Effectiveness of harmonic mitigation equipment for commercial office buildings

Harmonic currents generated by modern office equipment increase power system heat losses and the power bills of end users. By looking at the harmonic-related losses In a specific electrical system-representing a commercial office building-energy savings and harmonic reduction benefits of different mitigation measures are quantified. Two single-phase and three three-phase active and passive harmonic filters are added to a typical building electrical system and evaluated by computer simulation. Current and voltage distortions are computed, and the estimated cost of these filters are compared to predicted losses in a power system where harmonic currents are not compensated. Results show some harmonic compensating filters are effective and others are not, depending on the filter type and location in the building wiring system