Compensation based on active power filters - The cost minimization

The paper deals with the problem of power quality and its solution. Passive or active compensators are usually used to reduce distortions of voltage and current waveforms. Active power filters seem to be the best choice if the effect of compensation is the only criterion. However, the financial cost of such a solution put the potential investors off. The paper shows that the cost could be reduced considerably if the optimization of active power filter allocation, as well as their nominal currents, is carried out. Two cases have been considered - active power filters with a classical control algorithm, which operates locally and aims at obtaining sinusoidal shape of waveforms in the point of installation, and active power filters with a modified control algorithm, which aims at reduction of waveform distortions in all nodes of an analyzed power system. Goal functions and optimization problems for both cases have been defined.