Harmonic filter with integrated power factor correction

• US 8,390,149 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2007
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Fredette, Steven J., Grover, Rishi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fauth, Justen
• Application Number:
  US12/735,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20100264750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,898 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 307/105
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 11/00 Circuit arrangements for providing service supply to auxiliaries of stations in which electric power is generated, distributed or converted
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/1821 using shunt compensators H02J3/1807, H02J3/1878 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/30 Reactive power compensation

Abstract

A distributed electrical power generating and utilizing system includes an induction generator driven by a prime mover requiring reactive power to operate for providing electrical power on a bus. The bus has a gross load and is also connectable to a utility power grid by a switch. The gross load includes at least a non-linear electrical load component, typically including a variable speed device and associated diode rectifier front end. The bus includes a harmonic filter having a power factor-correcting capacitor integrated therewith for collectively compensating harmonic distortion caused by the non-linear load component and for correcting power factor to compensate for reactive power required by at least the inductive generator.

Claims

1. A distributed electrical power generating and utilizing system, comprising:

an induction generator driven by a prime mover requiring reactive power to operate for providing electrical power on a bus;

said bus having a gross load and also being connectable to a utility power grid by a switch;

said gross load including at least a non-linear electrical load component; and

said bus including a harmonic filter having a power factor-correcting capacitor integrated therewith for collectively compensating harmonic distortion caused by the non-linear load component and for correcting power factor to compensate for reactive power required by at least the inductive generator, the harmonic filter normally including a capacitor and wherein the harmonic filter capacitor is sized to serve also as the power factor correcting capacitor whereby the power factor-correcting capacitor is integrated with the harmonic filter, and said integrated capacitor(s) in the harmonic filter contain(s) series inductance to form a tank circuit to reduce harmful effects of harmonic currents on the capacitor.

2. A distributed electrical power generating and utilizing system, comprising:

an induction generator driven by a prime mover requiring reactive power to operate for providing electrical power on a bus;

said bus having a gross load and also being connectable to a utility power grid by a switch;

said gross load including at least a non-linear electrical load component; and

said bus including a harmonic filter having a power factor-correcting capacitor integrated therewith for collectively compensating harmonic distortion caused by the non-linear load component and for correcting power factor to compensate for reactive power required by at least the inductive generator, the harmonic filter normally including a capacitor and wherein the harmonic filter capacitor is sized to serve also as the power factor correcting capacitor whereby the power factor-correcting capacitor is integrated with the harmonic filter, and wherein the integrated capacitor is comprised of multiple capacitors, with one or more of the multiple capacitors being selectively connectable with and unconnectable from, at least another one of said multiple capacitors to improve dynamic voltage stability of the system at light loading conditions.