IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution

Research Article

Performance analysis of DSTATCOM ISSN 1751-8687

Received on 18th November 2016
Revised 4th March 2017
employing various control algorithms Accepted on 29th March 2017
E-First on 3rd July 2017
doi: 10.1049/iet-gtd.2016.1833
www.ietdl.org

Mrutyunjaya Mangaraj1 , Anup Kumar Panda1

1Department of Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela 769008, India
E-mail: mmangaraj.ee@gmail.com

Abstract: This research work introduces a new hybrid technique called quasi-Newton back-propagation based icosϕ control
algorithm. Its structure is constructed on the concept of biological features like input neuron, target neuron, weight correction
and more attractive due to its parallel computing, learning capability behaviour. Systematic step-by-step procedures are
represented by mathematical equations in the MATLAB/Simulink platform. The fundamental weighted values of active and
reactive power components of load currents are extracted using the proposed control technique to generate the reference
source currents. Further, the reference source currents are used to generate switching pulses for voltage source converter
(VSC) of the distributed static compensator (DSTATCOM). It is capable enough to perform several functions such as harmonic
mitigation, power factor correction, load balancing and voltage regulation which further reduce the DC link voltage across the
self-supported capacitor of the VSC. Simulation and experimental validation demonstrates better performance of the suggested
algorithm for operation of the DSTATCOM at different loading conditions.

1 Introduction learning rule subjected to different parameter variations

In a short span, significant research works have been directed on
control of reactive power, harmonics, load compensation and low
power factor (p.f.) using distributed static compensator
(DSTATCOM) in the distribution system due to the rapid growth of
distributed generation (GD) converters and other microprocessor/
power electronics based equipment. On the prospective of that,
DSTATCOM has achieved a better reputation in saving cost
economy, supplying quality and reliable power among consumers,
utility companies and manufacturers. All these successes are
attained only due to the root cause of control algorithm design.
Numerous controllers have been adopted for solving power quality
disturbances followed by an IEEE grid code in the cited literatures
[1–5]. However, the difficulties faced in the designing of
conventional control techniques are (i) involvement of more
number of sensors and multipliers, (ii) slew rate of input tracking
capability of system indices, (iii) less competent under various
balanced, unbalanced and distorted or any possibility choice of
supplying and loading condition. To overcome these difficulties
many research articles have been reported on the application of
neural network (NN) on power quality related issues. These are
back-propagation [6], feedforward multilayer NN with adaptive
linear algorithm [7], NN-based discrete-fuzzy logic [8], anti-
Hebbian [9], recurrent NN [10] and radial basis function (RBF)-
based NN [11] control algorithm. Besides these, other algorithms
like Elman back-propagation [12], generalised regression [13],
hopfield [14] NN have been contributed as powerful control
techniques for generating the reference sinusoidal current from
distorted load current. The reasons behind the development of an
improved version of NN-based DSTATCOM are (i) to predict the
future harmonic compensating current, (ii) tracking of input
neurons and online learning mechanism, (iii) meeting the
International standard grid codes on PQ issues.
Apart from these, some of NN are also implemented in the
power system operation such as load forecasting [15, 16], fault
diagnosis [17], economic load dispatch [18], security assessment
[19], transient stability improvement [20], signal monitoring [21]
and so on. Based on the various advantages of NN, quasi-Newton
back-propagation (QNBP) is selected for the correction of power
quality related issues [22, 23]. It aims at achieving better
performance between the input and output neurons to adopt its own
irrespective of time. In another way, the weight extraction for
harmonic reduction is coupled with delays, though delay
compensation is dependent on the harmonic orders. Especially it is
more approximate for lower order and less for higher order.
Furthermore, power quality improvement can be achieved with the
hybrid ANN control technique.
This paper describes the detailed explanation on QNBP-based
icosϕ control algorithm for the better operation of DSTATCOM in
the MATLAB/Simulink platform. This suggested algorithm is
capable enough for the detection, measurement and monitoring of
the signal attributes like amplitude, p.f. and frequency and
performs smooth operation among analogue components and
digital signal processor simultaneously in the real-time application.
This technique is selected in view of better speed processing, less
memory requirement, accuracy and power quality, responsive and
easier to implement in the practical application due to parallel
computing nature and adapted to system dynamic features. The
comparative performance analyses are realised by considering
icosϕ and QNBP-based icosϕ techniques as the case studies.
Furthermore, a brief comparison between the two techniques for
DSTATCOM is provided through the real-time validation.
Systematic step-by-step procedures in both implementing the
proposed technique and achieving the various goals are listed as
follows:
i. The weighted value of both active and reactive components of
load current can be extracted using icosϕ control algorithm
successfully.
ii. The complete weight modification of the fundamental
component of the load current is performed using QNBP
principle.
iii. The computational burdens of one complex NN are reduced by
making the individual subnets for each phase of the active and
reactive weight component.
iv. Performance comparison of DSTATCOM using both control
algorithms is presented under both balanced and unbalanced
loading conditions.
v. Source current harmonic reduction, p.f. improvement, load
balancing and voltage regulation are successfully obtained by
meeting IEEE-519 guidelines.

