A control system for a three phase active power filter which simultaneously compensates power factor and unbalanced loads

The effectiveness of an active power filter depends basically on three characteristics: (a) the modulation method used, (b) the design characteristics of the PWM modulator and (c) the method implemented to generate the reference template. For the last characteristic there are many methods, most of them complicated and hence difficult to implement and adjust. In this paper, a new method, which its main characteristic is its simplicity, is presented. This method is useful for shunt active power filters and is capable to eliminate harmonics, compensate power factor and correct unbalance problems simultaneously. Experimental results, with the reference template obtained with the method, are presented in the paper.<>