Power Quality and Active Filters as web-controlled experiment in the frame of PEMC WebLab

PEMC WebLab features online experiments sponsored by the EU. Several real-world experiments aim at students and engineers of electrical engineering and mechatronics who want to extend or refresh knowledge. The Power Quality and Shunt Active Filters experiment is presented. The paper gives the theoretical background concerning Power Quality, describes the compensation method and the active filter, the example loads which are compensated and the learning objectives for the students and engineers. Based on understanding Power Quality and its implications the possibilities, limitations and side effects of a shunt active filter, featuring extended static compensator (STATCOM) functionality, are discussed. The experiment can be found via http://pemcweblab.com.