3-level inverter based compensator for power quality enhancement using proposed Trianguzoidal PWM technique

Abstract

In today’s scenario, the integration of a grid-connected load system with a hybrid energy system (HES) is encouraged to improve the reliability of the system. With the stunning rise in nonlinear loads in HES over the last two decades, the power quality (PQ) of the system has emerged as a paramount concern in contemporary times. The power quality problems include the injection of harmonics in the source current, low input power factor, poor voltage regulation, the burden of reactive power, etc. So, to mitigate these power quality problems in a single-phase distribution system, a 3-level Cascade H-bridge (CHB) inverter-based shunt active power filter (SAPF) is employed alongside a proposed Trianguzoidal pulse width modulation (TRZ PWM) strategy. The single-phase distribution system with SAPF is simulated in fixed and dynamic load conditions to check the system’s efficacy. The proposed PWM techniques for SAPF are compared with conventional PWM techniques, i.e., level shift, phase shift, and hybrid PWM techniques. Results indicate satisfactory performance of the proposed PWM techniques, exhibiting low harmonic distortion in source current, well within IEEE 519 limits, and high active filtering efficiency (AFE) compared to conventional PWM methods. Furthermore, this paper provides detailed comparisons of conventional and proposed PWM techniques in the context of active & reactive power supplied or delivered by load, source, and compensator, input power factor, harmonics in source or grid current, AFE, and individual harmonic components concerning fundamental component of source current.