A new approach for single-phase harmonic current detecting and its application in a hybrid active power filter

In this paper, a new approach for single-phase harmonic current detection is presented. The approach was obtained through extending ideas of three-phase instantaneous reactive power theory and constructing a two-phase system from the existing single-phase circuit. By theoretical and simulation analysis, it is shown to be a precise approach, which can be easily realized and has the merits of better steady state and dynamic performance than conventional approaches that could be used in single-phase circuits. The approach was applied into a hybrid active power filter, which combines a series active filter and a shunt passive filter together and aims at solving the harmonics problem originated by high-power single-phase nonlinear load. Following the system configuration and basic principles of the hybrid active power filter, the overall detection and control algorithm, the PWM generating technique and the DC voltage stabilizing method are introduced in detail. The detection and control algorithm were then realized by a digital control circuit with DSP processor, and successfully employed in a prototype hybrid active power filter. Experimental results on the prototype verified the effectiveness of the new detecting approach, the performance of the control circuit and the filtering characteristics of the hybrid active power filter.