Integration of active power filters in a harmonic load flow algorithm for optimizing location and strategy

This paper presents a new simple method for integrating the contribution of active power filters (APFs) in a harmonic power flow algorithm for distribution networks. A control strategy for the APFs inspired in the perfect harmonic cancellation (PHC) is proposed and evaluated. This proposed strategy is compared to other one inspired in droop control. Different locations of APFs are tested, evidencing the usefulness of the algorithm for analyzing and optimizing this parameter. The proposed strategy outperforms that based in droop control in terms of power quality and reduction of power losses, in the circumstances studied in this paper.