Using Active Filter for Harmonic Mitigation in Power

Grid of Industry Plant

Tomáš Hrubý, Stanislav Kocman, Pavel Pečínka

Department of Electrical Engineering
VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava
Ostrava, Czech Republic
tomas.hruby.st1@vsb.cz, stanislav.kocman@vsb.cz, pavel.pecinka.st@vsb.cz

Abstract – This paper describes one way of technical solutions
which are used to reduce harmonics generated by variable speed
drives (VSD). AC VSD belongs to their very significant sources
with negative influences on the quality of electrical energy at the
point of their connection to the network. The paper presents the
calculation and design of required filter performance and also
the measured results of applied active filter connected to power
grid of industry plant.
Keywords – active filter; disturbance; frequency converter;
overall harmonic compesation; selective harmonic compensation;
simulation; variable speed drive
I. INTRODUCTION
There are several production lines in an industrial plant.
Each of them has a large number of variable speed drives
(VSD). This also means a number of frequency converters of
small and medium power outputs in the range of 0.37 kW to
45 kW. In our case, a part of industrial network is supplied
from one transformer 35000V/400V, 1600 kVA from public
high- voltage distribution network of 35000 V. Supply voltage
system in the industrial plant is TN-C 400V AC 50 Hz. There
are five production lines connected into this network, with a
total installed converter output of 1125 kW. For this network,
an experimental measurement has been carried out using a
Fluke three-phase analyzer of electrical networks. The
experimental measurement in this power grid showed that
during the production process not all the production lines work
at the same time and VSD are not always loaded by 100% of
their nominal power. This fact makes it difficult to analyze
measured values, calculation, simulation and design of active
filter performance which is needed. Measurement also showed
that during certain production states the limit value of THDu
was exceeded in the long term, which means above 8% as
stated in the standard [4].
This fact often caused the faults of sensitive electronic
devices and inaccurate measurement during the regular
checks. Due to the frequent faults of electronics devices and
the fact that a number of production lines is always changing,
which means various drive loads, the investor decided for a
dynamic filtration of harmonics. This resulted in the
implementation of active filter into the power grid.
The aim is to achieve the value of voltage total harmonic
distortion THDu lower than 5%, which corresponds to Class 1
according to the electromagnetic environment [4].
II. SIMULATION OF SELECTED PART OF INDUSTRIAL GRID
To determine the filtration performance of the filter, a
simulation of real state was performed using Harmonic
Calculation Software MCT 31 by the producer of the filter [9]
- [10]. The above mentioned values of supply transformer and
individual frequency converters with a basic filtration of
harmonics were introduced into the program; each converter
included a DC choke [13]. As it has been mentioned in chapter
I., not all drives work at the same time and they are not always
loaded by 100% of their nominal output. A measurement
performed during one working shift showed an average
operating load of all VSD oscillating around 50% of the
nominal output power. For this reason, the simulation was
carried out with the 50% load of all drives. The result was the
total harmonic distortion of voltage THDu = 6.1% on the
secondary side of transformer, see Fig. 1.
Fig. 1 Evaluated point of simulation in program MCT 31
Fig. 2. shows the spectrum of harmonic currents and
voltages. In the spectrum of voltages harmonic limits are
marked for the industrial network Class 1, as stated by the
standard [4]. As it can be seen, the value of 5th harmonic limit
is exceeded. The value of THDu is also exceeded. These limits
would comply with Class 2.
In Tab. I, there are quantified values of harmonic currents
up to 25th order, which are needed for designing the required
active filter.

This work was supported by the SGS FEI, VŠB-TU Ostrava under Grant
No. SP 2015/151.

978-1-4673-6788-2/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE


Fig. 2 Spectrum of harmonic current and voltage at the point PCC –
simulation, 50% load, VSD with DC choke and without active filter
TABLE I. HARMONIC CURRENTS AT COMMNON BUS BAR
filter which ensures that switching peaks of IGBT and DC
component from DC link never get into the network.
There are several possibilities of the use of parallel active
filters. They differ both in the placement of the filter into the
structure and in the used control algorithm. The two basic
functions of filters are harmonic currents filtering and
compensation of reactive current [6]. These tasks can be
performed by a filter simultaneously.
Maximum value of injected current is given by formula:

22
I filter I hQ I
Harmonic  , 
1 5 7 11 13 17 19 23 25
order
Harmonic where Ih is harmonic current and
current (%) 100 30 17.5 6 4 3.3 2.6 2.2 1.7 is reactive current.
Harmonic 844 258 147 50 33 27 21 18.2 14.4 IQ
current (A)
Active filter in the compensation mode of reactive power
can provide a very fast, precise and continuous compensation.
Injected reactive current of the filter is given by formula:
III. PROPERTIES OF CONSIDERED ACTIVE FILTER
I filter  I Q2 
Active power filters (APFs) are solutions used for
compensation of harmonic currents from nonlinear loads. The
APFs can be connected either as a local harmonic-mitigation In the mode of harmonic compensation, active filter can
solution, next to a given nonlinear load, or as a global solution operate in two basics modes [8]:
at the point of the common coupling (PCC) as seen in Fig. 3.  Selective Harmonic Compensation (SHC)
 Overall Harmonic Compensation (OHC)
In SHC mode, filter removes only selected harmonic
components from 5th to 25th, see Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 Simplified ilustration of generation of the harmonic current reference

