A THREE-PHASE ACTIVE POWER FILTER OPERATING WITH FIXED SWITCHING FREQUENCY FOR REACTIVE POWER AND CURRENT HARMONIC COMPENSATION Lis Morin) Marcelo Dis! (2 Dept of Electrica Engineering Victor Higuera Calla 53 -C, Universi of Covcepen (Concepciéa - CHILE Fax 56- 41- 240280 ABSTRACT: The performance and dynamic characterises of @ three phase ative power flier operating with xed switching fre- ‘quency is presented and analyzed in thie paper. The proposed Scheme employs 2 PWM voluge-source inverter and has two it orant characteristics. Fis, it operates with fixed switching fe ‘quency, and second, it can compensate the reactive power and the Current harmonic components of nolincar loads. Reacive power ‘compensation Is achieved without sensing and computing the reac: tive componeat ofthe load current, thus simplifying the contol system, Current harmonic compensation is don in ime domain. ‘The principles of operation ofthe proposed active power filer along withthe design criteria ofthe power and cont circuit com Ponents are discussed in det, Finally, experimenal resls ob tained from a $ KVA prototype confi the feasibly and the fx ‘ures of the propose system. L.- INTRODUCTION “The proliferation of nonlinear loads sich as sac power converters and are furnaces results in a variety of undesirable ph nomena in the operation of power sysiems. The mest important among these are harmonic contamination, increased reactive power demand and power sytem volage fluctatins. Harmonic contami ration has become a major concer for power sysem specials de to its effets on sensitive loads and on the power distribution system. Harmonie curent components inereae power system Tess, case excessive heating in rotating machinery, can create Significant interference with communication circuits that shared common right-of-ways with ac power lines, and can generate nose fon regulating and control circuits casing eroneois operation of such equipmeat. Conventionally, pasive LC fiers have been used to eliminate line current harmonies and wo increase the load power factor. How: ‘ever, in practical applications these pusive second order fiers pre Seat the following disadvantages: 1) The source impedance svongly affects fering characters iy) As both the harmonic and the fundamental curent compo nents flow into the filer, the capacity of the filter mast be ‘aed by taking into acount both cures. ii) When the harmonic current components increas, the filer ‘ean be overloaded, iv) Parallel resonance Between the power system and the pas sive fter causes ampliieason of harmani cutens nthe Source sie ata specific frequency. ) The passive fier may fall ito series resonance with the power system, so that voltage distortion produces excessive harmon currents owing into the passive rite. 7-0-5978). 01952 EE Rogel Wallace” Juan Dixon® (2) Dept. of Electrical Engineering Universidad Cascade Chile ‘antago - CHILE Fax: 36-2 - 5525652 In onder to overcome these problems, active power filer Have been researched and develope {I In recent years, various active power filler configurations with their respective contol strategies five been proposed, and gradually being recogni as a viable Solution tothe problem created by high ower fodlinear lads (2) “16. “The topology ofthe three-phase active power fier presented in this paper is shown in Fig. 1. The proposed configuration is based fon a force-commutated pulse-width modulated voage-stc in Nester (PWMCVSD coneeted to a de capacitor. Although there are “umber of atcles which deal withthe analysis of active power filter using force-commuated voltage source inverters [4 [6], the three phase active power filter presented inthis pape differs fom previously disussed approaches inthe fllowing ways |) Retclive power compensation is achieved without sensing nd computing the reactive carentcompoaent of the load, thus simplifying the contr circu Current control i+ achieved with constant switching fre= ‘quency producing a better switching pater than hysieesis orrent contol [7]. This results in 2 reduction of inverter ‘utp high fequency current harmonic and lower stresses ‘on the semiconductor devices iy Current compensation is done in time domain allowing fst time regonse iv) Im order to improve. the active power filter performance a <évollage contol loop is implemented. ‘The de veltage ‘control loop Keeps the volag across the capacitor con San increasing the inverter volage gain and refucing the amplitude of high froquncy a caret harmonics. ‘Te volage and current contra loops ave simple and easy 10 implemen “The teaiment presented in this paper includes a comprehensive steady sate and transient analysis of the active power fier. Also, ‘he design criteria of he power ard the consol circuit are report. Finally, all the prdite results are experimentally verified on aS EVA laboratory protetype. ® » 1L.- PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION “The main section ofthe active power filter shown in Fig. 1 isa force-commiated volage source inverter connected to de capai- tor. Curent harmonic compensation is achieved by injecting equal, but opposite current harmonic components atthe point of eonnes™ tion, thereby canceling the orginal distortion and improving the power quality onthe consected power sytem [2], [3eget “ge Fig. The active power fle configuration. ‘The block diagram of the active filter contol system is shown in Fig. 2, Itconsists of a current con unit, a ce voiage contol unit a current referene generator anda iting signals generator Fig. 2. Block diagram ofthe active power filer contol syste, ‘The ac curem generated by the inven is forced to follow the reference signal tated from the current reference generator. In this eet the distorted load cursent is iter extracting the Fun- damental component, ig The Fite is tuned atthe fundamental frequency (0 oF 60 Ha), 50 that th phase sit angle andthe gain sttenaton introduced in the fier output sigal are zero. Ths, the fier outpat eurret is exally equal v0 te fundamental component ofthe load current. If the load currents subtracted fom the Tunda- ‘mental eurtent component obtained from the second orée fier, the reference current waveform required to compensate only ar” ‘monic distoron obtained. In ore to provide the reactive power required by the lady the eurreat signal obtained from the Fier is ‘yrehronied with the respective phase to neutral source volage (Pg. 3), 90 tat the inverter ac output caren is forced to lead the respative iver output volge, thereby generating the required reactive power and absorbing the real power necessary (0 maintain the de voltage constant and to supply the switching loses, The real power absorbed bythe inverter is controlled by adjusting the ampli te ofthe current reference waveform obtained from the pasive ‘ter (Fig. 2). The amplitude ofthis siusoidal waveform is equal to the ampli ofthe fundamental component of the load current ‘minus te error signal obtained from the de wotage contol nit. In this way, the caren signa allows the verter to soppy the current harmonic components, the reactive power required By the load, and {© absor the small amount ofacive power necessary to cover the sitchin loses and to keep the de voltage constant. By keeping the de voltage constant, the inverter vollage pin is increased an ‘he ampiitade of the igh Frequency inverter cureat harmonic component are reduced Fig. 3. The procedure for the generation of the curent reference waveform. (2) The phase to neural source vollage, Vy. (0) The toad current, jy its fandamental component, iy, and the Funda- mental current component synchronized withthe source voltage, ine (© The synchronized fundamental curent signal minus the load current, ya dis fundamental component. [A constant switching frequency is achieved by comparing the current etor signal with a Wangular reference waveform. This rmethod can be explained by considering the Dang-bang hysteresis Technique plus the ain of 2 fixed frequency tmangular wave form inside the imaginary hysteresis window (8). The purpose of invoducing the wiangular waveform is to sabilze the converter Switching frequency by forcing ito be constant and equal to the frequency ofthe tiangular reference signal Figures 4 and 5 show simulated curren and vollage waveforms for steady sate and transient operating conditions In Both cases theactive power fer i compensating asi pulse contoled reife. Figure 4 proves tha the active power fites compensates harmonic ‘component andthe restive power effectively Also, 1s igre i Tustates how the inverter gain volage is snpeoved with he 2d tion ofthe devote conto! loop (Gaia = 0-85, Fig. (2) In Fig. 5, a tp change in the load power factor and current amplitde ie simulated. The amplitude