Selection Guide –

Active Power Filter (APF)

Systems selection guide and critical installation information

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DISTRIBUTION AND PROTECTION
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AUS 1300 NHP NHP nhp.com.au

NHP Electrical Engineering Products
NZ 0800 NHP NHP nhp-nz.com
 Selection Guide – Active Power Filter (APF)
The Delta APF system provides a premier solution available today for mitigating harmonic issues. These harmonics are caused by multiples of
the fundamental frequency of the electrical installation impacting the supply, resulting in heavily distorted waveforms. This often has a direct
effect on the bottom line of your facility. Improving power quality can reduce your energy costs, increase efficiency, and improve service life
of infrastructure.
There are six steps in selecting the right system for you.
This guide also includes CT and breaker cable selection guides which are critical parts to the installation and operation of the system.

1
Step 1 – How much compensation is needed (A)?
step

For an existing site:

To determine the amount of compensation current needed you will ideally have available the following
information:
• Total harmonic current distortion (THID) in Ampere under load conditions
• New target THID level in Ampere under load conditions
The THID is normally available on more advanced energy meters. The Ampere measurements should be taken
under different load conditions to get the compensation current. As the harmonics vary according to the load
profile throughout the day/week, the best suited APF solution is determined through a power quality audit. NHP
conducts a site-specific power quality study over a period of time to accurately measure the THID with respect to
the load profile. A detailed report on the power quality issues is provided with suggestions on solutions.
Sizing tip:
Any changes made to the load can impact the harmonic distribution, so to avoid resizing the compensation
current for minimal load changes, the total compensation current needs to be multiplied with a scale factor of 1.3.
• That is, if the compensation current required is 200A,
• The size of APF would need to be 200*1.3 = 260A
• As the incremental options for the APF modules in the NHP range are 50A, 75A and 100A,
• The total compensation current would be rounded up to 275A.
For sites that are at the design/construction stage:
The compensation current can be calculated using tools such as PowerCad or vendor tools.
NHP’s technical team can also assist with sizing up an appropriate system in accordance to the project details.

2
step

Step 2 – How much spare capacity is wanted?

As previously mentioned, the THID on a site can change with the type and number of loads that are running.
If you plan to expand your site, add equipment or replace exciting products, including slots for spare capacity
would be beneficial as a future proof option.
Please note: Spare capacity options are only available in the floor standing system options.

2
 3
Step 3 – 3 wire or 4 wire?
step
The four-wire option is required when there is an imbalance in the network.
Network imbalance is when differing line voltages across phases occurs, caused by unbalanced loads,
single phase and phase-to-phase connections. This information can be found on your meter or power
quality audit report.

Use Applicable industry examples

• Mining
3 wire For balanced networks
• Industrial
• Food and beverage
• Manufacturing

• Commercial
4 wire
For an unbalanced network with a • Office
fully rated neutral wire • Education
• Shopping centers

4
Step 5 – IP rating requirement?
step

The environment that the cabinet would be installed has a major impact on the IP rating. NHP offers options
for IP30 or IP54 floor standing cabinets and an IIP3, 50A wall mount unit. It is not recommended for any of
the IP rated cabinets to be installed outdoors with direct sunlight or without cover for rain.

5
Step 5 – Colour of cabinet
step

RAL7035 Light Grey or X15 Orange

3
 Ordering Guide
Wall Mount System
For a wall mount Active Power Filter (APF) solution, the power module is included in the enclosure. Additional accessories are
required with the 50A wall mount module.
Module

Output (A) IP Rating Colour Catalogue No.

50 IP31 PQ-APFWM-50-31-G-4-X-X-T-1A
Grey
100 IP30 PQ-APFWM-100-30-G-4-X-X-T-1A

Accessories Required for 50A Wall Mount Unit Only

Description Catalogue No.

Wall Mount Bracket 3313192900SP

Touch Screen HMI for Wall Mount System PQCMA101ANB21B0

Note: A maximum of two systems can be connected in parallel, for a larger compensation, please select a floor standing system.

Floor Standing System

Fixed Type Front - Connect

Module

Output (A) 3 wire or 4 wire Catalogue No.

3 Wire PQ-APFM-100-X-G-3-F-FC-X-1A
100A
4 Wire PQ-APFM-100-X-G-4-F-FC-X-1A

Cabinet

Max. Number of
Max Capacity (A)
Modules IP rating Colour Catalogue No.

