Power Electronics Conditioners:

Configurations, Performance, Power Quality

and Cost Issues:
Introductory Considerations
P.F. Ribeiro, Senior Member, IEEE

Abstract ,-., ..,.'. .

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Power Quality issuer are becoming more complex and dJJ
requiring additional considerations PI more advanced generation and ' d - 3
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lond-eontralied techniques and power electronics conditioners are
utilized.

power eleetroniCI
This paper maker some
conditioners configurations,
Initial considerations
performance,
r e ppower
rding
quality. and cos1 issuer. The psper reviews the possible configurations .I"_...
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and diieussei a numbcr of technical issues and trade-offs resulting ,--.,..... i
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design optimization praeerr far different applications. >...e'+:-a
(a) Shunt (b) Series
Index Terms-Power Electronics Converters, Inverters,
Conditioners, Power Quality.
1-L ".l
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1. Power Electronics Conditioners - 'al.! ?rr,
Configurations .r;n
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iffcrcnt power electronic interface configurations are
, ,
Dneeded to fit the different applications. They can be
connected to the power grid as shown in Figure 1 (a)-(c) in
the following configurations: Shunt, Series, Shunt-Series
( c ) Shunt- Series
Combination
In the specification process of a power conversion
system for a high power utility application. the designer is
confronted with several alternatives regarding system circuit

-
topology, devices and switching technologies. For example,
with respect to circuit topology, the reactive power
requirements of utility applications tend to give preference to
voltage source converter or inverter configurations (instead of
a current source). See Figure 2 for illustrations of voltage
Voltage Source Converter
and current source converters. This is particularly true in
situations where voltageifrequency stabilization rather than
energy balance is the dominant requirement. However, even
in cases like spinning reservc applications where a current
source inverter can be utilized, utilities may prefer a voltage
source interface sincc the continuous voltage control
provided by a voltage source topology may become a major
I
component in the cost-benefit equation. Current Source Convener
Figure 2 -Converter Topologies

Recent power electronics technologies and techniques

P. F. Ribeim io with the Engineering Depmmcnt. Calvin College, such as multilevel topology and soft-switching techniques
Grand Rapids. Michigan. USA ptibeiro@cdvin.edu. that can improve the efficiency, response time, power quality,

0-7803-7671-41021'617.00 02002 IEEE 587

 and cost-effectiveness of the power conversion system, can
be easily implemented with the new class of semiconductor
devices, These deviccs have become accepted for utility
operation over the last five years. Figure 3 illustrates the
decision-tree and the ranges of possibilities in terms of
system configuration, commutation technology. transition
approach, and circuit topology and device type. The
designer has to choose the path which best satisfy the
application requirements to increase performance and reduce
overall capital and operation cost.
Power electronics converter or conditioners are then used
in many different applications. In general. power
conditioners are intended to condition the voltage or power so
that power is conveniently and efficiently utilized and
deviations from a desirable or acceptable voltage waveform
are minimized. They also provide steady state and dynamic
power flow control. Because of their fast response capability
conveners can be applied as activc filters to improve ac
voltage waveshape. These characteristics offer means to
1-
imnrove oerformancc of electric DOUW svstems. both at the
distribution and transmission levers.
'I-Level Multi-Level
Figurc 3 - Decision Tree for Power Electronics
I n considcring conveners for specific applications in
voltage transmission systems. it is expected that system
performance must be cvaluatcd with overall costs in mind.
For cxamplc. if steady state control of power flow is desired.
thcn a conventional phase shift transformer should be
evaluated for comparison with a voltage sourced convener
application
Ne\v power electronic sujitching devices arc under
dwclopment and i t is likely voltage sourced convener
technology will be favored in distribution and transmission
systems applications. It is also expectcd that modularizarion
of voltage sourced conveners will bring down their purchase
price to levels where they can be more generally used in
electric power systems.
The incentive for the serious consideration of voltage
sourced convener applications is they provide for greater
utilization of transmission networks. Thcy can be used as an
independent device to provide reactive power compensation
to driving motor loads, or as an interface device to provide
energy transfer between systems.
The specification of a power conversion system requires
a comprehensive understanding of power semiconductor
devices, circuit configurations and topologies, control
technologies, and system integration.
Recent technological advances in semiconductor
switching devices have created highly flexible and efficient
systems. When four-quadrant independent control is required.
the designer can choose fundamentally between GTOs,
IGCTs and IGBTs. Because of their higher voltage and
current ratings. GTOs have been preferred for high power
utility applications. However, recently IGCTs and ICBTs
have rcached levels comparable to GTOs with the advantages
of higher switching frequencies, lower operating losses and
lower costs. IGCTs and IGBTs also offer simplified gate
drivc circuitry, and higher tolerance to fault conditions. which
makes it easier to meet power quality requircments and easier
IO manage thermal problems in a cost-effective system.
Other recent power electronics technologies and
techniques such as multi-level topology and soft-switching
techniques which can improve thc efficiency, response time,
power quality, and cost-cffectiveness of the power conversion
system, can be easily implemented with the new class of
semiconductor devices.
11. Performance Considerations
Power electronic conditioners can be configured in
many ways, as for example, to provide energy storage for
Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices.
FACTS deviccs operate with the energy available in the
electric grid, and consequently a limited. Encrgy storage can
improve FACTS performancc by providing greater real
power control in addition to reactive powcr control enhancing
system reliability and availability. Figure 4 illustrates a case
of frequency stabilization provided by. a .power conditioner
with added .energy StOrage.On a typical transmission system
PI. [31S41
I -
( a ) Power Flow Uctwecn Areas
1 . >./ i.
(b) Frequency
Figure 4- Performance