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Fig. 1  Distribution system configuration
(a) Distribution system configuration, (b) Structure of QNBP-based icosϕ neural network, (c) Switching signals generation of VSC using proposed control algorithm
vi. The size of the DSTATCOM is reduced as compared with the
other traditional controller.
Subsequently, the designs of control structure and ‘result and
discussion’ are presented in Sections 3 and 4, respectively, and the
experimental validation is presented using OPAL-RT software for
the real-time application in Section 5.
2 Distribution system configuration
The control algorithm based DSTATCOM including the
distribution system for a non-linear load is shown in Fig. 1a. The
output voltage and current of the DSTATCOM are denoted as vc
and ic , respectively. The corresponding input capacitor voltage and
current are denoted as vdc and idc, respectively. The source voltage
and current are denoted as vs and is, respectively. The source
impedance is modelled as the connection of Rs and Ls. An
uncontrolled diode rectifier with a resistive Rl and inductive Ll load
serves as a non-linear load connected to the PCC and the
corresponding current is denoted as il. The proposed NN structure
and the detail algorithm for switching signal generation of voltage
source converter (VSC) are shown in Figs. 1b and c, respectively.
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3 Implementation of proposed control strategy
for 3P3W DSTATCOM
The quasi-Newton is one of the new classes of Newton method. It
was proposed by physicist William C. Davidson in the Argonne
National Laboratory in 1959. This is the generalisation of the
secant method and mostly applicable for the first derivative
multidimensional problem so that intensive calculation is not
required. One of the chief advantages of QNBP methods over the
Newton's method is that only Hessian matrix is to be inverted and
gradient matrix does not need to be inverted. However, both these
two matrices are needed to be inverted in the Newton's method, so
that QNBP method is preferable for solving of the system non-
linear equations. Here, the weight updating is computed as a
function the gradient, previous weight, Hessian matrix and biases.
The proposed control algorithm is the combination of NN and
conventional icosϕ techniques. In this technique, active and
reactive components of the load current are obtained using icosϕ
technique and network weights trainings and weight modifications
are obtained using QNBP technique. Fundamental weighted values
are considered as input pattern vectors, weight modifications are
considered as target pattern vectors and QNBP process is the
objective involved for weight training in the hidden layer. Such
type of parallel computing NN controller is implemented for 3P3W
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DSTATCOM in application scenario to serve the following component and w p − 1 is the previous value average weighted value
purposes. They are as follows: of the active load current component and so on.
The fundamental values iap1, ibp1and icp1 processed through the
i. Calculation of weighted value of fundamental active and sigmoid function act as an activation function and can be expressed
reactive components of load current in terms of wap1, wbp1 and wcp1 as
ii. Calculation of active component of reference source currents
iii. Calculation of reactive component of reference source currents − iap1
wap1 f iap1 1+e
iv. Calculation of switching signal generation
wbp1 = f ibp1 = 1 ÷ 1 + e− ibp1 (7)
Besides this, one proportional–integral (PI) controller to regulate
wcp1 f icp1 −i
the DC bus voltage and another PI controller to regulate the AC 1 + e cp1
bus voltage are involved in the algorithm separately.
The weighted average of fundamental active component of load
3.1 Calculation of weighted value of fundamental active and current can be calculated as
reactive components of load current
wap1 + wbp1 + wcp1
Here, the weighted values of fundamental active components of the wp = (8)
3
load currents in input layer for three phases (a, b and c) are
expressed as
The active power components of current can be obtained by
separating low-frequency components using single-order low-pass
ilap uap
filters (LPF) which is shown in Fig. 1c.
ilbp = w0 + ilacosϕla ilbcosϕlb ilccosϕlc ubp (1) Similarly, the weighted values of the reactive components of the
ilcp ucp load currents (ilaq, ilbq and ilcq) of the fundamental load current in
the input layer are expressed as
In-phase unit templates (uap, ubp and ucp) are obtained from the
ilaq uaq
following equations at the point of common coupling (PCC):
ilbq = w0 + ilasinϕla ilbsinϕlb ilcsinϕlc ubq (9)
uap vsa ilcq ucq
ubp = 1 vsb (2)
vt where uaq, ubq and ucq are quadrature unit templates of three
ucp vsc
phases at the PCC.
The amplitude at the PCC voltages is obtained as The quadrature components of the unit template of three phases
a, b and c are expressed as
2 (v2sa + v2sb + vsc
2
) uaq 0 ubp ucp
vt = (3)
3 1 3u
ubq = ap ubp −ucp (10)
√3
vsa, vsb and vsc are three-phase voltages at the supply side and vt is ucq −3uap 3ubp −ucp
the peak voltage at the PCC
The above extracted three-phase currents of ilap, ilbp and ilcp are The above weighted values of ilaq, ilbq and ilcq are passed through
passed through the continuous sigmoid function. The output signals the sigmoid function for the estimation of three weighted values of
Z ap, Z bp and Z cp act as input signal and are processed through the reactive component of load currents Z aq, Z bq and Z cq which can be
hidden layer can be obtained by the following equations: expressed by the following equations:
− ilap − ilaq
Z ap f ilap 1+e Z aq f ilaq 1+e
Z bp = f ilbp = 1 ÷ 1 + e− ilbp (4) Z bq = f ilbq = 1 ÷ 1 + e− ilbq (11)
Z cp f ilcp −i Z cq f ilcq −i
1 + e lcp 1 + e lcq

