UNIFIED POWER FLOW CONTROLLER FOR

POWER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Thesis Submitted

In

Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
In

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

by

Kavali Srilatha (13261A0284)

Karnati Ahishek Reddy (13261A0282)

Tallapali Rakshitha (13261A02B0)

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

MAHATMA GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Chaitanya Bharathi P.O., Gandipet, Hyderabad – 500 075
2015-2016
Smart Converter For Multi-Phase PV System
 A Thesis Submitted

In

Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
In

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

by
Kavali Srilatha (13261A0284)
Karnati Ahishek Reddy (13261A0282)
Tallapali Rakshitha (13261A02B0)

Under the esteemed guidance of

Ms. A. Amulya
M.Tech
Assistant Professor

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

MAHATMA GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Chaitanya Bharathi P.O., Gandipet, Hyderabad – 500 075
2015-2016
 MAHATMA GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(Affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, A.P.)

Chaitanya Bharathi P.O., Gandipet, Hyderabad-500 075

CERTIFICATE

Date: 25/04/2016

This is to certify that the project work entitled “UNIFIED POWER FLOW
CONTROLLER FOR POWER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT”submitted by Kavali
Srilatha (13261A0284), Kanati Abhishek Reddy (13261A0282) and Tallapalli
Rakshitha (13261A02B0) in partial fulfillment for the award of Degree of
BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY in ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING to
the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad during the academic
year 2015-2016 is a record of bonafide work carried out by them under our
guidance and supervision.

The results embodied in this report have not been submitted by the
student(s) to any other University or Institution for the award of any degree or
diploma.

Project Guide Head of Department

Ms. A. Amulya Dr. P Ram Kishore Kumar Reddy

Assistant Professor Associate Professor & Head
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We express my deep sense of gratitude to Dr. G. Chandra Mohan Reddy,

Principal, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology for permitting us to carry
out this project and providing the necessary infrastructure in the campus.

We express my deep sense of gratitude to Dr. P Ram Kishore Kumar

Reddy, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Electrical Engineering,
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology, for the valuable guidance and
suggestions, keen interest and thorough encouragement extended throughout
period of project work.

We take immense pleasure to thank our guide, Ms. A. Amulya,

Assistant Professor in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mahatma
Gandhi Institute of Technology for her valuable suggestions, rare insights,
being a constant source of encouragement and inspiration throughout my
project work.

We express my thanks to all the non-teaching staff in and out of the

department who have contributed for the successful completion of my project
work.

With gratitude,

1. Kavali Srilatha (13261A0284)

2. Krnti Abhishek Reddy (13261A0282) ________________

3. Tallapally Rakshitha (13261A02B0) ________________

 Table of contents

Page

Certificate

Acknowledgements

Table of Contents i

List of Tables iii

List of figures iv

List of Symbols v

Abstract vi

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

1.1 Aim 2

1.2 Methodology 2

1.3 Significance 3

1.4 Thesis Outline 3

Chapter 2: PV System 4

2.1 PV cell 4

2.2 I-V characteristics 5

2.3 Effect of Irradiance and Temperature 6

i
Chapter 3: MPPT and Strategies 9

3.1 MPPT 9

3.2 MPPT Architecture 10

Chapter 4: Smart Converter 17

4.1 The Concept of Multi-Phase Smart Converter 17

4.2 Boost Converter 22

4.3 Implementation of Proposed Multi-Phase Smart Converter 23

Chapter 5: MATLAB \ SIMULINK 26

5.1 Introduction to MATLAB 26

5.2 SIMULINK 28

5.3 Blocks used in simulation model 33

Chapter 6: Simulation model and Results 39

6.1 Simulation model for Single Phase Smart Converter 40

6.11 I-V graph 41

6.12 P-V graph 42

6.13 P,V,I Curves 43

6.2 Simulation model for Four Phase Smart Converter 44

6.21 Panels Output With MPPT 45

7. Conclusion 46

8. Future scope 47

References 49

ii
 LIST OF TABLES

Table Title Page

1 Parameter values in Boost converter 38

2 Panel Outputs from Scope 46

iii
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Title Page

1.1 DC nano-grid structure in future home 1

2.1 Current-Voltage Characteristics 7

2.2 Power-Voltage Characteristics 8

2.3 I-V curve at different temperatures 8

3.1 Central level MPPT PV system 10

3.2 String level MPPT PV system 12

3.3 Differential power converter PV system 13

3.4 Micro-converter PV system 14

3.5 Smart Converter PV system 15

3.6 Concept of smart converter 16

4.1 Traditional single phase Smart Converter 17

4.2 Proposed Two-phase Smart Converter with single controller 18

4.3 Optimized Two-phase smart converter with single controller 19

4.4 Proposed Multi-phase smart converter with single controller 20

4.5 Extended architecture for proposed multi-phase smart converter 21

4.6 Circuit for basic Boost Converter 22

4.7 Power stage of four phase buck converter 23

4.8 Time sharing of MPPT controller 24

4.9 Flow chart of MPPT algorithm 25

5.1 Simulink Library 29

5.2 Simulink New Model Window 29

5.3 Source Selection 30

iv
5.4 Sinusoidal Source Selection 31

5.5 Blocks Selection into Simulink Model Window 31

5.6 Connection Diagram 32

5.7 Scope of Different Waveforms 32

5.8 Subsystem showing pv panel 33

5.9 Internal Strucutre of PV panel 34

5.10 Parameters of PV panel subsystem 35

5.11 MPPT subsystem 36

5.12 MPPT internal structure 36

5.13 Boost converter subsystem 37

5.14 Internal structure of boost converter subsystem 37

6.1 Simulation Model of Single Phase Smart Converter 40

6.2 I-V curve of PV panel 41

6.3 P-V curve of PV panel 42

6.4 P, V, I curves from scope with MPPT 43

6.5 Simulation model for Four Phase Smart Converter 44

6.6 Power output from four modules 45

8.1 Unified output MPPT control structure for subpanel converter 47

8.2 Proposed multi-phase subpanel converter with single controller 48

v
ABSTRACT

In this paper the performance of Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) is