by using the selective harmonic compesation method

Fig. 3 Simplified ilustration of central compensation In OHC mode, filter removes harmonic spectrum from 2nd
order to 25th order, see Fig. 5.
The considered active filter is a parallel filter of medium
power, which works on low voltage level in the supply
network of industrial plant, where a significant number of
frequency converters are connected. The filter is connected in
parallel to
the network in the substation to a common bus on the
secondary side of the transformer. It monitors current in each
phase and processes the data of current sensors from the
power network using a fast digital signal processor. The filter Fig. 5 Simplified ilustration of generation of the harmonic current reference
regulates the state of the network so that it actively injects into by using the overall harmonic detection method
the network interfering signals of opposite polarity.
Injected current of the filter is given by formula:
Opposite phase signals, i.e. signals of opposite polarity are
generated by switching the IGBT transistors in real time. IGBT
25
transistors model the output waves from the voltage DC link of
the filter. The injected current is treated with embedded LCL
I filter  I 2
h

h5
 When active filter is being designed, it is necessary to 250A was designed, working in the SHC mode. Maximum
know the required aim. The needed current of the filter is values of single harmonics of the filter are given in Tab. II.
determined as geometric sum of individual components,
according to formula: TABLE II. CURRENT LIMITS OF ACTIVE FILTER IN OHC MODE

I filter Order of harmonic Current limit of filter

22222
 I  I  I  I  ..  I225
 I 57111317 
5. 158 A
7. 113 A
IV. CALCULATION AND DESIGN OF ACTIVE POWER FILTER
11. 72 A
Concerning the requirement of the investor to reach the 13. 63 A
minimum value of total harmonic distortion of voltage THDu =
17. 45 A
5%, several simulations with various power performance of
the filter have been carried out in order to choose a suitable 19. 41 A
filtration performance. Based on these simulations, an active 23. 36 A
filter with the nominal current of 250 A was chosen. The 25. 32 A
result of the simulation is shown in Fig. 6. It is clear that in
this case the limits both for THDu value and for single
harmonics will be met. The filter is designed in a three-phase performance without
neutral conductors, i.e. zero sequence cannot be compensated
for.
V. EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENT RESULTS AND THEIR
ANALYSIS
Experimental measurement was performed by Fluke three-
phase power analyzer after the installation of designed active
filter. In Fig. 7 waveforms of voltage and current are shown
Fig. 6 Spectrum of harmonic current and voltage at the point PCC – when active filter is switched off.
simulation, 50% load, VSD with DC choke and connected active filter.
The spectra of harmonic voltage and current are shown in
Before the final design of active filter, an experimental Fig. 8. and Fig. 9, where the filter was also disabled. Dominant
measurement was performed in order to monitor the load of 5th and 7th harmonics are typical for nonlinear loads consisting
the network, see chapter II. Based on this measurement and of six-pulse rectifier with only basic harmonic mitigation - DC
the results of simulations, the filter of nominal injected choke.
current

Fig. 7 Waveforms of voltage (blue) and current (red) without any filter
 Fig. 8 FFT Voltage without any filter, THDu = 6,27%

Fig. 9 FFT Current without any filter, THDi = 34,28%

Waveforms of voltage and current are shown in Fig. 10.,

when the filter is switched on. The waveform of current drawn by frequency drives is improved significantly by the active
filter working in the SHC mode.

Fig. 10 Waveforms of the voltage (blue) and current (red) with filter
 The spectra of harmonic voltage and current are shown in significant suppression of the dominant 5th and 7th current
Fig. 11. and in Fig. 12., where the filter was active. The harmonics was achieved.

Fig. 11 FFT Voltage with filter, THDu = 3,2%

Fig. 12 FFT Current with filter, THDi = 13,4%

VI. CONCLUSION
TABLE III. COMPARISON OF MEASURED AND SIMULATED VALUES
The investor did not require the maximum possible
compensation for dominant harmonics by the active filter, but Without any filter With active filter
such compensation which would ensure the decline of THDu at measured simulated measured simulated
the desired point of the network; it is on the secondary
THDi 34,28% 36,5% 13,4% 13,3%
terminals of the power supply transformer, to the value lower
THDu 6,27% 6,1% 3,2% 2,7%
than 5%. This value meets the THDu limit for industrial
networks Class 1. Table III. shows that this requirement has I5 30% 30% 11% 11%
been fulfilled sufficiently. I7 12% 18% 2,5% 5%
The experimental measurements performed after the
installation of the filter into the network confirmed the results
Harmonic currents can be reduced by passive or active
of simulations which were done in the Harmonic Calculation
technical solutions. The passive category includes the
Software program. The comparison of measured and
applications with passive filters, which have certain
simulated values is shown in Tab. III. The differences between
disadvantages and therefore the application of these filters in
the measured and simulated values were caused both by the
industrial environments is limited.
inaccuracy of calculation program and by possible variable
Into the category of active technical solutions belong, for
loads of production lines during the measurement.
example, active filters. Their main advantage is the possibility
of the suppression of harmonics in the wide range of spectrum
in comparison with passive solutions.
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