How Active Harmonic Filters Positively Impact Sustainability?

Introduction – Clean Energy and the Hidden Cost of Harmonics

As industrial automation continues to grow exponentially, there are two major problems plaguing it, namely energy inefficiency and lack of sustainability. Power quality, especially poor power quality, has a major impact on energy efficiency. Due to this, systems take up more energy to operate at the optimal level. Therefore, not only is it not cost-effective, but it is also an unfavourable outcome from a sustainability standpoint.

Moreover, with all industries focusing extensively on sustainability, excellent power quality becomes paramount. This is where active harmonic filters step in. Active harmonic filters offer excellent power factor correction, leading to improved energy efficiency, and thereby contribute more positively towards sustainability. The relationship between harmonic filters and eco-friendly electrical design will be explored in the subsequent sections in detail to see how the former creates energy-efficient power systems.

What Are Active Harmonic Filters (AHFs) and How Do They Work?

Brief overview of harmonics and their industrial impact

To understand active harmonic filters, it is vital to first know why they are sorely required in commercial sectors. Industrial setups use a variety of non-linear loads, such as variable frequency drives (VFDs), to improve operations. However, the non-linear loads create disturbances of harmonics within the electrical system, thereby creating a net negative impact.

Harmonics are considered harmful as they lead to a lot of side effects, such as overheating of equipment, accelerated wear and tear of sensitive equipment, and a reduction in overall power quality. This means that the equipment will waste more energy to operate instead of using it more effectively.

Real-time compensation and harmonic correction via AHFs

How do active harmonic filters prevent the above-mentioned side effects from happening? The answer to this lies in the inherent design of the harmonic filter. AHFs can monitor the harmonic distortion present in the system in real-time. They are installed in a parallel circuit to the main electrical circuit where the distortion is taking place. After analyzing the amplitude of the harmonics, active harmonic filters send out an equally strong signal that is completely opposite in phase to the harmonics. This subsequently cancels out the effects of the harmonic distortion in real-time and reduces electrical pollution.

Comparison with passive filters (performance, flexibility, responsiveness)

How do active harmonic filters fare against passive filters? Here’s a brief look:

Performance: AHFs are better in performance as they guarantee real-time harmonic correction.

Flexibility: AHFs are designed to handle dynamic loads and harmonics of various frequencies. Passive harmonic filters, on the other hand, are better-suited for fixed-order harmonics.

Responsiveness: AHFs offer almost instant response to harmonic distortion in comparison to passive harmonic filters, where harmonic mitigation is constant.

How Harmonic Pollution Affects the Environment?

Since the focus is on sustainability, it is important to first understand how harmonics negatively impact the environment.

Energy waste and heat generation

The most obvious impact of harmonic distortion is the generation of excess heat in the form of equipment overheating. This will require the installation of more cooling systems to keep sensitive equipment functional. This in itself will increase energy consumption and increase the carbon footprint significantly. Similarly, it will also lead to a lower power factor and require more energy consumption to keep things operational.

Shortened equipment lifespan = increased e-waste

Due to overheating, harmonics can cause increased wear in various equipment. Therefore, the equipment lifespan takes a significant hit, and subsequently, they will be replaced at a faster rate. This is also not favourable from a sustainability standpoint as it directly leads to increased e-waste generation. Thus, premature equipment disposal must be avoided at all costs.

Overloaded transformers and electrical grid instability

Apart from capacitors being burned out, harmonics can also cause a major overload in transformers. Overloaded transformers can create a chain reaction of energy inefficiency and increased power consumption, ending in electrical grid instability. To prevent this, there will be a need to oversize electrical infrastructure, which, once again, means more resource allocation and consumption in this sector.

As is evident, all these negative effects are the antithesis of eco-friendly operations and creating a sustainable power structure. To prevent this from happening, it is important to utilize harmonic mitigation solutions such as active harmonic filters.

Environmental Benefits of Active Harmonic Filters

To counteract the effects mentioned above, it is important to install active harmonic filters in the electrical system. Here are some of its benefits from an environmental standpoint:

Energy savings from reduced losses

The biggest benefit of active harmonic filters is the energy savings aspect. Since they eliminate harmonics, which are responsible for reducing power factor, the side effect of installing AHFs is better energy savings, as any losses in power factor are thereby eliminated or significantly reduced.

Improved equipment life = reduced landfill waste

If harmonics are eliminated by AHFs, it means that the equipment will not suffer from overheating. Therefore, their lifespan will increase significantly, and they will require less replacement. Consequently, less e-waste will be generated, which goes into landfills.

Compliance with eco-regulations (IEEE 519, ISO 50001)

Compliance with international standards for harmonics and ecological functioning can be easily achieved with active harmonic filters. First, by keeping the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) below 5 percent, they ensure that industries adhere to IEEE 519 standards. Second, by maintaining energy efficiency and reducing wastage, they comply with ISO 50001 standards as well.

