CHALLENGE
Wastewater treatment plants are facilities with high electricity demand, characterized by variable operating conditions and the presence of numerous nonlinear loads. In one such installation, significant power quality issues emerged — high reactive power levels and the presence of higher-order harmonics were causing overloads in the power supply system, increased thermal losses, and a heightened risk of failure for sensitive power electronic equipment.
An additional challenge was the fact that each section cooperates with a gas generator (biogas cogeneration), which required particularly precise and dynamic control of grid parameters, especially reactive power.
SOLUTION
In response to these challenges, ANIRO designed and implemented a comprehensive reactive power compensation and harmonic filtering system based on the latest power electronics technologies:
2× SINEXCEL ASVG 300 Active Static Var Generators
These devices provide compensation for both inductive and capacitive reactive power. Thanks to their three-level topology and a response time of just 15 ms, the compensators effectively adapt to dynamic changes in the network.
COMSYS ADF P300-200A Active Harmonic Filter
A high-performance active filter designed to reduce current harmonics up to the 49th order, significantly improving power quality, minimizing resonance risks, and increasing equipment lifespan.
The implemented dual-section switchgear was designed to cooperate with two independent gas generators, ensuring not only reduced electricity consumption but also an environmental benefit through the utilization of gas generated during the biological wastewater treatment process.
RESULTS
The project delivered measurable technical and economic benefits:
- Reduction of total harmonic voltage distortion (THDu) from approximately 6% to 2%
- Significant reduction of harmonic currents — by more than 60%
- Reduction of Total Demand Distortion (TDD) from approximately 27% to 4.4%
- Stabilized operation of gas generators through load balancing and voltage distortion reduction
- Lower costs associated with reactive power penalties
- Improved energy efficiency and extended lifespan of technological equipment
SUMMARY
The implementation of the ASVG compensation system combined with the ADF P300 active harmonic filter provides a modern and effective solution for facilities with challenging power supply conditions, such as wastewater treatment plants. The ANIRO project confirms the effectiveness of integrating advanced power electronics technologies to improve power quality, increase installation reliability, and reduce operating costs.