Passive filter design for a 12-pulse converter fed LCI-synchronous motor drive

The load commutated inverter (LCI) based synchronous motor (SM) drive fed through a 12-pulse AC-DC converter results in harmonic mitigation. These drives have further improvement of the power quality at AC mains if an appropriate passive filter is used at the AC mains for power factor correction and harmonic reduction. This paper deals with a simplified optimization algorithm based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) method for selection of passive filter components. This algorithm is used to design passive filters for three types of loads on LCI-SM drive, namely constant torque variable speed loads, constant speed variable torque loads and variable speed variable torque loads to meet the requirements of wide range of applications. The obtained results show reduction in total harmonic distortion (THD) in current as well as voltage at AC mains, reduced supply current and an improved power factor (PF).