Enabling clean energy grid integration

Poor quality negatively impacts the overall energy grid if left unchecked. But the good news is that active harmonic filters can be easily integrated into any circuit without any negative impact on the grid. This easy grid integration is another major plus for these harmonic filters in terms of sustainability.

Sustainable infrastructure planning

Lastly, by reducing THD and improving energy efficiency, active harmonic filters are a perfect fit for sustainable infrastructure planning. The Revcon Active Harmonic Filter from ADM Engineering is a perfect example of this. It helps reduce the total harmonic distortion and optimizes energy usage, making it a staple in green industrial solutions for power quality.

Use Cases: Where AHFs Are Driving Sustainability

AHFs are already making waves in many commercial sectors with their bid towards sustainability. Some applications include:

Renewable energy plants

Renewable energy plants, particularly wind and solar energy plants, are known for their output instability. This means that they generate massive harmonics in their output. Active harmonic filters help stabilize this output in this particular sector. Moreover, it also ensures that these renewable energy plants are compatible with the pre-existing power grid so that it doesn’t cause disruption.

Smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0

Smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 are all about effortless automation and reduction in energy consumption without compromising quality. Active harmonic filters fit these criteria perfectly as an aid in reducing the overall energy consumption in an electrical system by removing harmonics. The boost in power factor contributes directly to the goals of Industry 4.0.

Data centers and critical infrastructure

Data centers and critical infrastructure are known for being operational around the clock. This is a key feature of these industries as they cannot afford downtime. Therefore, it is key to protect them from damage caused by harmonics. AHFs succeed in this endeavour by eliminating harmonics and ensuring clean, stable power. Moreover, by keeping the power factor high, they ensure that even though these sectors are constantly operational, the overall energy consumption is still significantly reduced.

EV charging stations and green mobility hubs

In a similar vein to renewable energy plants, the increasing use of EV charging stations and green mobility hubs places further strain on the power grid. AHFs combat this additional strain by keeping harmonics under control, optimizing performance reducing the strain on the broader grid.

Urban and smart grid deployments

Urban and smart grid deployments are also becoming the norm in modern city planning, as the goals of sustainability extend here as well. This means the use of many modern equipment that will place a lot of non-linear load and introduce harmonics. Therefore, AHFs are a necessity here to keep the harmonics to a minimum and ensure the broader goal of a sustainable, modern city.

Implementation Steps for Eco-Friendly Power Systems

How to implement active harmonic filters to create an eco-friendly power system? Here are some basic steps listed below.

Step-by-step deployment

The first step towards successful deployment is measuring the existing harmonic distortion within the energy system and how it impacts the power and energy consumption. A great way to monitor harmonics is with the help of modern technology, such as smart meters and using the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor it in real-time. Next, based on these dynamics, choose a harmonic filter that is best-suited for these conditions.

Once the AHF is installed, validate its performance over a period of time to see a quantitative improvement in power factor and reduction of harmonics. This will be an excellent way to determine the return on investment of an AHF and how much energy it actually saves.

Pro tips to maximize sustainability impact

This implementation can be taken a step further by introducing more eco-friendly options along with active harmonic filters. Solar energy is a great example. By integrating solar power with an appropriate storage system, the sustainability effect of active harmonic filters can be optimized even further.

Continuing in this, proper implementation also involves upgrading old motors and technology that consume more energy. While this is a hefty initial investment, it will give excellent dividends in the long run with more energy efficiency. Lastly, the final piece of the puzzle is to train staff within various commercial sectors about sustainability practices so any energy leaks created by human errors can be minimized.

Conclusion – A Cleaner Grid Starts Inside Your Facility

In closing, active harmonic filters are necessary to improve sustainability in an industrial setting. By mitigating the adverse effects of harmonics and improving energy efficiency, it contributes a major way towards achieving eco-friendly goals. Furthermore, it is also evident that AHFs will be a big part of sustainability drives in the future, as they can be easily integrated with most modern technologies.

Want to know if active harmonic filters are right for your application? Discover how Revcon Active Harmonic Filters can help you cut energy waste and boost compliance by contacting us at ADM Engineering Inc. today at 877-236-8337.

FAQs

Do active harmonic filters help reduce energy consumption?

Yes, active harmonic filters help reduce energy consumption by eliminating harmonics and improving power factor, which is a direct measure of optimal energy consumption.

What makes a power system sustainable?

If the amount of wastage is reduced or minimized, along with an efficient use of energy without overconsuming resources, then that power system can be considered sustainable.

Are harmonic filters necessary in green buildings?

Yes, since the goal is to consume less energy and ensure a lower carbon footprint in green buildings, harmonic filters can massively aid in this endeavour.

How do active filters contribute to carbon neutrality?

By ensuring lower energy consumption as well as lowering overheating in various equipment, active harmonic filters reduce the carbon footprint of a particular operation, thereby contributing positively towards carbon neutrality.

Can power quality affect your electricity bill?

Yes, poor power quality leads to more energy consumption, thereby leading to a higher electricity bill.