investigated in controlling the flow of power over the transmission line. This
research deals with digital simulation of standard 14-bus power system using
UPFC to improve the real and reactive power flow control through a
transmission line by placing UPFC at the sending end using computer
simulation. When no UPFC is installed, real and reactive power through the
transmission line cannot be controlled. The circuit model for UPFC is developed
using rectifier and inverter circuits. The Matlab simulation results are
presented to validate the model. The result of network with and without using
UPFC are compared in terms of active and reactive power flows in the line and
active and reactive power flows at the bus to analyze the performance of UPFC.
In this control system, a generalized pulse width modulation technique is used
to generate firing pulses for both the converters. Simulations will be carried out
using MATLAB/PS CAD software to check the performance of UPFC.

vi
vii
 Chapter 1
Introduction

INTRODUCTION
The technology of power system utilities around the world has rapidly
evolved with considerable changes in the technology along with improvements
in power system structures and operation. The ongoing expansions and growth
in the technology, demand a more optimal and profitable operation of a power
system with respect to generate on, transmission and distribution systems.
Power quality is an issue that is becoming increasingly important to electricity
consumers at all levels of usage. Sensitive equipment and non-linear loads are
common place in both the industrial and the domestic environment; because of
this a heightened awareness of power quality is developing [2]. The sources of
problems that can disturb the power quality are: power electronic devices,
arcing devices, load switching, large motor starting, embedded generation,
sensitive equipment, storm and environment related damage, network
equipment and design. The solution to improve the energy quality(PQ-Power
Quality)at the load side is of great importance when the production processes
get more complicated and require a bigger liability level, which includes aims
like to provide energy without interruption, without harmonic distortion and
with tension regulation between very narrow margins[3].
In the present scenario, most of the power systems in the developing
countries with large interconnected networks share the generation reserves to
increase the reliability of the power system .However, the increasing
complexities of large interconnected networks had fluctuations in reliability of
power supply, which resulted in system instability, difficult to control the power
flow and security problems that resulted large number blackouts in different
parts of the world. The reasons behind the above fault sequences may be due to
the systematical errors in planning and operation, weak interconnection of the
1
power system, lack of maintenance or due to overload of the network. In order
to overcome these consequences and to provide the desired power flow along
with system stability and reliability, installations of new transmission lines are
required. However, installation of new transmission lines with the large
interconnected power system are limited to some of the factors like economic
cost, environment related issues. These complexities in installing new
transmission lines in a power system challenges the power engineers to
research on the ways to increase the power flow with the existing transmission
line without reduction in system stability and security. In this research process,
in the late 1980’s the Electric Power Research Institute(EPRI)introduced a
concept of technology to improve the power flow, improve the system stability
and reliability with the existing power systems. This technology of power
electronic devices is termed as Flexible Alternating Current Transmission
Systems (FACTS) technology. It provides the ability to increase the
controllability and to improve the transmission system operation in terms of
power flow, stability limits with advanced control technologies in the existing
power systems.

1.1 Definitation Of Power Quality:

Power quality is the set of limits of electrical properties that

allows electrical systems to function in their intended manner without
significant loss of performance or life. The term is used to describe electric
power that drives an electrical load and the load's ability to function properly
with that electric power. Without the proper power, an electrical device (or load)
may malfunction, fail prematurely or not operate at all. There are many ways in
which electric power can be of poor quality and many more causes of such poor
quality power.
The electric power industry comprises electricity generation (AC
power), electric power transmission and ultimately electricity distribution to
an electricity meter located at the premises of the end user of the electric power.
The electricity then moves through the wiring system of the end user until it
reaches the load. The complexity of the system to move electric energy from the
point of production to the point of consumption combined with variations in
weather, generation, demand and other factors provide many opportunities for
the quality of supply to be compromised.
While "power quality" is a convenient term for many, it is the quality of
the voltage—rather than power or electric current—that is actually described by
the term. Power is simply the flow of energy and the current demanded by a
load is largely uncontrollable.