The three-phase fundamental component outputs of this layer Z aq, Z bq and Z cq acts as input signals and are processed through
iap1, ibp1 and icp1 before the activation function are expressed as the hidden layer. The three-phase fundamental output components
of this layer iaq1, ibq1 and icq1 before the activation function are
iap1 Z ap expressed as
ibp1 = w01 + wap wbp wcp Z bp (5)
iaq1 Z aq
icp1 Z cp
ibq1 = w01 + waq wbq wcq Z bq (12)
The updated weight wap is of active component of a-phase load icq1 Z cq
current using QNBP and can be expressed as (see (6)) where wap1
is the phase ‘a’ fundamental weighted amplitude of the active Here waq, wbq and wcq are updated weighting values of reactive
component of the load current, f ′ iap1 is the first derivative of iap1 component of the load current in a, b and c phases used as
feedback signal, respectively.

wap Z −1
ap f ′ iap1
wbp = w p + μ −1
(w p − wap1) −1 −1
(w p − wbp1) (w p − wcp1)−1 −1
Z bp f ′ ibp1 (6)
wcp −1
Z cp f ′ icp1

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 The updated weight waq of reactive component of phase ‘a’ the total reactive components of the reference source current and
load current using QNBP can be expressed as can be expressed as

waq wsqt = wqq − wlq (19)

