A new injection method for AC harmonic elimination by active power filter

An injection method for an active filter which eliminates the harmonics present in AC lines by injecting PWM harmonic compensating current is proposed. In the proposed method, the active filter produces a pulsewidth modulation (PWM) current that cancels the existing harmonics up to any order completely. To generate such PWM current, both inverter and DC current source is needed. The current source can be replaced by a large inductor without any external power source. This can be achieved by providing the inverter with rectifying capability because the inverter has the same circuit structure as the rectifier. Therefore, the proposed model of PWM injection current includes not only the harmonic components to suppress the existing harmonics up to any order, but also the fundamental one, to raise the inductor current to any desired value. The characteristics of the injection method are investigated through a digital computer simulation. Feasibility is proved by the experimental results