111. Power Quality Considerations
Utilities around the US are in the process of
redefining their strategy in terms of planning and operating
their transmission and distribution systems. Deregulation of
the utility industry and environmental restrictions on new
transmission line conshuction have brought this about.
Disturbances such as voltage sags, transients, and harmonics,
which were always present to some degree, have become
increasingly more disruptive to the operation of certain types
of loads. Instead of just continuity of service, compatibility
between the electric system and sensitive electronic loads is
now required. A voltage sag of a few milli-seconds might
trip an electronic controller and put out of operation a major
industrial load for several hours. Continuity of the electrical
supply is maintained. but the load is unable to utilize the
power service. This is the new electricallelectronics utility
systems environment. Reliability plus the overall quality of
the supply, both at transmission and distribution levels,
should indeed be an essential component of the adequacy of
the transmission I distribution equation.
Although many voltage quality problems can be
resolved locally (at the end-user side including use of small
~ cost competitive with other technologies.
SMES units), it should be of great interest for the utility to
solve the problem up-stream and consequently add value to
its service by reducing the risk of outage. The basic message
is that customers have changed the way they utilize electric
power, and utilities have the opportunity to increase their
competitiveness (in a free market economy) by providing
better electricity with value-added services regarding the total
quality of the supply
In this context, FACTS and Custom Power were
introduced with the purpose of allowing a more flexible and
optimized operation of transmission and distribution systems
through the utilization of power electronics devices. By
using reliable, high speed power electronic controllers,
utilities may increase control of power flow, secure loading
of transmission lines to levels near their thermal limits.
increase ability to transfer power between areas reducing
generation reserve margin, prevent cascading outages by
limiting the effects of faults, damping power system
oscillations, and increasing the overall reliability and power
quality of the system.
However, FACTS and Custom Power devices can
only utilize andior re-direct the power and energy available
on the ac system and consequently are limited in the degree
of freedom and sustained action in which they can help the
power grid. Thus, functions such as system stability,
transmission capacity, and the overall supply quality provided
by power electronics devices, including FACTS and Custom
Power Conditioners, can be significantly enhanced power
quality of the overall system..
Cost Issues
In order to establish a realistic cost estimate for a
power electronics conditioner system, the following steps are
suggested: identify the system issue(s) to be addressed; select
preliminary conditioner characteristics (power, voltage and
589
current requirements; model s! study performance in response
to system demands to establish effectiveness of the device;
optimize system specification and determine system cost;
determine utility financial benefits from conditioner; compare
conditioner's cost and utility financial benefits to determine
adequacy of utility's return on investment.
While each system shall be tailored to individual
utility needs and applications the target should be to
minimize the costs on a per kilowatt basis of the lowest cost
generation units. On a per unit active or reactive power basis,
the new class of devices will cost more than the costs for
traditional devices, but will provide a much higher
performance which needs to be thoroughly evaluated.
IV. Conclusions
This paper has presented a number of technical and
cost issues related to the power electronics conditioners for
utility applications.
In the design optimization process for specifying
power conditioners several technical and cost issues need to
be considered. The designer has overcome several technical
challenges that will bring about adequate performance at a
It should be noted that the performance of power
conditioners can improved by the utilization of new
topologies and technologies and the use of energy storage to
its capabilities.
It was also observed that the location where the
combined compensator is connected is important for
improvement of the overall system dynamic performance.
V. References
N.G. Hinaorani. L. Gwevi. Undersrandim Concerns and
Techno/& of Fleribjr TC T r o n s m i ~ s i o n ~ S v s r lEEE
e,
Press New York, 2000.
P. Ribeiro, A. Arsoy, B. Johnson, M. Crow, "Energy
Storage Systems For Advanced Power Applications". IEEE
2001 Proceedings. Vlume 89. Number 12, December 2001.
A. Arsoy, Y. Liu, P.F. Ribeiro, "Power Converter and
SMES in Controlling Power System Dynamics". T h e
Proceedings of the 2000 Annual Meeting and World
Conference on Industrial Applications of Electrical Energy,
October 2000. Italy.
A. Arsoy, Y. Liu, P.F. Ribeiro. "The Impact of Energy
Storage on the Dynamic Performance of Static Synchronous
Compensator", The Proceedings of the Third International
Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference. China,
August 2000, pp:519-524.
VI. Biography
Dr. Paulo F. Ribeiro (SM) received a BS in Electrical Engineering
from the Univenidade Federal de Pcmambuco. Rccife, Brazil.
completed the Electric Power Systems Engineering Course with
Power Technologies. Inc. (PTI). and received the Ph.D. from the
University of Manchester - UMIST, England. Presently, he is a
Professor of Electrical Engineering at Calvin College. Grand
Rapids. Michigan. Dr. Ribeiro has worked for many years with
power quality related problems associated with isolated power
systems in transportation (traction. shipboard and space) and utility
environment.