Harmonic mitigation potential of a resistive shunt harmonic impedance in correlation with its placement along a distribution feeder

Although complete compensation is only possible using true active filters, resistive shunt harmonic impedances (SHI) have been shown to provide a considerable reduction of the harmonic propagation. In this paper, the harmonic mitigation potential of a resistive SHI will be discussed together with its influence on the voltage THD along a typical distribution feeder. Although the THD values are highly dependent on the SHI placement, it is shown that the placement at the end of the feeder is generally a good choice to install the SHI, especially when the system parameters can vary or are unknown. Calculations are performed on a typical radial distribution feeder. Just as the power factor correction capacitors, the nonlinear loads are concentrated in single nodes. The linear loads are disconnected to obtain the worst case for the voltage distortion.