Harmonic effects optimization at a system level using a harmonic power flow controller

Authors: REZA MEHRI, HOSSEIN MOKHTARI

Abstract: Increase of nonlinear loads in industries has resulted in high levels of harmonic currents and consequently harmonic voltages in power networks. Harmonics have several negative effects such as higher energy losses and equipment life reduction. To reduce the levels of harmonics in power networks, different methods of harmonic suppression have been employed. The basic idea in all of these methods is to prevent harmonics from flowing into a power network at customer sides and the point of common coupling (PCC). Due to the costs, none of the existing mitigating methods result in a harmonic-free power system. The remaining harmonic currents, which rotate in a power network according to the system impedances, may not necessarily result in an optimum harmonic power flow in terms of harmonic undesirable results such as harmonic losses or harmonic over voltage/current due to possible resonances. This paper proposes a new method to control the flow of the remaining harmonics at a power system level such that the effects of harmonics such as losses are optimized. This task is achieved by the use of series active power filters controlled in a different manner from their conventional methods. In this new application, the series active power injects a controlled harmonic voltage into a power system (e.g., a line, transformer, or other elements) to control the harmonic current (power) flow such that the overall performance of the power system is improved in terms of harmonic effects. The series active power filter in this new application is named as harmonic power flow controller (HPFC). In this paper, the theory, structure, applications, and the basics of the control method of a HPFC are described. To investigate the effects of the HPFC on the power network harmonics, an HPFC is used in the 14-busbar IEEE test system. To make the proposal more practical, an HPFC is designed for Iran north-west transmission system to alleviate the harmonic problem in this region. Simulations are carried out to show the effectiveness of the HPFC. Simulation results show that the HPFC can control the harmonic currents (power) and voltage consequently. In this paper, several control algorithms for an HPFC are also considered to achieve the desired harmonic voltages levels.

Keywords: Current harmonic flow, harmonic power flow controller, harmonic voltage control, minimum apparant power injection, zero active power injection

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