Do you remember when computers first came out? They were giant systems that occupied a complete room, their processing was very inefficient, and they used huge amounts of power and energy. You should know that one of the factors that allowed us to make the leap to the computers we know today - smaller and much more efficient - was power electronics. And just as it influenced the modernization of computers, it did so with industrial equipment.
A solution, with a side effect
Undoubtedly, power electronics allowed a much smaller, efficient power supply and maximized its components. However, this change triggered a new phenomenon: it deformed the energy waves, and when these deformed waves pass through the wires of the electrical installation they produce in turn distorted voltage waves.
So we go from having sinusoidal shaped energy to a deformation as a result of the harmonics that inject the loads, which are mostly industrial type.
To illustrate, let's look at the following example. If before the distortion percentage was 0.1%, the power electronics increase the distortion by 3.4%, in itself a high increase. To this reagent compensation is added; namely, the reactive energy must be condensed and capacitors are usually used for that purpose. However these also have an unfavorable effect because when the capacitor is integrated into an electrical system it compensates for the reactive energy, but also increases the harmonics: the consequence in the system is that the wave ends up deforming even more. When that “turbid” energy passes through the connectors, equipment, transformers and others, it generates losses in the electrical system and deteriorates the components of the equipment.
Also read: What is reactive energy and how to avoid the penalty for exceeding its consumption?
How to choose the right solution?
To recap, the capacitor banks sharpen the presence of harmonics in the electrical system, so you must first remove them and install either an LC or Active filter. At this point you are faced with a dilemma: what filter to choose?
In essence, both fulfill the same function: the first is one of the most basic filters, has no electronic elements and its operation is passive, while the operation of the second is based on pure electronics, which allows it to eliminate any distortion faster. The main difference is that each of them responds to different needs.
There is nothing that a diagnosis cannot solve
We have said it before: implementing an inadequate solution is as serious as not solving the problem. In that sense, in order to identify the filter that can meet the specific needs of an electrical system, it is pertinent to implement a Frequency Response Analysis, which consists of measuring all electrical parameters, then modeling and finally simulating those electrical parameters to understand how the harmonics are affecting. With the results of that diagnosis in hand you can choose the right solution.
Finally, it is important to emphasize that a consequence of use and the passage of time is that filters decrease in efficiency. Our recommendation is to implement a diagnosis every year to anticipate any damage and verify that the energy waves are operating at the correct frequency.