1.2 Power Quality Issues:

The PQ problems are categorized as follows
1. Transients
(a) Impulsive
(b) Oscillatory

2. Short-duration and Long-duration variations

(a) Interruptions
(b) Sag (dip)
(c) Swell
3. Voltage unbalance
4. Waveform distortion
(a) DC offset
(b) Harmonics
(c) Interharmonics
(d) Notching
(e) Noise
5. Voltage Flicker
6. Power frequency variations.
1.3 Transient Problems:
Transients are very short duration (sub-cycle) events of varying
amplitude. Often referred to as "surges", transients are probably most
frequently visualized as the tens of thousands of volts from a lighting strike that
destroys any electrical device in its path.
Transients can be caused by equipment operation or failure or by weather
phenomena like lightning. Even relatively low voltage transients can cause
damage to electrical components if the occur with any frequency.
A properly sized industrial-grade surge suppressor is usually ample protection
from the damaging effects of high voltage transients.
1.3.1 Voltage Sag:
The American "sag" and the British "dip" are both names for a decrease in
voltage to between 10 and 90% of nominal voltage for one-half cycle to one
minute Sags account for the vast majority of power problems experienced by
end users. They can be generated both internally and externally from an end
users facility.
External causes of sags primarily come from the utility transmission and
distribution network. Sags coming from the utility have a variety of cause
including lightning, animal and human activity, and normal and abnormal
utility equipment operation. Sags generated on the transmission or distribution
system can travel hundreds of miles thereby affecting thousands of customers
during a single event. Sometimes externally caused sags can be generated by
other customers nearby.
The starting of large electrical loads or switching off shunt capacitor
banks can generate a sag large enough to affect a local area. If the end user is
already subject to chronic under voltage, then even a relatively small amplitude
sag can have detrimental effects. Sags caused internally to an end user's facility
are typically generated by the starting of large electrical loads such as motors or
magnets. The large inrush of current required to starts these types of loads
depresses the voltage level available to other equipment that share the same
electrical system. As with externally caused sags, ones generated internally will
be magnified by chronic under voltage.
1.3.2 Voltage Swell:
A swell is the opposite of sag - an increase in voltage above 110% of
nominal for one-half cycle to one minute. Although swells occur infrequently
when compared to sags, they can cause equipment malfunction and premature
wear. Swells can be caused by shutting off loads or switching capacitor banks
on.
1.3.3 Noise:
 Noise is a high frequency distortion of the voltage waveform. Caused by
disturbances on the utility system or by equipment such as welders, switchgear
and transmitters, noise can frequently go unnoticed. Frequent or high levels of
noise can cause equipment malfunction, overheating and premature wear.
1.3.4 Notching:
Notching is a disturbance of opposite polarity to the normal voltage
waveform (which is subtracted from the normal waveform) lasting for less than
one-half cycle. Notching is frequently caused by malfunctioning electronic
switches or power conditioners. While it is generally not a major problem,
notching can cause equipment, especially electronics, to operate improperly.
1.3.5 Harmonics:
Harmonics are a recurring distortion of the waveform that can be caused
by various devices including variable frequency drives, non-linear power
supplies and electronic ballasts. Certain types of power conditioners like
ferroresonant or constant voltage (CVT) transformers can add significant
harmonic distortion to the waveform. Waveform distortion can also be an issue
with uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and other inverter-based power
conditioners. The UPS does not actually add distortion, but because the UPS
digitally synthesizes a waveform, that waveform may be square or jagged rather
than a smooth sine wave. Symptoms of harmonic distortion include overheating
and equipment operational problems
 Chapter 2
Introduction To Facts

Introduction To Facts:
Flexible AC Transmission Systems, called FACTS, got in the recent years
a well known term for higher controllability in power systems by means of
power electronic devices. Several FACTS-devices have been introduced for
various applications worldwide. A number of new types of devices are in the
stage of being introduced in practice.
In most of the applications the controllability is used to avoid cost
intensive or landscape requiring extensions of power systems, for instance like
upgrades or additions of substations and power lines. FACTS-devices provide a
better adaptation to varying operational conditions and improve the usage of
existing installations.

The basic applications of FACTS-devices are:

• Power flow control,
• Increase of transmission capability,
• Voltage control,
• Reactive power compensation,
• Stability improvement,
• Power quality improvement,
• Power conditioning,
• Flicker mitigation,
• Interconnection of renewable and distributed generation and storages.
Figure shows the basic idea of FACTS for transmission systems. The
usage of lines for active power transmission should be ideally up to the thermal
limits. Voltage and stability limits shall be shifted with the means of the several
different FACTS devices. It can be seen that with growing line length, the
opportunity for FACTS devices gets more and more important.
The influence of FACTS-devices is achieved through switched or
controlled shunt compensation, series compensation or phase shift control. The
devices work electrically as fast current, voltage or impedance controllers. The
power electronic allows very short reaction times down to far below one second.

The development of FACTS-devices has started with the growing

capabilities of power electronic components. Devices for high power levels have
been made available in converters for high and even highest voltage levels. The
overall starting points are network elements influencing the reactive power or
the impedance of a part of the power system. Figure 1.2 shows a number of
basic devices separated into the conventional ones and the FACTS-devices.
For the FACTS side the taxonomy in terms of 'dynamic' and 'static' needs
some explanation. The term 'dynamic' is used to express the fast controllability
of FACTS-devices provided by the power electronics. This is one of the main
differentiation factors from the conventional devices.
The term 'static' means that the devices have no moving parts like
mechanical switches to perform the dynamic controllability. Therefore most of
the FACTS-devices can equally be static and dynamic.
 Chapter 3
Types Of Facts Devices

Types Of Facts Devices:

