2014-03-11

Power Quality Improvement in DC Drives Using Matlab/Simulink

  Power Quality Improvement.pdf (Size: 297.96 KB / Downloads: 1)

Abstract

Power Quality (PQ) has become an important

topic of discussion and research, especially in a deregulated

environment. As per IEEE 519 std. these parameters of

power quality measurement, are four in number, of which

Total Harmonic Distortion is most widely used.

Semiconductor switching devices which are generally used

in converter circuits produce significant harmonic voltages

as they chop voltage waveforms during the transition

between the conducting and cutoff stages. The diode bridge

rectifiers/converters are considered as a major contributor

to the power system harmonics and the consequences are

varying from components overheating to communication

interference. Our work links the field of electrical power

conversion and electrical drives (DC), where these power

converters find applications.

HARMONIC ANALSYSIS

For the purposes of harmonic analysis, the dc drive

loads can be represented as sources of harmonic currents.

The system looks stiff to these loads and the current

waveform is relatively independent of the voltage

distortion at the drive location. This assumption of a

harmonic current source permits the system response

characteristics to be evaluated separately from the dc

drive characteristics. The representation of the drives as

harmonic current sources is shown.

COMPLETE SOLUTION

The problem of eliminating harmonics in switching

converters has been the focus of research for many years.

The Selective harmonic elimination (SHE) PWM based

methods can theoretically provide the highest quality

output among all the PWM methods. SHE offers several

advantages compared to traditional modulation methods

including acceptable performance with low switching

frequency to fundamental frequency ratios, direct control

over output waveform harmonics, and the ability to leave

triplen harmonics uncontrolled to take advantage of

circuit topology in three phase systems. These key

advantages make SHE a viable alternative to other

methods of modulation in applications such as variable

speed drives, or dual frequency induction heating. This

method is sometimes called a programmed PWM

technique. However, the drawback of these methods is a

heavy computational burden and a complicated hardware.

The main challenge of solving the associated nonlinear

equations, which are transcendental in nature and

therefore have multiple solutions, is the convergence. It is

generally accepted that the performance of an inverter,

with any switching strategy, can be related to the

harmonic contents of its output voltage. Power electronics

researchers have always studied many novel control

techniques to reduce harmonics in such waveforms.

CONCLUSION

Power Quality related issues, standards concerned

with power quality are discussed in detail and various

suppression techniques are thus simulated. All the

reduction techniques do have its own area of application.

Owing to IEEE 519 Std, suitable technique can be

adopted. Passive Filters are cheaper and Shunt Active

Filters are found to be advantageous than other reduction

techniques. Selective Harmonic Elimination Technique

can be used to suppress dominant harmonics and thus

lower the THD of entire system.

Show more