Harmonic-Free Utility/DC Power Conditioning Interfaces

The typical design of a power circuit now used to interface a dc system to the electric utility is such that a heavily distorted current is drawn from the utility. Since this distortion has the potential to interfere with the normal operation of the utility and its load, efforts are underway to develop power-conditioning interfaces that draw a nearly harmonic-free ac current waveform. The design of these interfaces is discussed. The salient issues of the power circuit's topology and its control are presented.