wbq = wq + μ−1
3.4 Calculation of switching signal generation
wcq
(13) Three-phase instantaneous reference source active components are
−1
Z aq f ′ iaq1 estimated by multiplying in phase unit voltage template and active
power current component and these are obtained as
(wq − waq1)−1 (wq − wbq1)−1 (wq − wcq1)−1 Z bq
−1
f ′ ibq1
−1
Z cq f ′ icq1 isap uap
isbp = wspt ubp (20)
where waq1 is the phase ‘a’ fundamental weighted amplitude of
iscp ucp
the reactive load current component, f ′ iaq1 is the first derivative
of iaq1 component and wq − 1 is the previous value average weighted Similarly, three-phase instantaneous reference source reactive
value of the reactive load current component and so on. component are estimated by multiplying quadrature unit voltage
The fundamental values iaq1, ibq1 and icq1 processed through the template and reactive current component and these are obtained as
sigmoid function act as an activation function and can be expressed
in terms of waq1, wbq1 and wcq1 as isaq uaq
isbq = wsqt ubq (21)
− iaq1
waq1 f iaq1 1+e iscq ucq
wbq1 = f ibq1 = 1 ÷ 1 + e− ibq1 (14)
The summation of active and reactive components of current is
wcq1 f icq1 −i
1 + e cq1 called as reference source currents and these are obtained as
∗
The weighted average of fundamental reactive component of load isa isap isaq
current can be calculated as
isb = isbp + isbq
∗
(22)
waq1 + wbq1 + wcq1 ∗
isc iscp iscq
wq = (15)
3
The error difference between reference and actual source current of
The reactive power components of current can be obtained by respective phase is fed to the individual hysteresis current
separating low-frequency components using single-order LPF controller for the switching signal generation of VSC involved in
which is shown in Fig. 1c. the DSTATCOM.

3.2 Calculation of active component of reference source
currents
The error difference in DC voltage (vde) is estimated by comparing
reference DC voltage with sensed DC voltage and then it is
processed through the PI controller to control the constant DC bus
voltage. The output of this controller can be expressed as
wdp = k pdpvde + kidp∫ vde dt
where vde = vdc (ref ) − vdc, vdc (ref ) is the reference DC voltage and vdc
is the sensed DC voltage.
The sum of output of PI controller and the average magnitude
of the active component of the load currents is the total active
components of the reference source current and can be expressed
as
wspt = wdp + wlp
3.3 Calculation of reactive component of reference source
currents
The error difference in AC voltage (vte) is estimated by comparing
reference AC voltage with sensed AC voltage and then it is
processed through the PI controller to control the constant AC bus
voltage. The output of this controller can be expressed as
wqq = k pqqvte + kiqq∫ vtedt
where vte = vt (ref ) − vta , vt (ref ) is the reference AC voltage and vta
is the sensed AC voltage.
The difference between the output of PI controller and the
average magnitude of the reactive component of load currents is
4 Simulation results and discussion
The simulation model of a proposed DSTATCOM is developed in
the time domain using MATLAB/SIMULINK and Power System
toolboxes. The performance study of DSTATCOM is analysed by
using both icosϕ and QNBP-based icosϕ control techniques under
both uniformity and diversity loading condition. The subfigures of
Figs. 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a are organised in the order of capacitor voltage
(16) (vdc), compensating current (ica, icb, icc), load current (ila, ilb, ilc),
source current (is) and source voltage (vs) from bottom to top,
respectively.
4.1 Performance using icosϕ-based DSTATCOM
The performance of DSTATCOM using icosϕ control techniques
under both uniformity and diversity loading condition is explained
as follows.
(17)
4.1.1 Uniformity loading: The analyses of the current state of the
distribution system are depicted in Fig. 2a. Here, it is inferred that
supply voltage remains sinusoidal, source current remains
sinusoidal and balanced. The supply side p.f. between phase ‘a’
voltage and corresponding current is 0.97 and is shown in Fig. 2b,
whereas the load side p.f. between phase ‘a’ voltage and
corresponding current is 0.8 9. The amplitude (A) and total
harmonic distortion (THD, %) of source current are 55.27 and
5.70, respectively, and is shown in Fig. 2c. Whereas, the amplitude
(18) (A) and THD (%) of load current are 53.24 and 21.37, respectively,
and is shown in Fig. 2d. The compensating current represents the
control action of the DSTATCOM in the distribution system. The
DC-link capacitor voltage corresponds to the controller action and
is maintained nearly equal to 661 V. Observed performances such
as harmonics reduction, p.f. correction, voltage regulation are not
satisfactory as per IEEE recommendations.

