Abstract
This paper presents a comparative analysis of control strategies applied to active power filtering, aiming to compensate a nonlinear three-phase load with a current of 20 A per phase. The study focuses on the comparison between direct power control (DPC) and indirect current control, analyzed in two distinct configurations: (i) reference current calculation based solely on the voltage regulator, and (ii) reference current calculation including the active component of the load current. The active power filter system is modeled and simulated in the Matlab/Simulink environment and subsequently implemented in real time on the dSPACE DS1103 platform for experimental validation. The evaluations are carried out under identical load conditions, allowing for a relevant and fair performance comparison. Experimental results highlight the ability of both strategies to reduce harmonic distortions and compensate reactive power, while showing notable differences in terms of total harmonic distortion (THD), DC-link voltage stability, and dynamic response to load variations. The comparative analysis provides a clear perspective on the advantages and limitations of each method, emphasizing the impact of the reference current calculation approach on the overall performance of the active power filter and its relevance for practical power quality compensation applications.