Aspects Regarding of Passive Filters Sustainability for Non-Linear Single-Phase Consumers

Abstract

The efficient use of electrical energy (an important component of sustainability) has become increasingly important for electrical consumers (industrial and non-industrial) as we face the challenges of climate change and the need to protect the environment. This theme is essential for guaranteeing a secure and sustainable future for both present and future generations. The power quality and the efficiency of electrical energy are connected to each other. Some power quality problems are caused by natural and unpredictable events, but many disturbances affecting power quality are caused by suppliers and consumers. One of the most important parameters in power engineering is the power factor, which indicates the degree of efficient use of electrical energy. Harmonics is the most important dynamic component of power quality, which affects the operation of electrical equipment and, at the same time, reduces the power factor. Harmonic sources in power systems are generally associated with nonlinear loads. To analyze the operating of passive filters (series L, shunt LC, T type LCL), two groups of experiments (relevant consumers were chosen for the industry as well as from the household sector) were carried out with single-phase nonlinear consumers: in the first group of experiments, a variable-frequency drive is used to supply a three-phase induction motor with variable load; in the second group of experiments, compact fluorescent lamps and LED lamps were used. Following the experiments, it was found that the difficulty of calibrating coils (to size a filter), especially the coils with a core, and the change in electrical properties over time for capacitors. For a certain type of consumer, the improvement of the current waveform depends on the type of filter used, the possibility of improving the power factor (to use electrical energy efficiently), and the role of the source impedance, which is particularly important to improve the efficiency of passive filters. Through the appropriate choice of the passive filter, a decrease in the deforming regime is obtained, with a slight decrease in the active power, and by increasing the power factor, a decrease in the losses of electrical energy from the electrical networks is obtained, with direct implications for the emission of greenhouse gases.