Evaluation of harmonic suppression devices

Abstract

An assessment has been conducted of five commercially available devices to determine their ability to provide clean sinusoidal voltage to nonlinear loads and to eliminate harmonic current demanded by nonlinear loads. The devices tested were a passive series-shunt filter, a delta-wye isolation transformer, a ferroresonant magnetic synthesizer, an active power line conditioner and an active injection mode filter. These devices were installed in existing US Department of Energy facilities that had substantial nonlinear loads which drew a significant harmonic current. These devices were then compared in the following categories: cancellation of harmonic currents; supply of nondistorted voltage; supply of regulated voltage; elimination of transients and impulses; efficiency; reliability; and cost.