Power Quality Improvement on Wind Energy System

by Using STATCOM
Farah Atiqah Binti Ali Yusup1,a*, Shirley Anak Rufus2,b, Prashobh Kumar
Karunakaran3,c, Nazreen Binti Junaidi4,d and Nurul ‘Izzati Binti Hashim5,e
1,2,3,4,5
Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS),
94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak.
a
wheresfarah@gmail.com, brshirley@feng,unimas.my, ckpkumar@feng.unimas.my,
djnazreen@feng.unimas.my, ehnizzati@feng.unimas.my

Keywords: Power Quality (PQ), Point of Common Coupling (PCC), Static Compensator
(STATCOM), Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), current Total Harmonic Distortion (THD).

Abstract. Wind energy known as a cheap, clean and uncontrolled resource and becomes an
important green electricity source. However, installation of wind system into an electric grid
introduces the Power Quality (PQ) phenomenon. These poses great challenges leads to various
control schemes and new techniques to mitigate the PQ events. This paper described the
improvement of PQ events in a grid connected wind energy system by using Static Compensator
(STATCOM) with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Point of Common Coupling
(PCC). The performance of the proposed wind energy system is simulated via
MATLAB/SIMULINK in power system block set.

Introduction
Renewable energy is the alternative sources like wind, biomass, hydro and solar that are
necessary to sustain the growth and social progress in order to replace the non-renewable energy
[1]. Compare to non-renewable energy, wind energy being a geographically and climatically
uncontrollable resource that depends on the presence of wind in certain speed. [2-3]. Compare to
Malaysia, other countries has a strategic location which most of the time has a windy climate.
This
made the installation of wind energy system suitable. Malaysia has equatorial climate which
means
receive sunlight and often raining nearly every day. With a poor wind sources, wind energy
system
will seldom be implemented. To capture the most wind energy, suitable height of tower for
mounted
the wind turbine is crucial [4]. Installation of wind turbine and structure of the adjoining into
power
grid also influences the PQ. Integration of wind energy system into existing electrical power
system
presents great technical challenges in the PQ phenomenon that essential for better improvement
in
order to improve power supply reliability and at the same time can mitigate the PQ disturbances.
Continuous output power of the wind turbine depends on the fluctuation of wind speeds that
caused
the power variations and disturbances such as voltage sags, voltage swells, harmonics and
flickers
in the power system network.
In this paper, the performance of STATCOM-BESS in facilitating the wind energy system is
presented. PQ events occur due to the installation of wind turbine with the grid becomes major
concern for most of the researchers [1-5]. Fast response time, low cost and superior voltage
support
capability, the STATCOM is considered in this proposed model [6-7]. Other than that, the
STATCOM also can protect the sensitive devices at the non-linear loads sides from getting tripped
and damaged. For the purpose of stabilized the grid system, a BESS is required in the proposed
wind energy system in order to compensate the fluctuation generated by the wind turbine and
maintain the reactive power produced by generator and non-linear load. Thus, STATCOM-BESS
plays an important role to make sure that reactive power can be injected and absorbed to wind
induction generator as a power supply.

Power Quality Issues

Due to the fact that some modern electricity equipment that has more design and control
features
in it make some component more sensitive to PQ disturbances or events. [2] This is why PQ needs
to be taken seriously to create and increase awareness among suppliers and consumers. The
most
common PQ problems that related are voltage sags, flicker, harmonics, dips and swells.
As according to IEEE 1159-1995, voltage sags is define as decrease to between 0.1 and 0.9 per
unit (p.u.) in r.m.s. voltage or current at the power frequency for durations of 0.5 cycles to 1
minute.
Furthermore, voltage sags also known as a short duration reduction in r.m.s. voltage that can be
caused by short circuit, overload or starting of electric motors [8-9].
In electrical power systems, THD is used to detect the PQ of electric power systems and it
affects
the reduction in peak currents. Harmonic distortion is not a new phenomenon on power system. It
is
caused by non-linear devices that connected in power system network that will produce a current
that is notVproportional
hmax
n2 to the applied voltage [10]. Equation of THD voltage is given as in Eq.1,
where �� represents the nth harmonic voltage and �1 is the fundamental frequency. (1) [10]
V
   100
THD

h 1 V1

According to the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) of the International

Electrotechnical Committee (IEC), flicker is defined as impression of unsteadiness of visual
sensation induced by a light stimulus whose luminance or spectral distribution fluctuates with
time.
From a more practical point of view one can say that voltage fluctuations on the supply network
cause change of the luminance of lamps, which in turn can create the visual phenomenon called
flicker.
Power factor is a ratio between real power and apparent power in an electrical circuit. Basically,
it is a measure of efficiency of power distribution system. It is in unity when voltage and current
are
in phase. Power factor usually are in its leading or lagging condition to show the sign of the phase
angle of current with respect to the voltage. Power factor must be keep closer to unity that is
between 0.95 closer to 1. This is because for a low power factor, more current flow in the system
will increase energy lost. Power factor can be defined as stated in Eq. 2 where  represents the
phase angle for lagging and leading between voltage and current [11].
Power Factor, PF  cos (2) [11]

