Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Applied Engineering and Technology 2015, May 14-16, 2015.

CASCADED H-BRIDGE MULTILEVEL INVERTER BASED

DISTRIBUTION STATCOM FOR COMPENSATION OF
REACTIVE POWER AND HARMONICS
1
P.K.Mani, 2Dr.K.Siddappa Naidu,
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, VEL TECH MULTITECH, Chennai-600062.
2
Professor, School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, VEL TECH UNIVERSITY, Avadi, Chennai-600062.

Abstract The STATCOM used in distribution systems is

called DSTACOM (Distribution-STACOM) and its
configuration is the same, but with small modifications.
It can exchange both active and reactive power with the
distribution system by varying the amplitude and phase angle of
the converter voltage with respect to the line terminal voltage.
A multilevel inverter can reduce the device voltage and the
output harmonics by increasing the number of output voltage
levels. There are several types of multilevel inverters: cascaded
H-bridge (CHB), neutral point clamped, flying capacitor. In
particular, among these topologies, CHB inverters are being
widely used because of their modularity and simplicity. Various
modulation methods can be applied to CRB inverters. CHB
inverters can also increase the number of output voltage levels
easily by increasing the number of H -bridges. This paper
presents a DSTATCOM with a proportional integral controller
based CHB multilevel inverter for the harmonics and
reactive power mitigation of the nonlinear loads. This type of
arrangements have been widely used for PQ applications due to
increase in the number of voltage levels, low switching losses,
low electromagnetic compatibility for hybrid filters and higher
order harmonic elimination.
Keywords Power Quality, DSTATCOM, CHB, THD,
Nonlinear loads.
1. INTRODUCTION
Power quality is a comprehensive term that squeezes
all features related with amplitude, phase and frequency of the
voltage and current waveforms existing in a power circuit [1].
Poor power quality may result either from transient conditions
accumulate in the power circuit or from the installation of nonlinear loads.
The power quality becomes considerably inferior at
the points where the loads are associated to the distribution
grid. A single client may cause considerable reductions in
power quality for many other consumers [2]. Understanding
power quality issues is a good starting point for solving any
power quality difficulty and understanding the power quality
terms and definitions is crucial to getting familiar with the
power quality substance [3].
During last decade, substantial research has been
carried out in innovating different new configurations for

harmonic mitigation in ac-dc converter with R-L load. There

have been a number of developments in control techniques
used in power system. 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 are
found [4].
K. V. Kumar presented the performance comparison of
Shunt Active Power Filter (SAPF) and Hybrid Active
Power Filter (HAPF) with three different nonlinear loads.
Two different PI controllers based on average load active
power and synchronous reference frame theory are
employed in this simulation study. MATLAB/ SIMULINK
is used for the simulation of SAPF and HAPF.
Comparison of three shunt active power filter
algorithms also studied [5].
Combined system of shunt passive and series active
filter for a four-wire three-phase system has been designed and
simulated with MATLAB/SIMULINK. The system combined
mitigates the source current harmonics and compensates also
unbalance voltages reducing the problems of using only a
shunt passive filter.Therefore, a new control method based in
the power vector theory has been proposed [6]
An assessment and comparison of hybrid active
filters, including their topologies, ratings, and control
algorithms.

Simulations are presented, along with a

comprehensive topology and performance comparison. In

addition, a modified "p-q" theory is introduced for control
strategies, which is more feasible for extracting harmonic
components for distorted load voltages [7].
E. R. Ribeiro has been presented a series active filter
using a simple control technique. The series active filter is
applied as a controlled voltage source contrary to its
common usage as variable impedance. It reduces the terminal
harmonic voltages, supplying linear or even nonlinear
loads with a good quality voltage waveform. The operation
principle, control strategy, and theoretical analysis of the active
filter are presented [8].

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Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Applied Engineering and Technology 2015, May 14-16, 2015.

A control scheme based on synchronous d-q-0

transformation for a hybrid series voltage compensator and the
effectiveness of the new control scheme in compensating for
voltage sags, distortion and voltage flickers is demonstrated
using simulation results. Its dual role as a harmonic
isolator is also described. A comparison between the
proposed schemes against an existing control scheme is
presented via simulation. [9].
Hideaki Fujita presents a combined system of a passive filter
and a small- rated active filter, both connected in series with
each other. The passive filter removes load produced
harmonics just as a conventional one does. On the other hand,
the active filter plays a role in improving the filtering
characteristics of the passive filter [10].
2. HARMONICS
Harmonics are sinusoidal voltages or currents having
frequencies that are whole multiples of the frequency at which
the supply system is designed to operate (e.g. 50Hz or 60 Hz).
A 250 Hz sine-wave signal, superposed onto the fundamental
50 Hz mains frequency, will be designated as the 5 th harmonic
or as the harmonic of 5th order (5 x 50 Hz). With this circuitry
the DC Bus will only charge when the AC sine wave voltage is
greater than the DC capacitor voltage, this results current draw
only at the peaks of the sine waves instead of the whole sine
wave.
A Rectifier circuit found in Three Phase applications. Again
the DC Capacitor will only charge when the Phase to Phase
voltage is greater than the bus DC voltage.

4. HARMONIC WAVES

Fig .2: Harmonic waves

5.

ADVANTAGES
INVERTER

OF

CASCADED

H-BRIDGE

The advantages of Cascade H-Bridge inverter are low

harmonic distortion, reduced number of switches and
suppression of switching losses.
Eliminate capacitor banks.
Its compact size.
More reliable.
6.

PROPOSED SYSTEM

Fig .1: Harmonic voltage at PCC

3.

