Shunt active power filtering for smart appliances

Due to the increasing trend towards energy saving white goods appliances and the commercial viability of power electronic components, there has been an expansion in the use of solid state electronics and variable frequency drive motors in these applications. However, a major drawback of using such energy efficient loads is the introduction of current harmonics onto the local distribution grid. Furthermore, the proliferation of such devices elevates the supply harmonic content and can potentially impact residential distribution networks. This paper investigates the harmonic content generated by some household appliances and suggests a solution to minimize harmonics by means of active filtering. An active filter circuit was simulated to compare filter performance when used as an active front versus a feeder input compensator.