A New Iterative Approach for Designing Passive Harmonic Filters for Variable Frequency Drives

Abstract

The extensive usage of variable frequency drives (VFDs) in industrial applications has caused significant concern regarding the quality of power in electrical distribution systems. VFDs are nonlinear loads that cause harmonic voltages across system impedance by injecting harmonic currents into the power system. The performance of other sensitive loads in the system may be harmed as a result of this harmonic distortion. This study presents a new method for designing and specifying low-voltage harmonic filters for 6-pulse VFDs. An electrical distribution system feeding a group of variable frequency drives was analyzed using the proposed methodology. MATLAB software was used to conduct this study. The minimum value of the filter’s reactive power and its specifications were determined using an iterative technique. To validate the proposed methodology, two case studies are presented. The results demonstrate that the method is effective.