Shunt Active Power Filter for Harmonics Mitigation with Harmonic Energy Recycling Function

Nowadays, there is a tremendous proliferation of nonlinear loads in industrial facilities as processes are driven by electrical devices which consist of power electronics for the control and conversion of electrical power. A large portion of these nonlinear loads inject harmonic currents into the distribution system, which in consequence produce harmonic voltage distortion. This paper proposes a power electronics based system that besides the reduction of voltage harmonic distortion converts harmonic energy that would normally be wasted in additional losses in feeders, transformers and motors (harmonic energy wastage) into useful energy. It is possible to denominate this system a harmonic energy recycler. The proposed system is a shunt active power filter (SAPF) driven by the voltage detection control strategy (VSAPF) and implemented with a highly efficient voltage source converter (VSC). This paper makes a theoretical power analysis of the VSAPF and covers the design of a highly efficient system that makes the harmonic recycler device feasible. Furthermore the functionality of the proposed system is validated by simulation.