The left column in Figure 1.2 contains the conventional devices build out
of fixed or mechanically switchable components like resistance, inductance or
capacitance together with transformers. The FACTS-devices contain these
elements as well but use additional power electronic valves or converters to
switch the elements in smaller steps or with switching patterns within a cycle of
the alternating current. The left column of FACTS-devices uses Thyristor valves
or converters. These valves or converters are well known since several years.
They have low losses because of their low switching frequency of once a cycle in
the converters or the usage of the Thyristors to simply bridge impedances in the
valves.
The right column of FACTS-devices contains more advanced technology of
voltage source converters based today mainly on Insulated Gate Bipolar
Transistors (IGBT) or Insulated Gate Commutated Thyristors (IGCT). Voltage
Source Converters provide a free controllable voltage in magnitude and phase
due to a pulse width modulation of the IGBTs or IGCTs. High modulation
frequencies allow to get low harmonics in the output signal and even to
compensate disturbances coming from the network. The disadvantage is that
with an increasing switching frequency, the losses are increasing as well.
Therefore special designs of the converters are required to compensate this.
Shunt Devices:
The most used FACTS-device is the SVC or the version with Voltage
Source Converter called STATCOM. These shunt devices are operating as
reactive power compensators. The main applications in transmission,
distribution and industrial networks are:
• Reduction of unwanted reactive power flows and therefore reduced network
losses.
• Keeping of contractual power exchanges with balanced reactive power.
• Compensation of consumers and improvement of power quality especially with
huge demand fluctuations like industrial machines, metal melting plants,
railway or underground train systems.
• Compensation of Thyristor converters e.g. in conventional HVDC lines.
• Improvement of static or transient stability.
Almost half of the SVC and more than half of the STATCOMs are used for
industrial applications. Industry as well as commercial and domestic groups of
users require power quality. Flickering lamps are no longer accepted, nor are
interruptions of industrial processes due to insufficient power quality. Railway
or underground systems with huge load variations require SVCs or STATCOMs.
SVC:
Electrical loads both generate and absorb reactive power. Since the
transmitted load varies considerably from one hour to another, the reactive
power balance in a grid varies as well. The result can be unacceptable voltage
amplitude variations or even a voltage depression, at the extreme a voltage
collapse.
A rapidly operating Static Var Compensator (SVC) can continuously
provide the reactive power required to control dynamic voltage oscillations
under various system conditions and thereby improve the power system
transmission and distribution stability.

Applications Of The SVC Systems In Transmission Systems:

a. To increase active power transfer capacity and transient stability margin
b. To damp power oscillations
c. To achieve effective voltage control
In Addition, SVCS Are Also Used
1. In Transmission Systems
a. To reduce temporary over voltages
b. To damp sub synchronous resonances
c. To damp power oscillations in interconnected power systems
2. In Traction Systems
a. To balance loads
b. To improve power factor
c. To improve voltage regulation
3. In HVDC Systems
a. To provide reactive power to ac–dc converters
4. In Arc Furnaces
a. To reduce voltage variations and associated light flicker
Installing an SVC at one or more suitable points in the network can
increase transfer capability and reduce losses while maintaining a smooth
voltage profile under different network conditions. In addition an SVC can
mitigate active power oscillations through voltage amplitude modulation.
SVC installations consist of a number of building blocks. The most
important is the Thyristor valve, i.e. stack assemblies of series connected anti-
parallel Thyristors to provide controllability. Air core reactors and high voltage
AC capacitors are the reactive power elements used together with the Thyristor
valves. The step up connection of this equipment to the transmission voltage is
achieved through a power transformer.
 Svc Building Blocks And Voltage / Current Characteristic
In principle the SVC consists of Thyristor Switched Capacitors (TSC) and
Thyristor Switched or Controlled Reactors (TSR / TCR). The coordinated control
of a combination of these branches varies the reactive power as shown in
Figure. The first commercial SVC was installed in 1972 for an electric arc
furnace. On transmission level the first SVC was used in 1979. Since then it is
widely used and the most accepted FACTS-device.
SVC
SVC USING A TCR AND AN FC:
In this arrangement, two or more FC (fixed capacitor) banks are
connected to a TCR (thyristor controlled reactor) through a step-down
transformer. The rating of the reactor is chosen larger than the rating of the
capacitor by an amount to provide the maximum lagging vars that have to be
absorbed from the system. By changing the firing angle of the thyristor
controlling the reactor from 90° to 180°, the reactive power can be varied over
the entire range from maximum lagging vars to leading vars that can be
absorbed from the system by this compensator.
SVC OF THE FC/TCR TYPE:
The main disadvantage of this configuration is the significant harmonics
that will be generated because of the partial conduction of the large reactor
under normal sinusoidal steady-state operating condition when the SVC is
absorbing zero MVAr. These harmonics are filtered in the following manner.
Triplex harmonics are canceled by arranging the TCR and the secondary
windings of the step-down transformer in delta connection. The capacitor banks
with the help of series reactors are tuned to filter fifth, seventh, and other
higher-order harmonics as a high-pass filter. Further losses are high due to the
circulating current between the reactor and capacitor banks.

Comparison of the loss characteristics of TSC–TCR, TCR–FC

compensators and synchronous condenser These SVCs do not have a short-
time overload capability because the reactors are usually of the air-core type. In
applications requiring overload capability, TCR must be designed for short-time
overloading, or separate thyristor-switched overload reactors must be employed
SVC USING A TCR AND TSC:
This compensator overcomes two major shortcomings of the earlier
compensators by reducing losses under operating conditions and better
performance under large system disturbances. In view of the smaller rating of
each capacitor bank, the rating of the reactor bank will be 1/n times the
maximum output of the SVC, thus reducing the harmonics generated by the
reactor. In those situations where harmonics have to be reduced further, a
small amount of FCs tuned as filters may be connected in parallel with the TCR.