of the Toad current is ‘hanged from 0-4 10 0.8 in pu. while the phase shif angle, a, ‘tecreases from 45°to 15° These figures show that he ative power ‘keris fast enough to respond 10 this severe change te lad ‘operating condition, Keeping the source tine current in phase with ie respective pase 1 etal voltage and with a lov harmonic distoron, Fig, 4, Simulated results for steady sate operating conditions. (3) Phase to neural source vollage, Vig and fespective load cunt 1, (@) Inventer ae output current. () Phase to neural source volt 25, Vas athe rexpetive ae mains line cute, I () The vot age actos the de capacitor. V4. and the phase to neutral 3c mains voltage, Van @ {ig 5. Simulated results fr trasient operating contin. (a) The ase to neutral source volage, Vy, nd the respective load cur ‘en, I 0) Inverter ae output curtet. () Phase to neural source Voli, Vaqs and the respective ae mins line cureat I, (@) The vollage acoss the de capacitor, Vgc, at the phas: To neutral source vollage, Va woI11.- POWER CIRCUIT DESIGN “The selection ofthe a link reactor and the de eapcitor valves tects directly the performance of the active power filer, State ‘ar compensators implemented with voliage-soutce Inverters pre sent the same power circuit topology, but fr Is type of applica on, the entra used to select the values of Land C are different, For reaive power compensation, the design ofthe synchronous link inductor, L, and the de capacitor, C, is performed based on harmonic distoron consiraint. Tat i Lust reduced the al tude of the curent harmonics generated by the inverter while C must keep the de voltage ripple factor below a. given value (8) ‘This design criteria cannot be applied in the active power ter singe it must be able to generate distorted current waveforms However, L must be spciiod so tht it keeps the high frquency Fipple of the invener ac output curren smaller than & defined vale. ‘3. Design of he Synchronous Link Reaior ‘The design of the synchronous link reat is performed with ‘he constant that for a given switching frequency the minimum Slope ofthe inductor currents smaller than the slope ofthe tan {gular waveform tht defines the switching Frequency (Fig, 2). In this way, the intersection Between the current error signal andthe Iwangular waveform will always exis. The slope ofthe tanguar waveform is defined by: ise 0 where & isthe amplitude ofthe tiangular waveform, which has to be equal to the maximum permited amount of ripple cure, and fi is the frequency of the tiangular waveform (i.e. the inverer ‘switching frequeney) The maximem slope ofthe inductor current is equal to: iy Vu + 05y, ons ° Since the slope of the inductor curent has to be smaller than te slope of the tiangular waveform, ané the ripple current is Iowa, from (1) and 2) Van + 05¥s aerate ° 3.2 Desen af the De Capacitor ‘Transient changes in th instantaneous power absorbed to the load generate volage Macwations across the de capacitor (Fig ‘5(@). The ampliude ofthese volage fications can be conclled cffectvely with an appropriate de capacitor vale, It must be no- ‘iced thatthe de votiage contrat loop stabilizes the capacitor voltage alter few eyces, but is not fst enough 10 limit ihe fest voltage ‘arations. The capacitor value obtained with this enteria bigger than the value obtained tased or maximum de vollage ripple co strait. For this reason, the voltage across the deeapacitor presents 4 small harris ditoon factor ‘The maximum overvolage generated across the de capacitor is sven by: Ea + vi wire Veni he usin yluge att pcr, ® var is the steady sae 6 voliage, ie isthe instantaneous de bus current. From o [equation (5) gives the value ofthe de capacitor, C, that will main- tain the de volage fluctuation below AV pv. The instantaneous value ofthe de cuteat is defined by the produc of the iver line currents with the respective switching functions The mean value of the de curent hat generates the maximum overvliage can be es timated by: Foe in Ssin(wt) + sin(ot + 120%) © In this expression the inverter ac current is assumed to be sn seidal. This operating conditions represents the worst ase, IV.