Effectiveness of harmonic mitigation equipment for commercial office buildings

Harmonic currents generated by modern office equipment increase power system heat losses and end-users power bills. 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 the predicted loss savings 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