PQ Improvement in Wind Energy Generating System with STATCOM-BESS

As illustrated in Fig. 1, grid connected wind energy system is implemented for PQ improvement
at PCC. It consists of wind energy generation system and BESS with STATCOM. This system
consists of turbine, induction generator, interfacing transformer, and rectifier to get DC bus
voltage.
Past researchers had analysed the wind energy system that being connected by STATCOM at the
PCC together with BESS can help to reduce the harmonic distortion, and at the same time,
maintain
the power factor nearly to unity at the source side and reduce the voltage sags by provide a
constant
power support for wind generator and loads[12-14].
 Fig. 1: Grid connected wind energy system with STATCOM-BESS [14]

STATCOM-BESS
STATCOM consists of Insulated gate bipolar transistor known as (IGBT) that able to reduce any
distortion in the grid since it has a higher switching frequency for low on-state voltage drop Thus,
this characteristic will protect generators from getting damage if it is being disconnected and
connected in a short period. STATCOM shunt connected device that capable of generating and
absorbing reactive power in which the output can be varied to control the specific parameters in
the
grid connected wind energy system. STATCOM is a regulating device that regulates the flow of
reactive power in the system and used for power factor correction. Besides, it is acting as a
voltage
source converter and it also capable of converting dc power into ac power of variable amplitude
and
phase angle [14].
BESS is used as an energy storage element and this connection is a new trend of storage where
the batteries are being used as a system to interchange energy with the grid. Battery is
connected
with STATCOM at PCC between user end and utility grid. Main purpose of using BESS is for
voltage regulation and maintains DC capacitor voltage constant. In wind energy generation
system,
if voltage fluctuation had ever occurred in the system, BESS can be used to level the power
fluctuation by charging and discharging operation [15].

Fig. 2: STATCOM controller in Simulink

Fig. 2 shows the control scheme needed for STATCOM controller in order provide the
appropriate current injection through Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and PI controller. PWM
technique in model enables very fast switching frequencies that can be used to improve on the
efficiency of the converter. Apart from that, the PI controller will process any error signal and will
generate the required angle to drive the error to zero. It is used to control the current injection at
the
PCC.
Simulation and Result

Fig. 3: Overall system: Grid connected wind energy system that being connected with STATCOM-
BESS

Simulation model of the overall wind energy system is implemented in Matlab/Simulink is

illustrated in Fig. 3. The simulation was carried out in a three phase, 415V with 50Hz grid.
Asynchronous induction generator with nominal speed of 1440rpm, with a rotor resistance of 0.1
Ω,
stator resistance 0.15 Ω and stator and rotor inductance carrying a value of 0.06H. STATCOM’s
inverter has a DC link voltage of 800V, forward current of 50A, a gate voltage of 20V, non-linear
load of 20kW and 310W of power dissipation.

(a)(b)
Fig. 4 Voltage at Wind Generator (a) Without STATCOM-BESS and (b) With STATCOM-BESS

As presented in Fig. 4(a), it is shows the voltage sag event that measured near the wind
generator
before being connected with STATCOM. In this paper, the voltage sag affected by a short duration
reduction in r.m.s. voltage that caused by starting of induction motors. First voltage sags occur is
within the first five cycles, which the voltage amplitude of 1.6p.u. reduce with a slow decay to
1.19p.u.. At 0.815s, then the voltage back to the pre-sag voltage of 1.6p.u. at 0.9s. It was found
that
the voltage amplitude drops to a value of 26% for three cycles. At 0.6s, the voltage drops from
1.6p.u. and slowly decaying to 0.5p.u. with value of 69% for one cycle. At Fig. 4(b) shows the
unbalance voltage sags can be mitigate as the system is connected with STATCOM-BESS and it
has
an equal magnitude for all phases.

(a)(b)
Fig. 5: Power factor measured at PCC (a) Without STATCOM-BESS, (b) With STATCOM-BESS

Performance of a power system is affected by power factor. Thus, it can be compare with peak
value of current and voltage, as illustrated in Fig. 5(a). It found that the current leads the voltage
by
45° that gives power factor of this system 0.7. However, by using the STATCOM with BESS, the
current and voltage will be in phase or current leads voltage for exactly 25.84° that gives the
power
factor nearly unity at 0.89 as in Fig. 5(b).