SVC OF COMBINED TSC AND TCR TYPE

When large disturbances occur in a power system due to load rejection,
there is a possibility for large voltage transients because of oscillatory
interaction between system and the SVC capacitor bank or the parallel. The LC
circuit of the SVC in the FC compensator. In the TSC–TCR scheme, due to the
flexibility of rapid switching of capacitor banks without appreciable disturbance
to the power system, oscillations can be avoided, and hence the transients in
the system can also be avoided. The capital cost of this SVC is higher than that
of the earlier one due to the increased number of capacitor switches and
increased control complexity.
STATCOM:
 In 1999 the first SVC with Voltage Source Converter called STATCOM
(Static Compensator) went into operation. The STATCOM has a characteristic
similar to the synchronous condenser, but as an electronic device it has no
inertia and is superior to the synchronous condenser in several ways, such as
better dynamics, a lower investment cost and lower operating and maintenance
costs. A STATCOM is build with Thyristors with turn-off capability like GTO or
today IGCT or with more and more IGBTs. The static line between the current
limitations has a certain steepness determining the control characteristic for
the voltage.
The advantage of a STATCOM is that the reactive power provision is
independent from the actual voltage on the connection point. This can be seen
in the diagram for the maximum currents being independent of the voltage in
comparison to the SVC. This means, that even during most severe
contingencies, the STATCOM keeps its full capability.
In the distributed energy sector the usage of Voltage Source Converters
for grid interconnection is common practice today. The next step in STATCOM
development is the combination with energy storages on the DC-side. The
performance for power quality and balanced network operation can be improved
much more with the combination of active and reactive power.

Statcom Structure And Voltage / Current Characteristic

STATCOMs are based on Voltage Sourced Converter (VSC) topology and
utilize either Gate-Turn-off Thyristors (GTO) or Isolated Gate Bipolar Transistors
(IGBT) devices. The STATCOM is a very fast acting, electronic equivalent of a
synchronous condenser. If the STATCOM voltage, Vs, (which is proportional to
the dc bus voltage Vc) is larger than bus voltage, Es, then leading or capacitive
VARS are produced. If Vs is smaller than Es then lagging or inductive VARS are
produced.

6 Pulses Statcom
The three phases STATCOM makes use of the fact that on a three phase,
fundamental frequency, steady state basis, and the instantaneous power
entering a purely reactive device must be zero. The reactive power in each phase
is supplied by circulating the instantaneous real power between the phases.
This is achieved by firing the GTO/diode switches in a manner that maintains
the phase difference between the ac bus voltage ES and the STATCOM
generated voltage VS. Ideally it is possible to construct a device based on
circulating instantaneous power which has no energy storage device (i.e. no dc
capacitor).
A practical STATCOM requires some amount of energy storage to
accommodate harmonic power and ac system unbalances, when the
instantaneous real power is non-zero. The maximum energy storage required for
the STATCOM is much less than for a TCR/TSC type of SVC compensator of
comparable rating.
 Statcom Equivalent Circuit
Several different control techniques can be used for the firing control of the
STATCOM.
Fundamental switching of the GTO/diode once per cycle can be used.
This approach will minimize switching losses, but will generally utilize more
complex transformer topologies. As an alternative, Pulse Width Modulated
(PWM) techniques, which turn on and off the GTO or IGBT switch more than
once per cycle, can be used. This approach allows for simpler transformer
topologies at the expense of higher switching losses.
The 6 Pulse STATCOM using fundamental switching will of course
produce the 6 N1 harmonics. There are a variety of methods to decrease the
harmonics. These methods include the basic 12 pulse configuration with
parallel star / delta transformer connections, a complete elimination of 5th and
7th harmonic current using series connection of star/star and star/delta
transformers and a quasi 12 pulse method with a single star-star transformer,
and two secondary windings, using control of firing angle to produce a
30phase shift between the two 6 pulse bridges.
This method can be extended to produce a 24 pulse and a 48 pulse
STATCOM, thus eliminating harmonics even further. Another possible approach
for harmonic cancellation is a multi-level configuration which allows for more
than one switching element per level and therefore more than one switching in
each bridge arm. The ac voltage derived has a staircase effect, dependent on the
number of levels. This staircase voltage can be controlled to eliminate
harmonics.
Series Devices:
 Series devices have been further developed from fixed or mechanically
switched compensations to the Thyristor Controlled Series Compensation
(TCSC) or even Voltage Source Converter based devices.
The Main Applications Are:
• Reduction of series voltage decline in magnitude and angle over a power line,
• Reduction of voltage fluctuations within defined limits during changing power
transmissions,
• Improvement of system damping resp. damping of oscillations,
• Limitation of short circuit currents in networks or substations,
• Avoidance of loop flows resp. power flow adjustments
TCSC:
Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC) addresses specific
dynamical problems in transmission systems. Firstly it increases damping when
large electrical systems are interconnected. Secondly it can overcome the
problem of Sub Synchronous Resonance (SSR), a phenomenon that involves an
interaction between large thermal generating units and series compensated
transmission systems.
The TCSC's high speed switching capability provides a mechanism for
controlling line power flow, which permits increased loading of existing
transmission lines, and allows for rapid readjustment of line power flow in
response to various contingencies. The TCSC also can regulate steady-state
power flow within its rating limits.
From a principal technology point of view, the TCSC resembles the
conventional series capacitor. All the power equipment is located on an isolated
steel platform, including the Thyristor valve that is used to control the behavior
of the main capacitor bank. Likewise the control and protection is located on
ground potential together with other auxiliary systems. Figure shows the
principle setup of a TCSC and its operational diagram. The firing angle and the
thermal limits of the Thyristors determine the boundaries of the operational
diagram.
Advantages:
 Continuous control of desired compensation level