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Fig. 2  System performance using icosϕ control technique based DSTATCOM under uniformity loading
(a) System performance using icosϕ control technique based DSTATCOM under uniformity loading, (b) Waveform of phase ‘a’ source voltage and source current, (c) Harmonic
spectra of source current, (d) Harmonic spectra of load current
4.1.2 Diversity loading: The analyses of the current state of the
distribution system are depicted in Fig. 3a. The analyses of the
current state of the distribution system are depicted as follows.
Here the situation of diversity loading is created by disconnecting
the phase ‘a’ load between 0.6 and 0.7 s. It is inferred that supply
voltage remains sinusoidal, the source current remains sinusoidal
and balanced. The supply side p.f. between of phase ‘a’ voltage
and corresponding current is 0.94, and is shown in Fig. 3b.
Whereas, the load side p.f. between of phase ‘a’ voltage and
corresponding current is 0.82. The amplitude (A) and THD (%) of
source current are 54.88 and 6.06, respectively, and is shown in
Fig. 3c. Whereas the amplitude (A) and THD (%) of load current
are 53.03 and 21.64, respectively, and are shown in Fig. 3d. The
compensating current represents the control action of the
DSTATCOM in the distribution system. The DC-link capacitor
corresponds to the controller action to maintain the voltage
variation between 720 and 754 V during this period of load
removal. Observed performances such as harmonics reduction, p.f.
correction, voltage regulation are not satisfactory as per IEEE
recommendations.
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4.2 Performance of DSTATCOM using QNBP-based icosϕ
control technique
The performance of DSTATCOM using QNBP-based icosϕ control
techniques under both uniformity and diversity loading condition is
explained as follows.
4.2.1 Uniformity loading: The analyses of the current state of the
distribution system are depicted in Fig. 4a. Here, it is inferred that
supply voltage remains sinusoidal, the source current remains
sinusoidal and balanced. The supply side p.f. between phase ‘a’
voltage and corresponding current is 0.99, and is shown in Fig. 4b.
Whereas, the load side p.f. between phase ‘a’ voltage and
corresponding current is 0.9 4. The amplitude (A) and THD (%) of
source current are 53.67 and 3.57, respectively, and are shown in
Fig. 4c. Whereas the amplitude (A) and THD (%) of load current
are 50.01 and 22.25, respectively, and are shown in Fig. 4d. The
compensating current represents the control action of the
DSTATCOM in the distribution system. The DC-link capacitor
corresponds to the controller action maintained nearly equal to 560 
V. Observed performances such as harmonics reduction, p.f.
2647
Fig. 3  System performance using icosϕ control technique based DSTATCOM under diversity loading
(a) System performance using icosϕ control technique based DSTATCOM under diversity loading, (b) Waveform of phase ‘a’ source voltage and source current, (c) Harmonic
spectra of source current, (d) Harmonic spectra of load current

correction, voltage regulation are satisfactory as per IEEE
recommendations.
4.2.2 Diversity loading: The analyses of the current state of the
distribution system are depicted in Fig. 5a. Here the situation of
diversity loading is created by disconnecting the phase ‘a’ load
between 0.6 and 0.7 s. It is inferred that supply voltage remains
sinusoidal, the source current remains sinusoidal and balanced. The
supply side p.f. between of phase ‘a’ voltage and corresponding
current is 0.98, and are shown in Fig. 5b. Whereas, the load side
p.f. between of phase ‘a’ voltage and corresponding current is 0.9  • In view of the improved version of existing controller, the
2. The amplitude (A) and THD (%) of the source current are 53.94
and 3.84, respectively, and are shown in Fig. 5c. Whereas, the
amplitude (A) and THD (%) of load current are 52.68 and 22.38,
respectively, and are shown in Fig. 5d. The compensating current
represents the control action of the DSTATCOM in the distribution
system. The DC-link capacitor corresponds to the controller action
to maintain the voltage variation between 664 and 692 V during
this period of load removal. Observed performances such as
harmonics reduction, p.f. correction, voltage regulation are
satisfactory as per IEEE recommendations.
Figs. 6a and b demonstrate the effectiveness of the control
strategies for the DSTATCOM under uniformity and diversity
loading, respectively. The results confirm that the capacitor voltage
gets reduced with the proposed control algorithm as compared with
that of the conventional one. Hence it reduces the rating of the
DSTATCOM, as presented in Tables 1 and 2.
The following major contributions are summarised as follows.
QNBP-based training method is introduced in the conventional
icosϕ control technique.
• In the proposed control method, the DC-link voltage oscillation
during diversity condition is found to be between 664 and 692 V
(with a voltage regulation of 8.2 9%), whereas 720–756 V (with
a voltage regulation of 1 2.56%) in the icosϕ control technique
as presented in Table 2. This indicates the efficacy of the three-
phase DSTATCOM.