(a)(b)
Fig. 6: Current waveform and THD at non-linear load (a) Without STATCOM-BESS and (b) With
STATCOM-BESS

Harmonic current distortion in Fig. 6(a) shows the typical current waveform that distorted by
non-linear loads before connected with STATCOM-BESS. It should be taken seriously as it will
flow through the transmission and draw the harmonic currents in the power system. THD reading
for the 10 cycles of harmonic current at non-linear load is analysed using Fast Fourier Transform
(FFT) technique that gives 29.29% at the fundamental frequency of 50Hz. As connected with
STATCOM-BESS, the current waveform distortion is slightly decreased and it can be evaluated by
FFT analysis, in Fig. 6(b). This is due to the current injected by the STATCOM which cancel the
harmonic distortion occurred at the non-linear load. It is shows the decreased from 29.29% to
27.88%. Although the THD only decrease by 1.41%, it still proved that STATCOM-BESS can
mitigate the harmonic effects even though it is not perfectly in sinusoidal form.

(a)(b)
Fig. 7: Current waveform and THD at source (a) Without STATCOM-BESS and (b) With
STATCOM-BESS

Without the presence of STATCOM-BESS, current waveform at the source is slightly distorted
and altered the original shape of the sinusoid that caused by the continuous variation of non-
linear
load and wind generator. It results of 6.97% THD current at source and was analysed for 5 cycles
as shown in Fig. 7(a). By presence of STATCOM-BESS, distortion at the source can be mitigated as
it results perfectly sinusoidal form with THD of 0.00%, illustrated in Fig. 7(b), compare to the
waveform without the application of STATCOM-BESS.
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(a) F. McGranaghan, Surya Santoso, H. Wayne Beaty,
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Fig. 8: Current waveform and THD at wind generator (a) Without STATCOM-BESS and (b) With
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waveform generated is not a perfect sinusoidal form. Apart from that, noted that the amplitude of
System Integration and Demonstration of a 4.5 MVA STATCOM Based on Emitter Turn-off
phase 1 (yellow line) is lower than both of the amplitude of phase 2 (purple) and phase 3 (blue).
(ETO) Thyristor and Cascade Multilevel Converter, In Proc. IEEE IECON, Nov. 6–10, pp.
This is affected by the amplitude drop at phase 1 to 88%. THD generated for the current at wind
1329–1334, 2005.
generator without connected with STATCOM-BESS is 0.70% for a fundamental frequency of
50Hz. The FFT window is shown the distorted waveform for 10 cycles from of 0.8s until 1s of time
[8] Math After
sampling. H. Bollen, Understanding
connected Power Quality
with STATCOM-BESS, theProblems:
waveformVoltage Sags and and
is less distorted Interruptions,
the P.M
Anderson, IEEE New York, 10016-5997, 1999.
percentage of THD is differed slightly, 0.69% compared to percentage before connected with
STATCOM-BESS, as in Fig. 8(b). Table 1 shows indicates the voltage sags, power factor and the
[9] Kazibure,
THD value has Wilson E., after
improved Sendaula, Musokesystem
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Van Notrtrand Ranhold, 1993.

[10] Lundquist, Johan, Harmonic Distortion in Power Systems, Chalmers University of

Technology: Department Table of
1: Electrical
SummaryPower
of findings
Engineering, 2001.
FindingsWithout STATCOM-BESS With STATCOM-BESS
[11] Venkat Krishnan,
Power James McCulley, Role of Induction Motor in Voltage Instability and
Factor0.70.89
ConductVoltage
Reactive
Sags26% Planning,
Power and 69%0% New York, 2000.
THD at non-linear load29.29%27.88%
[12] Aziz
THD Ahmad, Anwar
of current Shehzad,
at wind V.B. Shrivastava, Power Quality Improvement in IEEE 30
generator0.70%0.69%
BusTHD
System,
of current at source6.97%0.00% Advance in Electronic and Electric Engineering,
Research India Publications,
Vol. 3, No. 6, 2013.

[13] Juan Manual Carrasco, Leopoldo Garcia Franquelo, Jan T. Bialasiewicz, Eduardo Galvan,
Ramon C. Portillo Guisado, Ma. Angeles Martin Prats, Jose Ignacio Leon, Narciso Moreno-
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Alfonso, Power Electronics Systems for the Grid Integration of Renewable Energy Sources: A
Survey, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, Vol. 53, No. 4, August 2006.
A grid connected wind energy system with STATCOM and BESS at PCC with non-linear loads
has been successfully implemented to mitigate the voltage sags, harmonics distortion and power
[14] Supriya
factor. Tripathi and
The presence of PQC.events
S. Sharma,
in thePower Quality
system Improvement
is analysed in Windthe
by comparing Grid Energy System
performance of the
using STATCOM With BESS - Control Scheme, India, 2014.
system with and without STATCOM-BESS in the shunt configuration. The system has been
developed and simulated by using MATLAB Simulink power system block set. Based on the
[15] B.T. Ramakrishnarao, B. Eswararao, L. Narendra, K. Pravallika, A STATCOM- Control
comparisons and simulations results, it can be conclude that the BESS technique is suitable and
Scheme for Power Quality Improvement of Grid Connected Wind Energy System”, Lendi
easy
Institute of Engineering and Technology, India, Vol. 2, Issue 3, 2013.
to implement other than provide a constant DC voltage to support the performance of STATCOM
in
mitigate the PQ events for the wind generation system.
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