To maintain compliance with power-quality standards and protect infrastructure, industry typically evaluates two technical solutions: active front-end (AFE) drives or active harmonic filters (AHF).
AFE technology uses fast-switching power circuits that dramatically reduce harmonic distortion. It becomes especially valuable in applications requiring controlled braking—cranes, downhill conveyors, centrifuges—where it delivers both braking and power-quality benefits. However, because each drive requires its own AFE hardware, the option becomes more capital-intensive in installations with many drives of mixed sizes.
Active harmonic filters offer a centralised and scalable alternative. Installed at a distribution board or switch-room level, an AHF monitors the electrical network in real time and injects precisely opposite waveforms to cancel harmonics generated by multiple drives simultaneously. This makes it particularly cost-effective in facilities with numerous standard variable-speed drives. The limitation however is that AHFs cannot provide regenerative braking, so they are unsuitable for applications requiring frequent braking.
Toshiba offers both AFE drives and AHF systems. Experienced engineers at Toshiba can help in designing cleaner, more resilient electrical networks that keep plants running efficiently.
Explore the world of active harmonic filters and active front end drives at:
https://tic.toshiba.com.au/product/ev8-variable-speed-drive
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