 Direct smooth control of power flow within the network

 Improved capacitor bank protection

 Local mitigation of sub synchronous resonance (SSR). This permits higher

levels of compensation in networks where interactions with turbine-
generator torsional vibrations or with other control or measuring systems
are of concern.

 Damping of electromechanical (0.5-2 Hz) power oscillations which often

arise between areas in a large interconnected power network. These
oscillations are due to the dynamics of inter area power transfer and often
exhibit poor damping when the aggregate power transfer over a corridor is
high relative to the transmission strength.

Shunt And Series Devices:

Dynamic Power Flow Controller
A new device in the area of power flow control is the Dynamic Power Flow
Controller (DFC). The DFC is a hybrid device between a Phase Shifting
Transformer (PST) and switched series compensation.
 A functional single line diagram of the Dynamic Flow Controller is shown
in Figure 1.19. The Dynamic Flow Controller consists of the following
components:
• A standard phase shifting transformer with tap-changer (PST)
• Series-connected Thyristor Switched Capacitors and Reactors (TSC / TSR)
• A mechanically switched shunt capacitor (MSC). (This is Optional depending
on the system reactive power requirements)

Based on the system requirements, a DFC might consist of a number of

series TSC or TSR. The mechanically switched shunt capacitor (MSC) will
provide voltage support in case of overload and other conditions. Normally the
reactance of reactors and the capacitors are selected based on a binary basis to
result in a desired stepped reactance variation. If a higher power flow resolution
is needed, a reactance equivalent to the half of the smallest one can be added.
The switching of series reactors occurs at zero current to avoid any
harmonics. However, in general, the principle of phase-angle control used in
TCSC can be applied for a continuous control as well. The operation of a DFC is
based on the following rules:
• TSC / TSR are switched when a fast response is required.
• The relieve of overload and work in stressed situations is handled by the
TSC / TSR.
• The switching of the PST tap-changer should be minimized particularly for the
currents higher than normal loading.
• The total reactive power consumption of the device can be optimized by the
operation of the MSC, tap changer and the switched capacities and reactors.
 In order to visualize the steady state operating range of the DFC, we
assume an inductance in parallel representing parallel transmission paths. The
overall control objective in steady state would be to control the distribution of
power flow between the branch with the DFC and the parallel path. This control
is accomplished by control of the injected series voltage.
The PST (assuming a quadrature booster) will inject a voltage in
quadrature with the node voltage. The controllable reactance will inject a
voltage in quadrature with the throughput current. Assuming that the power
flow has a load factor close to one, the two parts of the series voltage will be
close to collinear. However, in terms of speed of control, influence on reactive
power balance and effectiveness at high/low loading the two parts of the series
voltage has quite different characteristics. The steady state control range for
loadings up to rated current is illustrated in Figure 1.20, where the x-axis
corresponds to the throughput current and the y-axis corresponds to the
injected series voltage.

Fig1.20. Operational diagram of a DFC

Operation in the first and third quadrants corresponds to reduction of
power through the DFC, whereas operation in the second and fourth quadrants
corresponds to increasing the power flow through the DFC. The slope of the line
passing through the origin (at which the tap is at zero and TSC / TSR are
bypassed) depends on the short circuit reactance of the PST.
Starting at rated current (2 kA) the short circuit reactance by itself
provides an injected voltage (approximately 20 kV in this case). If more
inductance is switched in and/or the tap is increased, the series voltage
increases and the current through the DFC decreases (and the flow on parallel
branches increases). The operating point moves along lines parallel to the
arrows in the figure. The slope of these arrows depends on the size of the
parallel reactance. The maximum series voltage in the first quadrant is obtained
when all inductive steps are switched in and the tap is at its maximum.
Now, assuming maximum tap and inductance, if the throughput current
decreases (due e.g. to changing loading of the system) the series voltage will
decrease. At zero current, it will not matter whether the TSC / TSR steps are in
or out, they will not contribute to the series voltage. Consequently, the series
voltage at zero current corresponds to rated PST series voltage. Next, moving
into the second quadrant, the operating range will be limited by the line
corresponding to maximum tap and the capacitive step being switched in (and
the inductive steps by-passed). In this case, the capacitive step is approximately
as large as the short circuit reactance of the PST, giving an almost constant
maximum voltage in the second quadrant.

Chapter 4

Smart Converter
4.1 The Concept of Multi-Phase Smart Converter

In the traditional smart converter PV system, each panel has a

dedicated MPPT converter as shown in Fig.4.1. Taking panel 1 as an
example, the single phase smart converter senses panel output voltage VP1
and panel output current IP1, and uses a MPPT controller to track peak
power point of panel 1 by perturbing VP1. All the single phase smart
converters work simultaneously and keep tracking peak power points of
panels without interruption.