- CONTROL CIRCUIT DESIGN “The design procedure forthe current and voltage loops is based on the respective Gime response requirements. Since the transient response of the active power fiter is determined by the current contol lop, its ime response has tobe fast be fast enough to fo Tow the curent reference waveform closely. On the other hand, the lime response of he de voltage contol nest not be fast and i Tecied w be at least 10 times slower than the current 1o0p ie response, Thus, these uit can be designed as two independent systems ‘A PL controler are selected forthe curent and the voliage control loops ince it contributes to zero steady stale error in tracking the reference curent and voltage signals respectively. Simulated results have. shown that the active filler transient response is improved by acjusing the gaia ofthe proportional pat ‘of the PI current contol tobe equal to one and the gain ofthe in Teprator equal to the Frequency ofthe triangular waveform \V.- EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS [A'S KVA laboratory prototype using IGBT switches was im plemented and successfully tested in compensating a sin pulses ‘contoledsectifer The inverer was operated at 1S KHz switch ing frequency. Steady state and transient results obtained with this bread beard unit ae depicted in Figs. 6 and 7. ‘Steady-state experimental results for a nonlinear compensation are illustrate in Fig. 6. Figure 612) shows the Tine fo neutral acining vohage with the respesive load coment (heephase Coniolledrecifer) is Fg. 6), the phase to neal source Coliage with the respective sours line cunt ae ita. This figure stows thatthe active power fir eines low eine reactive power roqied By the li (pase shi angle is almost e0) VV Fig. 6, Steady-state experimental resus. (a) The pase 10 neutral source voluage, Van, 30 Vidi, and the respective load curet, Sdiv. (0) The pise to neural source volige, Van, 50 Vidi, ad the respective source cutest, 5 A/a Transient results are shown in Fig. 7. Transient operating condition is obtained by generating a stp change in the firing angle (from a=459 10 4=15) of the thre phase controlled rectifier. In paicular, Fig. 76) shows the transient scp change inthe load Current and inthe power factor. In ig. 7() the ae mains pase 10 neutral Source volage withthe respective lie current ae shown, ‘This figure shows the elfectivenest ofthe active power filer, ince itis able to Keep the current in phase with the respective pase 10 neutral voltage, thereby keeping the ac source power factor «9a {0 one, and eliminating low frequency curent harmonics. Figure ie) shows thatthe Tne current reaches sae sae ia altos 40 cyees. This result proves that time response ofthe curren loop contol is fast. Finally, Fig. 7d) shows the respective inverter ‘output current ‘Comparison wih simulated wavetorms shown in Figs. 4 and S reveals # close aprcment between predicted and experimental Staveforms, Moreover, agreement in waveforms alates the alysis presented. © Fig. 7. Transient experimental resus a) Phase to neural voltage, 0 Vidiv, and losd corent, 5 Ave. (9) Phase t9 neva altage 50 Viv and the source ine curtet, 5 Aidv. (2) Paseo neutral Source vollage, 50 Vidi, and the source current, § Aviv. (€) The inverter ouput curent, 5 AldVI CONCLUSION In this paper an active power fer that operates with fixed switching feguency has been presented and analyze. The pro posed active power filter aca compensate curent harmonic compo ‘nents and the reactive power required by the load. Reactive power ‘compensation is achieved without sensing and computing the a80- ‘lated reactive power component, this simpliying creat topology. ‘The performance ofthe active power fier has been improved by Including ade voltage contol lop that mantin the voltage across the de capacitor constant. Tn this way, the inverter voltage ain is increased and the high frequeney nipple curent is reduced. The close agreement between the analytical and the experimental esl ‘roves the validity of the analysis and the feasibility ofthe pro- posed system, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ‘Tre authors would like to acknowletge the finance support from the Fondo de Desir Cienificoy Teenolopico FONDECYT™” through the 92-0262 Project. Also the authors would like to hank the Direcion de lnvesigacsn ofthe Univer sy of Concepidn, the International Copper Association and the A.LD, (Bureau ofthe U.S. Government for te asiance gave ‘trough the projects #20.92.11, LC.A.# 416 and ALD. #11.196 REFERENCES [1 WM, Grady, MJ. 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