Total Harmonic distortion (THD)

IEEE 519 sets limits on total harmonic distortion (THD) for

the utility side of the meter
Utility is responsible for the voltage distortion at the
point of common coupling (PCC) between the utility and the
end user.
Total harmonic distortion is a way to evaluate the
voltage distortion effects of injecting harmonic currents into
the utilitys system.
(RMS of the harmonic content / RMS value of the
fundamental) * 100
Total harmonic distortion (THD) is a term used to describe the
net deviation of a nonlinear waveform from ideal sine
waveform characteristics.

Fig .3: Block diagram of proposed system

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Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Applied Engineering and Technology 2015, May 14-16, 2015.

7.

COMPONENTS USED

10. HARDWARE SET UP

PIC16F874A/877A (CONTROL CIRCUIT)

IC HCF4050BE (DRIVER CIRCUIT)
IC MCT2E (OPTO ISOLATOR)
2N2905A (TRANSISTOR)
TRANSFORMER (230/9V & 230/12V)
RESISTOR (100K&1K)
IRF84027K MOSFET (INVERTING UNIT)
RECTIFIER UNIT
8. DRIVER CIRCUIT

Fig .6: Hardware setup

11. MATLAB SIMULATION RESULTS

Fig .4: Driver circuit

9. POWER SUPPLY UNIT

Fig .5: Power supply unit

Fig .7: Simulation of CHB inverter

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Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Applied Engineering and Technology 2015, May 14-16, 2015.

Fig .8: Output voltage of CHB inverter

Fig .11: Load Voltage

Fig .9: Capacitor voltages

Fig .11: Load voltage

Fig .10: DSTATCOM with CHB inverter

Fig .12: Output current

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Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Applied Engineering and Technology 2015, May 14-16, 2015.

12. CONCLUSION
A DSTATCOM with five levels Cascaded H-Bridge inverter is
investigated.
Mathematical model for single H-Bridge inverter is developed
which can be extended to multilevel H-Bridge.
The source voltage , load voltage , source current,
load current, power factor simulation results under nonlinear
loads are presented.
Total Harmonics Distortion reduced to 48.5%.

Fig .13: DSTATCOM / R phase pulse generation

REFERENCES
[1] Han, Senior Member, IEEE, B. Bae, H. Kim and S.
Baek, Combined Operation of Unified Power-Quality
Conditioner with Distributed Generation, IEEE Transactions
on power delivery, vol. 21, no. 1, January 2006.
[2] Mauricio Aredes, Klemens Heumann, Edson H.
Watanabe, An Universal Active Power Line Conditioner,
IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 13, No. 2, April
1998.
[3] Javier A. Munoz, Jose R. Espinoza, Luis A. Moran and
Carlos R.Baier, Design of a Modular UPQC Configuration
Integrating a Components Economical Analysis, IEEE
Transactions on power delivery, vol. 24, no. 4, October 2009.
[4] B. Singh, and K. Al-Haddad, A review of active filters
for power quality improvement,IEEE Transactions on
Industrial Electronics, vol. 46, no. 5, pp. 960-971, Oct. 1999.

Fig .14: R phase reference and carrier signals

Fig .15: GATE pulses for R phase

[5] Charles. S, and G. Bhuvaneswari, Comparison of three

phase shunt active power filter algorithms, International
Journal of Computer and Electrical Engineering, vol. 2, no. 1,
pp. 175- 180, Feb. 2010.
[6] S. P. Litran, P. Salmeron, J. R. Vazquez, and J. L. Flores,
Compensation of voltage unbalance and current harmonics
with a series active power filter, Renewable Energy & Power
Quality Journal, no. 3, Mar. 2005.
[7] L. Chen, and A. V. Jouanne, A comparison and
assessment of hybrid filter topologies and control algorithms,
IEEE/PESC Ann. Meeting Conf, vol. 2, pp. 565-570.
[8] E. R. Ribeiro, and I. Barbi, Harmonic voltage reduction
using a series active filter under different load
conditions, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics,
vol. 21, no. 5, pp. 1394-1402, Sep. 2006.
[9]
KannanKarthik,
and
J.E.Quaicoe,
Voltage
compensation and harmonic suppression using series active
and shunt passive filters, Electrical and Computer
Engineering, Canadian conference, vol. 1, 2000, p. 582-586.

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Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Applied Engineering and Technology 2015, May 14-16, 2015.

[10]
H. Fujita, and H. Akagi, A practical approach
to harmonics
compensation in power systems series
connection of passive and active filters, IEEE Transactions
on Industry Applications, vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 1020-1025, Nov.
1991.
About the authors
P.K.Mani has completed his B.E.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
and M.E. Power Systems Engineering at
Anna University, Chennai. At present he
is working as Associate Professor in
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Dept, Vel Tech Multitech Dr.Rangarajan
Dr.SakunthalaEngineering college, Chennai-600062.Currently
he is doing Ph.D in Veltech Dr.RR&Dr.SRTechnical
University in the field of power quality. Mobile. No: +91
9445260989. Email: mani_lotus@yahoo.com.

Dr.K.Siddappa Naidu finished his

B.E.Electrical Engineering from Sri
Venkateswara University, Tirupati in
1973 and got post-graduation from IISC,
Bangalore in 1976 and Ph.D. from the
same institute in 1994. He has worked in
various
capacities
in
NGEF
Transformers Research & Development from 1979 to 2000.He
worked as HOD EEE,Vice Principal and Principal in different
Engineering colleges from 2000 to 2012.Presently working as
Dean, School of Electrical Engineering in Vel Tech Dr.RR
Dr.SR Technical University, Avadi, Chennai-600062.He has
published many papers in international and national journals.
His research interests are partial discharge measurements in
HV Insulation & Apparatus, online monitoring of HV power
apparatus, Sub synchronous, Renewable energy systems and
power quality.

Organized by Syed Ammal Engineering College, Ramanathapuram, Tamilnadu, India.