Harmonic mitigation techniques applied to industrial power systems: Real case study with measurements

This paper aims to study the harmonic distortion levels in an electrical plant of an existing industry. After the inclusion of the new loads and the relocation of some existing loads, the necessity to correct the total power factor of the plant was observed. It was identified through simulations, using the SKM Power Tools (PTW) software, that with the inclusion of capacitor banks, the total harmonic voltage distortion levels (THDv) were too high. In order to reduce the THDv levels, instead of capacitor banks to correct the power factor, harmonic filters were specified. The results of the study were consolidated by electrical measurements, done before and after the installation of the new loads and the harmonic filters.