63 - Why does my harmonic current increase when I add an active harmonic filter?

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• Active Harmonic Filters: The main point of this discussion is that you must oversize active harmonic filters due to the increase in harmonic currents produced by loads. We first explain the operation of the active filter and how it injects equal and opposite harmonics to reduce the harmonic currents from the source, inadvertently increasing the harmonic currents at the load but by doing that, the harmonic currents no longer come from the source and through the utility transformer effectively negating the impedance or line reactor effect of the transformer. • Line Reactors: The need for a line reactor in front of the loads when you are using an active filter is emphasized. We explain that a line reactor stabilizes the current going into the drive, preventing the active filter from increasing the harmonic current requirement since it effectively shorts out the source impedance. • Harmonic Current Increase: The increase in harmonic current when an active harmonic filter is added was attributed to the shorting out of the source impedance by the active filter. This allows for a higher current draw by the load, which explains the observed increase in harmonic current at the drive and necessity for oversizing the active filter. Eaton’s Harmonic Frequently Asked Question’s FAQs collection of videos hosted by Dan Carnovale can help individuals from all different levels of education understand what harmonics are and explain many different solutions for mitigating harmonics on an electrical power system. Dan Carnovale P.E. has decades of experience in power quality and harmonics and is a recognized electrical industry expert in power quality and power systems. He is the creator and director of Eaton’s Power Systems Experience Centers (PSEC) in Pittsburgh PA and Houston TX. The PSECs provide visitors with live demonstrations of hands-on power quality and harmonic situations and solutions that can be seen first-hand in the Power Quality Lab. Visit Eaton’s harmonics knowledge website featuring harmonic solutions, harmonic calculators, access to white papers, and more: https://www.eaton.com/harmonics See our entire harmonics FAQs playlists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U36ywxWHIy8&list=PL8XobqCtN9Z8maXVw0kYDLjmhBO275-bE&pp=gAQBiAQB For an educational overview of harmonics in person, visit one of Eaton’s Power Systems Experience Centers: http://eaton.com/experience #harmonics #powerquality #electricalengineering #electricalsafety #eatonexperience #experiencecenter