Introduction for harmonic filters

Harmonic filters, much like superheroes, protect your power systems. They fight against harmful harmonics that can damage the quality of your power supply. There are two main types of these protectors: active harmonic filters and passive harmonic filters.

Understanding Harmonics and Their Impact on Power Systems

Harmonics in electrical power systems refer to currents or voltages with frequencies that are whole multiples of the fundamental power frequency. For example, if the base frequency is 60 Hz, the second harmonic would be at 120 Hz, and the third at 180 Hz. The electricity supplied to a property may not always be 'clean', and properties can experience harmonics. These harmonics come from non-linear loads, such as electronic devices that draw current in pulses rather than a smooth wave.

This sudden change in current flow injects harmonic currents into your power system, which can cause various power quality issues. These issues can appear as voltage dips and swells, imbalances in voltage or current across electrical phases, and flicker effects caused by repetitive switching of electrical loads. You can notice these problems through signs like flickering lights, overheating transformers, and breakers that trip frequently.

The state of harmonics in your system is represented by Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), a measure of all harmonic effects. It's typically measured up to the 50th multiple of the base frequency of the power system, which is 3kHz or, per some guidelines, the 40th multiple (2.4kHz).

Poor power quality due to harmonics can cause several problems, such as:

Increased power consumption leading to higher installation and utility bills.
Overheating of equipment.
Decreased profitability.
Potential damage to your equipment.
Overheating in neutral conductors and distribution transformers.
Decreased equipment reliability and lifespan.
Increased maintenance requests and downtime.
Higher electricity costs.

These additional frequencies distort the AC sine wave in an electrical circuit and can have serious consequences, including reducing the life of your equipment. Now that we've discussed the effects of harmonics on your power systems let's discuss how harmonic filters can help tackle these issues.

Active Harmonic Filter Basics

Active Harmonic Filters (AHFs) present a modern answer to the issue of harmonic distortions in power systems. They employ cutting-edge technology to detect and study the harmonics in the network. A Central Processing Unit (CPU) then generates a harmonic current that opposes the measured spectrum. It introduces this counteractive current into the system in real time, effectively neutralising all existing harmonics.

We can categorise active filters into three types, each with its unique benefits:

Shunt active filters:

These connect parallel to the load and estimate the harmonic current from the load. They generate a compensating current that neutralises the harmonic component.
Series active filters:

These connect in series to the power system and inject voltage that cancels out the harmonic voltage in the system. This ensures that the load receives a stable voltage.
The primary benefits of active filters lie in their ability to enhance the power factor. They supply both capacitive and inductive reactive power, making them a sophisticated solution for harmonic filtering. Active filters can adapt to changing harmonic influences and filter out multiple harmonic frequencies simultaneously. They employ sophisticated power electronics and control algorithms to dynamically decrease harmonic distortion, injecting compensating currents into the power system. This results in a cleaner, more stable power supply.

Active filters hold several advantages over passive filters:

They can eradicate multiple harmonics simultaneously.
They adapt to changes in the power system frequency and the harmonic spectrum.
They don't create resonance problems in the power system, unlike passive filters.
They actively generate a reverse compensation current that cancels out various harmonic components, thereby improving power quality parameters such as voltage regulation and unbalance.
AHFs, also known as Active Power Filters (APFs), represent a new breed of power electronic equipment. They employ high-speed DSP devices

They actively suppress harmonics and compensate for reactive power. AHFs are adaptive and can respond to a wide range of harmonic frequencies, making them a versatile solution for various power system configurations. Voltage fluctuations and harmonics can trigger grid disturbances and result in overheating and escalated energy bills. An AHF can mitigate these problems, producing a result better than 5% Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) across the load range, improving the power factor and balancing the load on all three phases if required.

With their adaptive nature and superior technology, Active Harmonic Filters provide an effective solution to the challenges posed by harmonic distortions in power systems. We will now look into the basics of Passive Harmonic Filters and their comparison with Active Harmonic Filters.

Passive Harmonic Filter Basics

Passive Harmonic Filters (PHFs) work on the principles of basic electrical circuit theory. They use resistors, inductors, and capacitors to eliminate unwanted frequencies. These components work together in different ways to create a specific filtering effect.

The success of a PHF in removing harmonics heavily depends on its design and position within the power system. Designing involves choosing the right values of resistance, inductance, and capacitance to create the desired filtering effect. For the best harmonic elimination, you should place the filter near the harmonic source.

