Abstract
The traditional configurations of power systems are changing due to the greater penetration of renewable energy sources (solar and wind), resulting in reliability issues. At present, the most severe power quality problems in distribution systems are current harmonics, reactive power demands, and the islanding of renewables caused by severe voltage variations (voltage sag and swell). Current harmonics and voltage sag strongly affect the performance of renewable-based power systems. Various conventional methods (passive filters, capacitor bank, and UPS) are not able to mitigate harmonics and voltage sag completely. Based on several studies, custom power devices can mitigate harmonics completely and slightly mitigate voltage sags with reactive power supplies. To ensure the generating units remain grid-connected during voltage sags and to improve system operation during abnormal conditions, efficient and reliable utilization of PV solar farm inverter as STATCOMs is needed. This paper elaborates the dynamic performance of a VSC-based PV-STATCOM for power quality enhancement in a grid integrated system and low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability. LVRT requirements suggest that the injection of real and reactive power supports grid voltage during abnormal grid conditions. The proposed strategy was demonstrated with MATLAB simulations.
Highlights
IntroductionThe increased utilization of non-linear loads and greater penetration of renewable energy sources is contributing to power quality problems, such as current harmonics, reactive power demands and voltage variations (voltage sag and swell), in distribution and transmission systems
At present, the increased utilization of non-linear loads and greater penetration of renewable energy sources is contributing to power quality problems, such as current harmonics, reactive power demands and voltage variations, in distribution and transmission systems.Among the various power quality issues, harmonics and voltage sag are the most common and severe issues in power systems [1]
A novel PV-STATCOM Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) strategy, employed for the mitigation of current harmonics during normal operating conditions and for the mitigation of both current harmonics and voltage sag during grid faults in a grid integrated system, was presented in this article
Summary
The increased utilization of non-linear loads and greater penetration of renewable energy sources is contributing to power quality problems, such as current harmonics, reactive power demands and voltage variations (voltage sag and swell), in distribution and transmission systems. Based on several research studies on active power filters, PV-STATCOM can mitigate harmonics and voltage sags and ensure energy sources remain grid-connected during abnormal conditions. Low voltage ride through (LVRT) indicates that all generating units should remain connected within a grid, continuously, to provide the required amount of real and reactive power (Q) to support grid voltage recovery during a sag [6,7,8]. It is required that generating units should cease to energize local loads during a grid fault, for example voltage sag or frequency disturbance, which is known as anti-islanding protection [10,11].
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