Criteria for selection of current or voltage source converter in shunt active power filter structure

Purpose Votage source converter (VSC) based or current source converter (CSC) based shunt active power filter (SAPF)? It is the main question in harmonic elimination project using SAPF.This paper presents some criteria based on which the designer can decide which type of filter is more suitable for implementation of the project according to the nature and characteristics of the project. Design/methodology/approach Owing to the importance of cost and power losses criteria, relevant equations will be formulated and comparative analysis will be carried out between conventional structures based on CSC or VSC. For validation of analyses, simulation results have been studied in the MATLAB-SIMULINK environment. Findings Simulation results have examined two important criteria of power losses and costs. Although the results show the superiority of VSSAPF to CSSAPF in both criteria, this comparison is performed in a general and conventional condition. Using third-order filters of inductive-capacitive-inductive (LCL) type in VSSAPF, using insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) with reverse-voltage blocking ability in CSSAPF, which eliminates the need to use series diodes, and the use of superconducting technology in the DC-side endpoint in CSSAPF, not only reduce the difference of cost and losses in two schemes but also may lead to the lower costs and losses in CSSAPF than VSSAPF. Originality/value This paper is the result of many years working on active power filter and can be useful for engineers who are engaged in industrial projects.