200 2 PQ-SVGC-200-30-G-X-F-FC-X-1A

500 5 IP30 PQ-SVGC-500-30-G-X-F-FC-X-1A

Grey
700 7 PQ-SVGC-700-30-G-X-F-FC-X-1A

300 3 IP54 PQ-SVGC-300-54-G-X-F-FC-X-1A

200 2 PQ-SVGC-200-30-O-X-F-FC-X-1A
IP30
500 5 PQ-SVGC-500-30-O-X-F-FC-X-1A
Orange
700 7 PQ-SVGC-700-30-O-X-F-FC-X-1A

300 3 IP54 PQ-SVGC-300-54-O-X-F-FC-X-1A

Note: Rear-connect is also available on request.

4
Ordering Examples
Example 1:
To get a 200A, 3 wire APF system with 100A spare capacity and a fixed type, IP30, Orange cabinet
Order: 2 x PQ-APFM-100-X-G-3-F-FC-X-1A and 1 x PQ-SVGC-300-30-O-X-F-FC-X-1A
Example 2:
To get a 50A 4 wire APF wall mount system.
Order: 1 x PQ-APFWM-50-31-G-4-X-X-T-1A, 1 x 3313192900SP and 1 x PQCMA101ANB21B0

Power Quality Commissioning Services

FREE EXTENDED WARRANTY for all NHP Power Quality systems when commissioned by NHP Service team
• Standard 12 month warranty is provided with all NHP Power Quality systems.
• Systems commissioned by NHP service team will receive an additional 12 months warranty.
It is critical that your power quality system is installed, connected and commissioned to ensure correct and reliable operation.

Common issues when equipment is not commissioned properly:

• System performance compromised - inability to reach and maintain target power factor and reduce onsite harmonics.
This can also impact your energy bills, particularly where kVA and kVAr tariffs are in place.
• Incorrect operation of power quality equipment with potential impact on other onsite equipment
• Reduced equipment operating life
• Void of equipment warranty
Please note—Commissioning outside metropolitan areas may incur “Additional Travel and Accommodation Cost”.
Please contact [email protected] or 1300 NHP NHP

5
 Cable and breaker Selection Guide
Appropriate cable and breaker selection are a vital part of ensuring the system will operate at its optimal capacity.
Table 1 shows the required breaker rating and a guide to cable sizes for the respective APF system.

Note: The cable sizes are a guide only, always refer to AS/NZS3008 for specific requirements. Individual de-rating
based on method of installation, cable lengths, volt drop, ambient temperature and cable configuration must be
allowed for when sizing cable.

Min. Conductor Min.

100A APF PM Size R/S/T/N Conductor
Quantity APF Rated Current (A) MCCB Rated Current (A) Phases Size PE
1 100 160 70mm2 35mm2
2 200 315 150mm2 70mm2
3 300 500 2x120mm 2
120mm2
4 400 630 2x150mm2 150mm2
5 500 800 2x240mm 2
240mm2
6 600 1100 2x300mm2 240mm2
7 700 1250 2x300mm 2
240mm2

Table 1 Cable and breaker selection guide for APF Systems

Note: For 3P3W APF, there are cooling fans in the cabinet, and rated voltage of these fans is AC220V, so a 1.5mm2 cable
should be connected to 3P3W APF cabinet’s Neutral terminal powering AC220V fans in the cabinet. For 3P4W APF, Neutral
cable diameter should follow the guideline in the above table.

CT Selection Guide
The correct CTs must be selected according to electric condition of installing site. Requirements of CT
selection for APF are shown in Table 2.

Specification Requirement

CT Primary Current: 5A
CT Ratio
CT Primary Current ≥ 1.7* Maximum Load Current

CT Accuracy Class 0.5

1~2 modules ≥10VA

3~4 modules ≥15VA
CT Secondary Capacity (VA)
5~7 modules ≥20VA
>7 modules, please contact NHP for assistance

Table 2 Requirements for APF CT Selection

Note: Recommended secondary current of CT is 5A. When actual CT secondary current is 1A, CT ratio setting should be changed
accordingly, for example, if the actual CT ratio is 500:1A, the CT ratio setting in APF Touch Panel HMI should be 2500:5A.

