%0 Journal Article
%T Harmonic Mitigation Techniques Applied to Power Distribution Networks
%A Hussein A. Kazem
%J Advances in Power Electronics
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/591680
%X A growing number of harmonic mitigation techniques are now available including active and passive methods, and the selection of the best-suited technique for a particular case can be a complicated decision-making process. The performance of some of these techniques is largely dependent on system conditions, while others require extensive system analysis to prevent resonance problems and capacitor failure. A classification of the various available harmonic mitigation techniques is presented in this paper aimed at presenting a review of harmonic mitigation methods to researchers, designers, and engineers dealing with power distribution systems. 1. Introduction The nonlinear characteristics of many industrial and commercial loads such as power converters, fluorescent lamps, computers, light dimmers, and variable speed motor drives (VSDs) used in conjunction with industrial pumps, fans, and compressors and also in air-conditioning equipment have made the harmonic distortion a common occurrence in electrical power networks. Harmonic currents injected by some of these loads are usually too small to cause a significant distortion in distribution networks. However, when operating in large numbers, the cumulative effect has the capability of causing serious harmonic distortion levels. These do not usually upset the end-user electronic equipment as much as they overload neutral conductors and transformers and, in general, cause additional losses and reduced power factor [1¨C5]. Large industrial converters and variable speed drives on the other hand are capable of generating significant levels of distortion at the point of common coupling (PCC), where other users are connected to the network [6, 7]. Because of the strict requirement of power quality at the input AC mains, various harmonic standards and engineering recommendations such as IEC 1000-3-2, IEEE 519 (USA), AS 2279, D.A.CH.CZ, EN 61000-3-2/EN 61000-3-12, and ER G5/4 (UK) are employed to limit the level of distortion at the PCC. To comply with these harmonic standards, installations utilizing power electronic and nonlinear loads often use one of the growing numbers of harmonic mitigation techniques [8]. Because of the number and variety of available methods, the selection of the best-suited technique for a particular application is not always an easy or straightforward process. Many options are available, including active and passive methods. Some of the most technically advanced solutions offer guaranteed results and have little or no adverse effect on the isolated power system, while the performance of
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ape/2013/591680/