Rectifier design for minimum line current harmonics and maximum power factor

A current quantitative computer simulation-based analysis is presented for single- and three-phase rectifier line current harmonics and power factors as a function of the output filter inductor. A finite-output filter inductor is shown to produce minimum single-phase rectifier line-current harmonics and, if used with an input displacement power factor correction capacitor, to produce maximum overall power factor. A filter inductor with near-infinite output is shown to produce minimum three-phase rectifier line-current harmonics and maximum overall power factor; the smallest inductor that approximates a near-infinite inductor is determined.<<ETX>>