classification

vF

Nonlinear
Load

Nonlinear
Load

iF
Shunt Active Filter

Seies Active Filter

Shunt APF stand-alone

Series APF stand-alone

Eliminate current harmonics

Eliminate voltage harmonics

Reactive power compensation

Regulate and balance the terminal voltage

Balancing unbalanced current

Damp out harmonic propagation

22