Active harmonic filter technology and market assessment. Final report
- Soft Switching Technologies Corp., Middleton, WI (United States)
Non-linear loads such as three-phase rectifiers, adjustable speed drives (ASDs), and arcing loads can cause voltage distortion and other power quality problems due to their interaction with the power grid. This report provides a technical and marketing assessment of active harmonic filters, a promising approach to preventing these problems at their source. Although predicting the direction and magnitude of harmonic currents is difficult due to highly interconnected nature of distribution systems, even small harmonic producing loads can result in high levels of harmonic current flow between the utility and a customer and can also cause a resonance problem at sites far removed from the harmonic producing load. The best way to keep voltage distortion low in a utility system is to constrain the harmonic currents at their sources. However, since regulation of harmonic pollution does not provide any additional value to the customer, it is unlikely that any controls will be implemented on a consistent basis in the absence of mandatory requirements. In the United States, a step toward a standard operating practice is the IEEE 519-1992 recommended harmonic standard that provides guidelines for limiting harmonic currents by industrial plants. This report identifies the equipment likely to produce harmonic loads and explains the kinds of problems that harmonic currents can cause in a utility distribution system. It describes possible solutions to these problems, including harmonic filtering and other technologies. The report examines the prospects for wider use of active harmonic filter technology and discusses the important marketing issues for potential active filter marketers and manufacturers, such as the barriers to and drivers of increased use of active filter technology and the price points for active filters.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst. (EPRI), Palo Alto, CA (United States); Soft Switching Technologies Corp., Middleton, WI (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 355077
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-111088; TRN: AHC29924%%283
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Aug 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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