A PHF's job is to allow certain frequencies and block others. It accomplishes this by using the unique responses of capacitors and inductors to different frequencies. In power systems, PHFs are designed to 'trap' harmonic frequencies, letting only the base frequency pass. This is achieved by making the filter's impedance high at the harmonic frequencies and low at the base frequency.

There are various types of PHFs, each with its unique response to frequency and circuit setups. These include:

Single-tuned filters
Double-tuned filters
High-pass filters
Although PHFs are relatively simple and cost-effective, they don't offer the flexibility of Active Harmonic Filters (AHFs). Changes in system operation can also affect their performance.

PHFs use passive components like reactors and capacitors, which are tuned to a specific frequency to filter out a particular harmonic part and reduce the resulting harmonics. They also compensate for reactive power, improving the power factor. Let's now compare these to their active counterparts.

Efficiency Comparison
Several factors can influence the efficiency of both Active Harmonic Filters (AHFs) and Passive Harmonic Filters (PHFs), including the specific harmonic frequencies in the system, the load conditions, and the design and location of the filters. Both AHFs and PHFs play a crucial role in reducing harmonics in power systems, but they function differently and offer varying levels of efficiency. Let's explore how these differences affect their efficiency.

Here are some key differences between AHFs and PHFs:

AHFs can reduce multiple frequencies simultaneously.
PHFs typically filter individual harmonics.
AHFs can actively adjust to changes in the power grid's harmonic current within a certain range.
PHFs can only reduce the harmonics of fixed orders (3,5,7) within a certain frequency range.
When it comes to safety, AHFs avoid overloading when the active filter limit is reached, unlike PHFs. Moreover, if an AHF becomes incapacitated, it won't affect the motors it optimises power for. This brings us to an important consideration when comparing the two.

Thus, while both AHFs and PHFs play their roles and offer benefits, it's clear that AHFs offer superior efficiency and safety in managing power system distortions.

Cost Comparison

Deciding between Active Harmonic Filters (AHFs) and Passive Harmonic Filters (PHFs) is vital for your business because they come with different cost implications. Let's examine their costs.

At first look, AHFs might seem pricier for a single-drive application. However, their cost-effectiveness grows as the number of non-linear loads increases. This happens because one AHF can correct multiple loads, thus making it a more budget-friendly choice in the long term.

Conversely, PHFs are typically more cost-effective for applications with a large, single, non-linear load. The capital expenditure for one AHF is usually higher than that of a PHF. But, if constant output holds the utmost importance, AHFs are the suggested solution. Despite the higher initial cost, AHFs can significantly reduce energy expenses and ensure consistent output, enhancing your business's net income.

You should consider factors like the specific harmonic frequencies in your system, the load conditions, and the design and placement of the filters when deciding between AHFs and PHFs.

While you must consider the initial investment and future maintenance costs, it's also crucial to take into account the specific needs of your power system when deciding between AHFs and PHFs. Let's shift our focus to the maintenance aspect of these filters.

Maintenance

Both active and passive harmonic filters present unique advantages and disadvantages regarding maintenance. External harmonics can affect Passive Harmonic Filters (PHFs), causing overheating and posing challenges in sizing due to the unpredictability of their impact.

Some modern PHFs, which technicians install on the cold side of wye-connected electrical sub-panels and ground applications, are passive and inductive. These devices do not require any third-party electrical components, eliminating the need for maintenance.

Active Harmonic Filters (AHFs), also known as harmonic correction units (HCUs), offer a more sophisticated solution for managing power system distortions. Unlike passive filters, AHFs can adapt and react to a broad spectrum of harmonic frequencies. This adaptability makes them a flexible solution for various power system configurations.

An active harmonic filter system consists of three main parts:

- A module that detects harmonic
- A control module
- An inverter bridge module

However, maintaining AHFs is not as simple. While AHFs are generally more sophisticated and adaptable than PHFs, their complexity and the incorporation of power electronics might require more frequent maintenance. The specific frequency of this maintenance largely depends on the AHF model and the manufacturer's instructions.

On the other hand, passive filters employ a slower method known as contactor switching. Any changes in the frequency of the passive filters can alter the resonance point, diminishing the harmonic filtering effect.

In terms of operating costs:

Active harmonic filters might incur higher costs due to the necessity for constant monitoring and maintenance. Regular checks and adjustments are crucial to ensure the filter continues to operate optimally as the conditions of the power system change over time.
Installing a Passive Harmonic Filter on each drive can be a less intrusive compensation method as it does not require any ongoing maintenance.
After discussing the maintenance aspects, the next consideration is the adaptability and flexibility of these filters.