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Fig. 4  System performance using QNBP-based icosϕ control technique based DSTATCOM under uniformity loading
(a) System performance using QNBP-based icosϕ control technique based DSTATCOM under uniformity loading, (b) Waveform of phase ‘a’ source voltage and source current, (c)
Harmonic spectra of source current, (d) Harmonic spectra of load current
• From the comparative analysis, it is observed that the QNBP-
based icosϕ control technique provides a less harmonic content
in the source current by affording a reduced DC-link voltage.
Hence, it is inferred that the rating of the DSTATCOM is
reduced to nearly 7 8% (from 8.995 to 6.858 kVA).
• The other benefits such as less capacitor stress, reduced rating of
VSC and less stored energy are the major contribution of the
proposed control method.
• Further, the harmonic spectrum of source current and load
current for uniformity and diversity loading conditions is clearly
shown in the Section 4. The THD comparison of source current
and load current are carried out using icosϕ control technique
and QNBP-based icosϕ control technique separately. The
detailed comparison is also specified in Table 1. Harmonic
spectrum of source current and load current values are also
maintaining the IEEE 519-1992 and IEC 61000-3 standards.
• The modified icosϕ technique involves an iterative weight
updating operation using the QNBP training principle, whereas
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the conventional icosϕ technique uses a clustered weight.
Briefly, both the fundamental active weight as well as reactive
weight components are extracted using a zero crossing detector
and ‘sample and hold’ logic in a conventional icosϕ control
technique. However, the use of a filter to get a noise free weight
is an extra burden, and it has no guarantee to give a tuned value.
These limitations of a conventional icosϕ technique are
overcome by proposing the QNBP-based icosϕ control
technique in this paper. Thus, the suggested control technique is
aimed to get a filtered and tuned weight. After extraction of the
clustered weight, the weight is further processed through its
learning mechanism followed by entire mathematical
calculations, as described in Section 2. Apart from that, the
tuned weight is less affected by noise and hence become stable
and also suitable for any kind of disturbance involved in the
system, which help to inject the appropriate compensator current
at the PCC.
2649
Fig. 5  System performance using QNBP-based icosϕ control technique based DSTATCOM under diversity loading
(a) System performance using QNBP-based icosϕ control technique based DSTATCOM under diversity loading, (b) Waveform of phase ‘a’ source voltage and source current, (c)
Harmonic spectra of source current, (d) Harmonic spectra of load current

• Many researchers have selected a higher value of DC-link
capacitor for the DSTATCOM based on their applications.
However, the higher value of DC-link capacitor leads to higher
rating of DSTATCOM, higher switching losses, bulky, high cost
and bigger size of the system. But, proposed algorithm is
capable of reducing 18% amount of DC-link voltage obtained
from conventional algorithm. Also, It is evident from Table 2
and Fig. 6 that the proposed DSTATCOM having reduced DC-
link voltage of 560 V is sufficient to produce line voltage in
order to compensate source current harmonics and reactive
power in the power grid.
5 Real time digital simulator (RTDS) waveforms
and discussion
RT-LAB allows the user to readily convert Simulink models, via
real-time workshop, and then to conduct real-time simulation of
those models executed on multiple target computers equipped with
multi-core PC processors. This is used particularly for hardware in
the loop and rapid control prototyping applications. RT-LAB
transparently handles synchronisation, user interaction, real-world
interfacing using I/O boards and data exchanges for seamless
distributed execution. The OP5142 is one of the key building
blocks in the modular OP5000 I/O system from Opal-RT
Technologies. It allows the incorporation of field programmable
gate array (FPGA) technologies in RT-LAB simulation clusters for

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Fig. 6  Comparison of vdc under
(a) Uniformity loading, (b) Diversity loading

Table 1 Comparison of performance parameter

Control strategy Performance parameter Loading condition
Uniformity Diversity
icosϕ PCC voltage (V), %THD 295.5,14.12 275.5, 13.62
Source current (A), %THD 54.97, 05.28 51.46, 06.14
Load current (A), %THD 51.46, 22.62 50.00, 22.62
QNBP-based icosϕ PCC voltage (V), %THD 295.2, 6.57 302.05, 6.86
Source current (A), %THD 52.05, 03.13 52.24, 03.26
Load current (A), %THD 52.01, 22.25 52.68, 22.38

