A three-phase parallel active power filter operating with PCC voltage compensation with consideration for an unbalanced load

The performance and dynamic characteristics of a three-phase parallel active power filter (APF) with point of the common coupling (PCC) voltage compensation with consideration for an unbalanced load is presented and analyzed in this paper. The proposed scheme employs a pulse-width modulation (PWM) voltage-source inverter and has two operation modes. First, it operates as a conventional active filter with reactive power compensation when PCC voltage is within the 15% voltage drop range. Second, it operates as a voltage compensator when PCC voltage is not within the 15% voltage drop range. Both the APF and the voltage compensator compensate asymmetries caused by nonlinear loads. Finally, the validity of this scheme is investigated through the analysis of simulation and experimental results for a prototype APF system rated at 10 kVA.