Figure 4.1 Traditional single phase Smart Converter

However, there is no need to use controller to track peak power point

of panel all the time. The reason is that compared to the calculation speed of
controller, the variance of solar irradiance is very slow. For example, during
0.1 second, the low cost micro controller can execute 6 million instructions,
which are enough for MPPT algorithm to converge 10 times. Whereas, in
natural environment, the variance of solar irradiance during 0.1 second is
very small. Therefore, most time the MPPT algorithm works in convergence

17
mode, which means controller gives nearly constant input voltage reference
to the smart converter.

Based on this reason, the two single phase smart converter in Fig. 4.1
can be replaced by the two-phase smart converter with single controller as
shown in Fig. 4.2. Taking panel 1 in Fig.4.2 as an example, when controller
is tracking panel 1, controller gives perturbation on input voltage reference
VP1. Meanwhile, controller outputs constant input voltage reference VP2,
and then the voltage of panel 2 is fixed, which means the delivered power
from panel 2 is constant. After the peak power point of panel 1 is tracked,
the controller will turn to track panel 2 while fix the output voltage of panel
1 at its peak power point. When the peak power point of panel 2 is tracked,
the controller will turn to track panel 1 again while fix VP2 at its peak point.
This time sharing process repeats all the time to make sure all the panels
can deliver its maximum power consistently.

Figure 4.2 Proposed Two-phase Smart Converter with single controller

18
Figure 4.3 Optimized Two-phase smart converter with single controller

Nonetheless, both input voltage and input current of two converters

needs to be sensed. To further reduce cost, a solution for two phase smart
converter with less sensors is proposed in Fig. 4.3. Taking panel 1 in Fig.4
(b) as an example, when controller is tracking panel 1, controller gives
perturbation on VP1 by sensing Vo and adjusting duty cycle D1. Meanwhile,
the voltage of panel 2 are fixed by adjusting duty cycle according to sensed
Vo, which means panel 2 delivers constant power. Thus, assuming there is
no power loss in the power conversion, if VP1 is perturbed toward higher
power point, then the total power of two panels becomes higher; otherwise, if
VP1 is perturbed toward lower power point, then the total power of two
panels becomes lower. Using this method can track MPP of panel 1, and
after that controller turns to track panel 2 while fix VP1 at its peak power
point.

19
Figure 4.4 Proposed Multi-phase smart converter with single controller

For the cascaded smart converter system, applying the similar time
sharing method can give rise to the proposed multi-phase smart converter
as shown in Fig. 4.4. The proposed solution only senses Vo1 ,Vo2 and Io ,
which respectively represents the output voltage of two top converters, the
output voltage of two bottom converters, and total output current of two
bottom converters. Hence, assuming there is no power loss in the power
conversion, both total power of two top panels, and total power of two
bottom panels can be measured.

In order to achieve panel level MPPT, time sharing method is adopted

to track MPP of four panels by using only one controller. Taking panel 1 in
Fig.4.4 as an example, when controller is tracking panel 1, controller gives
perturbation on VP1 by sensing Vo1 and adjusting duty cycle D1.
Meanwhile, the voltage of other three panels are fixed by adjusting duty

20
 cycle according to sensed Vo1 and Vo2, which means the other three panels’
power are constant. Thus, if VP1 is perturbed toward higher power point,
then the total power of two top panels becomes higher; otherwise, if VP1 is
perturbed toward lower power point, then the total power of two top panels
becomes lower. Using this method can track MPP of panel 1, and after that
controller moves to track other panel while fix VP1 at its peak power point.

Figure 4.5 Extended architecture for proposed multi-phase smart converter

21
4.2 Boost converter

Smart converter uses boost converter for tracking MPP. The duty cycle
from the MPPT controller is given to boost converter .

A boost converter (step-up converter) is a DC-to-DC power converter

steps up voltage (while stepping down current) from its input (supply) to its
output (load). It is a class of switched-mode power supply (SMPS) containing at
least two semiconductors (a diode and a transistor ) and at least one energy
storage element, a capacitor, inductor, or the two in combination. To reduce
voltage ripple, filters made of capacitors (sometimes in combination with
inductors) are normally added to such a converter's output (load-side filter) and
input (supply-side filter).

Figure 4.6 Circuit for basic Boost Converter

Power for the boost converter can come from any suitable DC sources, such as
batteries, solar panels, rectifiers and DC generators. A process that changes
one DC voltage to a different DC voltage is called DC to DC conversion. A boost
converter is a DC to DC converter with an output voltage greater than the
source voltage. A boost converter is sometimes called a step-up converter since
it "steps up" the source voltage. Since power ( ) must be conserved, the
output current is lower than the source current.

22
4.3 Implementation of Proposed Multi-Phase Smart Converter

For the implementation of proposed solution, a four-phase buck

converter is shown in Fig. 4.8. The converter output voltage and current are
sensed as Vo1, Vo2, and Io. They are fed into MCU to calculate the total output
power of four panels. Based on MPPT algorithm, MCU outputs the driving
signals to switches to control the input voltage of each buck converter. Given
that the output voltage of each buck converter is known, the input voltage of
buck converter can be adjusted based on the following equations

Vp1 = Vo1 / D1

Vp2 = Vo1 / D2

Vp3 = Vo12/ D3

Vp4 = Vo1 / D4

Figure 4.7 Power stage of four phase buck converter

23
 To implement panel level maximum power point tracking, time
sharing method is adopted to use single MCU to controller for four panels.

