Hybrid Active Filters: Panacea to Harmonic Distortion Losses in Power Distribution Networks

Abstract

The Nigerian electric power industry is facing a lot of challenges. From generation to distribution, the system's reliability is far below expectation. Modeling hybrid active filters with Matlab/Simulink environment to mitigate harmonics stress by a non-linear load is the focus. The load was connected directly to the supply, with the modeled hybrid active filter connected in parallel to the distribution network. The hybrid consists of a passive filter and an active power filter connected to the distribution system. The passive power filter was used to filter the low order harmonic current with a large power rating, while the active power filter with a low power rating was used to filter the other high order harmonics. The Simulink showed the effect of modeled non-linear load on the distribution network by distorting the ideal waveform of current and voltage from the supply. After the simulation, the total harmonics presented in the current waveform were reduced from 23.52% to 0.01%, and for the voltage, it reduced from 9.18% to 0.27%.