Compensating voltage waveform distortions using a practical topology of series active power filters

Abstract

Addressing harmonics, voltage sags, voltage swells, and asymmetrical variations is essential to seamlessly integrate renewable energy sources, electric vehicle charging stations, and power electronics devices into electric power grids. These issues can significantly impact the sinusoidal symmetry of voltage waveforms. Series Active Power Filters (APFs) present a promising solution that can dramatically improve power quality (PQ) by effectively addressing voltage distortions. This paper first identifies several topology-related impracticalities in the existing literature on series APFs, such as using nonlinear loads or linear loads with a current source. Secondly, to understand the motivations behind these impracticalities, commonly used reference extraction methods, namely, Instantaneous Reactive Power Theory (IRPT) and Synchronous Reference Frame (SRF), are tested on a practical topology consisting of a distorted voltage source and a linear RL load. Results conducted in the MATLAB/Simulink environment show that IRPT fails to extract the reference signal under the practical topology, and SRF leads to unacceptable THDs surpassing the 5% threshold mandated by relevant standards set forth for such applications. Thirdly, the matrix pencil method (MPM), a model-based parameter estimation technique that exploits a voltage waveform's underlying exponential signal model to extract the series APF's reference voltage, is proposed. Extensive simulations showcase the superior performance of the MPM-based series APF. It successfully reduces voltage total harmonic distortion (THD) to below 1.13% across various scenarios, including situations involving harmonic-polluted voltage sources, incorporating nonlinear loads, sag and swell phenomenon, and capacitor utilization in DC link implementation.