JEE_V5_N3_RP5 M. Narayanan K. Keerthivasan Jovitha Jerome Journal on Electrical Engineering 2230–7176 5 3 31 36 Harmonic Elimination, Pulse Width Modulation, Pattern Search Method, Total Harmonic Distortion The problem of low power factor, power loss, heating of the machine and telephonic interference necessitates techniques to eliminate harmonics. The main objective of harmonic elimination is to produce the fundamental while not generating specifically chosen harmonics. The output voltage waveform of an inverter is given by Fourier series expansion which contains both the fundamental and the harmonics. Suitable technique has to be used to solve the transcendental equation. Traditional optimization methods suffer from various drawbacks, such as prolonged and tedious computational steps and convergence to local optima, thus, the more the number of harmonics to be eliminated, the larger the computational complexity and time. So in this research work, Pattern Search (PS) method has been employed to eliminate the harmonics. Using pattern search technique, the transcendental equations are solved and switching times (angles) that produce only the fundamental without generating any specific harmonic order is found. This is referred to as harmonic elimination or programmed harmonic elimination as the switching angles are chosen (programmed) to eliminate specific harmonics. January - March 2012 Copyright © 2012 i-manager publications. All rights reserved. i-manager Publications http://www.imanagerpublications.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=1742