Active filtering of electric power has now become a mature technology for harmonic and reactive power compensation in two-wire (single phase), three-wire (three phase without neutral), and four-wire (three phase with neutral) AC power networks with nonlinear loads. This paper presents a comprehensive review of active filter (AF) configurations, control strategies, selection of components, other related economic and technical considerations, and their selection for specific applications. It is aimed at providing a broad perspective on the status of AF technology to researchers and application engineers dealing with power quality issues. A list of more than 200 research publications on the subject is also appended for a quick reference.

A review of active filters for power quality improvement

A new multilevel voltage-source inverter with separate DC sources is proposed for high-voltage, high-power applications, such as flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) including static VAr generation (SVG), power-line conditioning, series compensation, phase shifting, voltage balancing, fuel cell, and photovoltaic utility systems interfacing, etc. The new M-level inverter consists of (M-1)/2 single-phase full bridges in which each bridge has its own separate DC source. This inverter can generate almost sinusoidal waveform voltage with only one time switching per cycle as the number of levels increases. It can solve the size-and-weight problems of conventional transformer-based multipulse inverters and the component-counts problems of multilevel diode-clamp and flying-capacitor inverters. To demonstrate the superiority of the new inverter, an SVG system using the new inverter topology is discussed through analysis, simulation, and experiment.

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A multilevel voltage-source inverter with separate DC sources for static VAr generation

This paper presents an overview of the state of the art in reactive power compensation technologies. The principles of operation, design characteristics and application examples of Var compensators implemented with thyristors and self-commutated converters are presented. Static Var generators are used to improve voltage regulation, stability, and power factor in ac transmission and distribution systems. Examples obtained from relevant applications describing the use of reactive power compensators implemented with new static Var technologies are also described.

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Reactive Power Compensation Technologies: State-of-the-Art Review

A multilevel cascade voltage source inverter having separate DC sources is described herein. This inverter is applicable to high voltage, high power applications such as flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) including static VAR generation (SVG), power line conditioning, series compensation, phase shifting and voltage balancing and fuel cell and photovoltaic utility interface systems. The M-level inverter consists of at least one phase wherein each phase has a plurality of full bridge inverters equipped with an independent DC source. This inverter develops a near sinusoidal approximation voltage waveform with only one switching per cycle as the number of levels, M, is increased. The inverter may have either single-phase or multi-phase embodiments connected in either wye or delta configurations.

Multilevel cascade voltage source inverter with seperate DC sources

Smart microgrids offer a new challenging domain for power theories and compensation techniques, because they include a variety of intermittent power sources, which can have dynamic impact on power flow, voltage regulation, and distribution losses. When operating in the islanded mode, low-voltage smart microgrids can also exhibit considerable variation of amplitude and frequency of the voltage supplied to the loads, thus affecting power quality and network stability. Due to limited power capability in smart microgrids, the voltage distortion can also get worse, affecting measurement accuracy, and possibly causing tripping of protections. In such context, a reconsideration of power theories is required, since they form the basis for supply and load characterization, and accountability. A revision of control techniques for harmonic and reactive compensators is also required, because they operate in a strongly interconnected environment and must perform cooperatively to face system dynamics, ensure power quality, and limit distribution losses. This paper shows that the conservative power theory provides a suitable background to cope with smart microgrids characterization needs, and a platform for the development of cooperative control techniques for distributed switching power processors and static reactive compensators.

Conservative Power Theory, a Framework to Approach Control and Accountability Issues in Smart Microgrids

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the number of thyristor-controlled shunt compensators used in industrial and utility systems for dynamic power factor correction and terminal voltage stabilization. These thyristor-controlled shunt compensators function as variable reactances operated in both the inductive and capacitive domains.

Principles and Applications of Static, Thyristor-Controlled Shunt Compensators

This paper describes the constraints which economics places on the design of power transformers. The mathematical analysis shows how the size, losses, reactances, and power output are related when the transformer is optimally designed. Because of the number of simplifying assumptions which have been made, this paper is not a treatise on how to design power transformers. On the contrary, it is a broad view of the design problem which yields findings which are new and which seem to be borne out by the experience of transformer design engineers. The paper confirms the validity of propositions which previously had only empirical backing.

T. H. Putman

Papers

Principles and Applications of Static, Thyristor-Controlled Shunt Compensators

Economics and Power Transformer Design