On the accumulating effect of simple peak-detection rectifiers in the context of power quality

Summary form only given, as follows. Capacitive rectifiers are among the worst loads in terms of harmonic pollution, with a typical total harmonic distortion (THD) of 160-170%. Due to their simplicity and low cost, these rectifiers are widely used in low power electronic appliances such as personal computers, TVs, office appliances, audio consumer appliances and more. Therefore they constitute a considerable load in office and residential buildings, despite the low power of the individual rectifiers. At the AC mains, these loads draw a narrow pulse of current near the AC voltage peak. Therefore a detrimental synchronization effect takes place among all rectifiers that are fed by the same phase. On the other hand, a kind of harmonics self compensation occurs, due to the electricity distribution coupling network which reduces the overall harmonic content. In this work these effects are being theoretically analyzed and tested via simulation tools. Also an experimental setup of up to ten, nearly identical rectifiers has been assembled in the power quality laboratory through which the assumed behavior of these non linear group of loads has been validated. The results of this work might lead, later on, to some design guidelines, of the electricity network in office buildings.