A Distributed Filtering Scheme to Mitigate Harmonics in Residential Distribution Systems

This paper presents a novel scheme to mitigate harmonic distortions in modern residential distribution systems. The scheme deploys multiple low-voltage filters in randomly selected locations of a distribution system. The main challenges of such a distributed filtering scheme, cost of installation and hardware, are solved through an innovative filter configuration and installation concept, namely, the filter is a 240 V device that can be easily plugged into the sockets of utility revenue meters. Analytical, simulation, and economic studies have been conducted to understand the filter design parameters, performance characteristics, and cost implications. As an example application, the scheme is evaluated for mitigating an actual harmonic-caused telephone interference problem. The results show that the proposed scheme can be a promising option to reduce the harmonic distortions in selected areas of a distribution system.