Abstract:

The current loads in industrial applications are based on inductive loads due to developing technology. The inductive loads consume inductive reactive energy owing to their electrical structures. The consumed reactive energy causes to decrements in power quality and efficiency of the system in addition to power factor deficiencies. The flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS) play an important role in improving the performance and quality of the power system. The control of power systems that are equipped with FACTS systems are accomplished more rapidly and easily comparing to regular compensations. The Distribution Static Synchronous Compensator (D-STATCOM) is the most common FACTS device used to increase power quality. D-STATCOM, also used for reactive power control, is a shunt connected device which is used to improve power quality in distribution systems. D-STATCOM exchanges reactive power with mains and prevents voltage fluctuations. In this study, a D-STATCOM that is based on voltage source converter and exchanges reactive power with the distribution line to eliminate power quality problems at the source has been modelled in MATLAB Simulink software and the simulation results were examined. In the modelled system, 4 km distribution line has been modelled with two separate test loads at 16.40kVA (10kW+13kVAR) and 22.36kVA (10kW+20kVAR) rated power, and the D-STATCOM model at the end of the line. The power quality problems caused by these loads on the distribution line were tried to be eliminated through the modelled D-STATCOM. According to the simulation results, it is confirmed that the voltage fluctuation and total harmonic distortion (THD) on the load side are remarkably reduced when the D-STATCOM is connected to the network. As the result, D-STATCOM has been shown to greatly overcome the voltage rise or sags caused by variable loads in the network, to reduce power loss and accordingly improve the voltage stability.

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