6
Critical Installation Information
The placement of the CTs during the installation is critical to the operation of the system.
The following examples are for the most common installations. Unlike the SVG systems, the CT placements for APF are the same for both
balanced and unbalanced loads. For applications where more than one APF is required, there are capacitor banks present or any other
variations to the scenarios outlined above, please refer to the full CT selection and installation guide.

External CT Connection Guide – Single APF System

1. Closed loop
In this scenario, 3 CTs shall be installed at grid side (R/S/T phases), and another 3 CTs shall be installed at APF input side.
All the CTs P1 should be facing grid side with same CT ratio.
Refer to Figure 1-1 for single line diagram (SLD) and Figure 1-2 for detailed connection.

Transformer APF Major CT APF Device CT

R phase S phase T phase R phase S phase T phase
S1 S2 S1 S2 S1 S2 S1 S2 S1 S2 S1 S2

Same CT ratio for Major CT

P1 and Device CT
APF
Major CT CT
// // //

P2

CT
T_S2 T_S1
S_S2 S_S1
R_S2 R_S1

CT Terminal Block in
APF P1 APF Wall Mount
Device // // //

CT
R-CT-S1
R-CT-S1
R-CT-S1
R-CT-S2
R-CT-S2
R-CT-S2
S-CT-S1
S-CT-S1
S-CT-S1
S-CT-S2
S-CT-S2
S-CT-S2
T-CT-S1
T-CT-S1
T-CT-S1
T-CT-S2
T-CT-S2
T-CT-S2

P2
-+
Loads Loads Loads
CT Terminal Block in APF Cabinet
APF from left to right: XT_PIN1 to XT_PIN18

Figure 1-1 CT Connection for closed loop, without cap Figure 1-2 CT Connection for closed loop, without cap bank scenario
bank scenario – SLD – Detailed

If CT connection is following this pattern, CT related parameters should be set according to following table for Touch Screen HMI .

Corresponding CT settings in Touch Screen HMI

Setting Location Setting Value
CT Setting A CT Position Load Side

CT Setting A CT Direction Positive

CT Setting A CT Number 3-CT

CT Setting A 1-CT Location No need to set

CT Setting A CT Ratio Actual CT ratio

7
2. Open loop
In this scenario, 3 CTs shall be installed at the load side (R/S/T phases), P1 should be facing the grid side. Refer to Figures 2-1 and 2-2
for single line diagram (SLD) and detailed connection.

CT
GRID S1 S2
R
S1 S2
//

S
//

T
S1 S2 LOAD
P1 P2
//

Loads Loads
APF CT
APF

R-CT-S1
R-CT-S1
R-CT-S1
R-CT-S2
R-CT-S2
R-CT-S2
S-CT-S1
S-CT-S1
S-CT-S1
S-CT-S2
S-CT-S2
S-CT-S2
T-CT-S1
T-CT-S1
T-CT-S1
T-CT-S2
T-CT-S2
T-CT-S2
Cabinet
T_S2 T_S1
S_S2 S_S1
R_S2 R_S1

Figure 2-1 CT Connection for open loop, without cap SVG Wall Mount
CT Terminal CT Terminal to right: XT_PIN1 to XT_PIN1

bank scenario – SLD

Figure 2-2 CT Connection for open loop, without cap bank scenario
– Detailed

If CT connection is following this pattern, CT related parameters should be set according to following table for Touch Screen HMI.

Corresponding CT settings in Touch Screen HMI

Setting Location Setting Value
CT Setting A CT Position Load Side

CT Setting A CT Direction Positive

CT Setting A CT Number 3-CT

CT Setting A 1-CT Location No need to set

CT Setting A CT Ratio Actual CT ratio

8
Services and training solutions to improve your business
To support our range of This access to NHP’s expertise, At NHP, we understand the
quality products, NHP also offer a wide combined with our extensive complexities of your project and
range of service and training options, local stockholding further enables our product and service offering
including technical support, field service,
customers to experience a holistic is designed to help you overcome
maintenance contracts, repair services
and training – all of which are delivered
approach across their automation, them. If your project is focused on
by qualified technicians. industrial switchgear, training a profitable, safe and sustainable
and commissioning business operation, NHP’s customised value
requirements, for complete add service and training offering is
peace of mind. the place to start.

NHP ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING PRODUCTS

1300 NHP NHP | nhp.com.au |
AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND
nhp.com.au nhp-nz.com

SALES 1300 NHP NHP SALES 0800 NHP NHP

[email protected] [email protected]

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