Table 2 Comparison of rating of DSTATCOM

Control strategy Diversity loading Uniformity loading
Variation in vdc, V vdc, V Input p.f. Energy, J Rating, kVA
icosϕ 720-756 661 0.97 436.921 8.995
QNBP based icosϕ 664-692 560 0.99 313.60 6.858

distributed execution of HDL (hardware description language)
functions and high-speed, high-density digital I/O in real-time
models. Based on the highest density Xilinx Spartan-3 FPGAs, the
OP5142 can be attached to the backplane of an I/O module of
either a Wanda 3 U- or Wanda 4 U-based Opal-RT simulation
system. It communicates with the target PC via a PCI-Express
(peripheral component interconnect express) ultra-low-latency real-
time bus interface [24–26].
To further evaluate the performance, simulation results are
carried out using a real-time simulator (i.e. Opal-RT). The
performances of DSTATCOM using icosϕ control technique and
QNBP-based icosϕ technique under both uniformity and diversity
loading conditions are compared. The Opal-RT simulator
waveforms are obtained using a digital storage oscilloscope and
these are presented in Figs. 7a–d, respectively.
The source current, load current, compensating current and DC-
link voltage for icosϕ control technique based DSTATCOM are
depicted in Figs. 7a and b under both the uniformity and diversity
loading conditions, respectively. Similarly, the same parameters are
also analysed using QNBP-controlled icosϕ technique based
DSTATCOM and are presented in Figs. 7c and d. The real-time
digital simulation results are in close agreement with the simulation
results and so confirm the better performance of the QNBP-based
icosϕ technique for DSTATCOM.
It can be seen from the MATLAB and Opal-RT results that the
three-phase source current and voltage are found balanced and
stable even during fault conditions. The THD is observed well
below 5%, thereby satisfying IEEE-519 standards on the harmonic
limit for a dedicated distribution system. Also, reduced DC-link
voltage of the DSTATCOM is attained using the proposed
technique as compared with other. This indicates the reduction of
the size and rating of the DSTATCOM so that its cost will be less.
Hence, it is concluded that DSTATCOM using QNBP-based icosϕ
controller performs better than conventional controller, which
supports the feasibility of the algorithms and can be suitable for all
possibilities of load and source conditions.
The scales are used as follows: for the source current – 50 A/
div, load current – 50 A/div, compensator current – 50 A/div and
DC-link voltage – 500 V/div. The various block parameters utilised
for the purpose of simulation studies are illustrated in Appendix.
6 Conclusion
The propounded control strategy is implemented in the design of
DSTATCOM for a 3P3W distribution system. The system
performance is evaluated under different loading conditions. Both
the MATLAB simulation and real-time results demonstrate the
efficacy of the DSTATCOM using this proposed controller over the
conventional controller. The dynamic performance of such
DSTATCOM is validated and highlighted using the following
inference made from the simulation results.
i. Harmonic content of source current is reduced below 5%
which is the benchmark value of IEEE-519 standard.
ii. Under changing conditions of load, the supply currents are
sinusoidal, balanced and nearly in phase with supply voltage.
iii. Maintain DC capacitor voltage to its reference value under all
operating conditions.
iv. Ratings of DSTATCOM are reduced.
In overall, the performance of the DSTATCOM with the proposed
controller is found to be superior to the other controller for both
loading conditions. The simulation results are also validated with
real-time OPAL-RT.

IET Gener. Transm. Distrib., 2017, Vol. 11 Iss. 10, pp. 2643-2653 2651
© The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2017
Fig. 7  RT-Lab simulation waveform
(a) RT-Lab simulation waveform using icosϕ-based DSTATCOM under uniformity loading, (b) RT-Lab simulation waveform using icosϕ-based DSTATCOM under diversity
loading, (c) RTD simulation waveforms using QNBP-controlled icosϕ-based DSTATCOM under uniformity loading, (d) RTD simulation waveforms using QNBP-controlled icosϕ-
based DSTATCOM under diversity loading
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