A novel open-loop control method for a current-source active power filter

This paper presents a new control system for a current-source active power filter. The harmonic current compensation is realized using only a feedforward control of the load currents. The LC filter resonance of the converter is damped in an open-loop manner using the dynamic equations of the supply filter. The benefits of the proposed control system are that it is simple and straightforward, the number of measurements and sensors can be minimized, and also that the LC filter size can be optimized according to proper harmonic distortion level of the supply currents without care about the stability issues of the closed-loop system. This usually leads to reduction of the filter size. Also, the changes in fundamental current components of the active filter can be effectively realized when the active power filter can also be used as a fast reactive power compensator. The control system also includes the calculation delay compensation of the digital control system. The control system is realized using a single-chip Motorola MPC555 microcontroller. The tests with the prototype show effective current harmonic compensating performance of the nonlinear loads.