Fig. 4.7 gives the time sharing method, in which the controller each
panel in turn. While panel 1 is tracked for MPPT, the voltage of panel 1, VP1
is perturbed, and the voltages of other panels are fixed. Fig. 4.8 shows the
flowchart diagram of Perturbation & Observation (P&O) based MPPT
algorithm during tracking panel 1 period. Figure 4.7 Time sharing of MPPT
controller.

Figure 4.8 Time sharing of MPPT controller

24
 Figure 4.9 Flowchart diagram of MPPT algorithm during tracking panel 1
period

25
 Chapter 5
MATLAB /SIMULINK

5.1. Introduction to MATLAB

MATLAB is a software package for computation in engineering,

science, and applied mathematics. It offers a powerful programming
language, excellent graphics, and a wide range of expert knowledge.
MATLAB is published by and a trademark of The Math Works, Inc.

The focus in MATLAB is on computation, not mathematics: Symbolic

expressions and manipulations are not possible (except through the optional
Symbolic Toolbox, a clever interface to maple). All results are not only
numerical but inexact, thanks to the rounding errors inherent in computer
arithmetic. The limitation to numerical computation can be seen as a
drawback, but it’s a source of strength too: MATLAB is much preferred to
Maple, Mathematical, and the like when it comes to numerics.

On the other hand, compared to other numerically oriented languages

like C++ and FORTRAN, MATLAB is much easier to use and comes with a
huge standard library, the unfavorable comparison here is a gap in
execution speed. This gap is not always as dramatic as popular lore has it,
and it can often be narrowed or closed with good MATLAB programming.
Moreover, one can link other codes into MATLAB, or vice versa, and MATLAB
now optionally supports parallel computing. Still, MATLAB is usually not the
tool of choice for maximum-performance Computing.

The MATLAB niche is numerical computation on workstations for non-

experts in computation. This is a huge niche—one way to tell is to look at
the number of MATLAB-related books on mathworks.com. Even for
supercomputer users, MATLAB can be a valuable environment in which to
explore and fine-tune algorithms before more laborious coding in another
26
language. Most successful computing languages and environments acquire a
distinctive character or culture.

In MATLAB, that culture contains several elements: an experimental

and graphical bias, resulting from the interactive environment and
compression of the write-compile-link-execute analyze cycle; an emphasis on
syntax that is compact and friendly to the interactive mode, rather than
tightly constrained and verbose; a kitchen-sink mentality for providing
functionality; and a high degree of openness and transparency (though not
to the extent of being open source software).

When you start MATLAB, you get a multi paneled desktop. The layout
and behavior of the desktop and its components are highly customizable
(and may in fact already be customized for your site). The component that is
the heart of MATLAB is called the Command Window, located on the 1Here
and elsewhere I am thinking of the ―old FORTRAN,‖ FORTRAN 77. This is not a
commentary on the usefulness of FORTRAN 90 but on my ignorance of it.

Right by default. Here you can give MATLAB commands typed at the
prompt, >>. Unlike FORTRAN and other compiled computer languages,
MATLAB is an interpreted environment—you give a command, and MATLAB
tries to execute it right away before asking for another. At the top left you
can see the Current Directory. In general MATLAB is aware only of files in
the current directory (folder) and on its path, which can be customized.
Commands for working with the directory and path include cd, what, add
path, and edit path (or you can choose ―File/Set path. . .‖ from the menu).
You can add files to a directory on the path and thereby add commands to
MATLAB.

Next to the Current Directory tab is the Workspace tab. The

workspace shows you what variable names are currently defined and some
information about their contents. (At start-up it is, naturally, empty.) This 27
 represents another break from compiled environments: variables created in
the workspace persist for you to examine and modify, even after code
execution stops. Below the Command Window/Workspace window is the
Command History window. As you enter commands, they are recorded here.
This record persists across different MATLAB sessions, and commands or
blocks of commands can be copied from here or saved to files.

As you explore MATLAB, you will soon encounter some toolboxes.

These are individually packaged sets of capabilities that provide in-depth
expertise on particular subject areas. There is no need to load them
explicitly—once installed, they are always available transparently. You may
also encounter Simulink, which is a semi-independent graphical control-
engineering package not covered in this document.

5.2 What is Simulink

Simulink (Simulation and Link) is an extension of MATLAB by Math

works Inc. It works with MATLAB to offer modeling, simulating, and
analyzing of dynamical systems under a graphical user interface (GUI)
environment. The construction of a model is simplified with click-and-drag
mouse operations. Simulink includes a comprehensive block library of
toolboxes for both linear and nonlinear analyses. Models are hierarchical,
which allow using both top-down and bottom-up approaches. As Simulink is
an integral part of MATLAB, it is easy to switch back and forth during the
analysis process and thus, the user may take full advantage of features
offered in both environments. This tutorial presents the basic features of
Simulink and is focused on control systems as it has been written for
students in my control systems.

28
5.2.1 Getting Started

To start a Simulink session, you'd need to bring up MATLAB program

first. From MATLAB command window, enter: >> simulink

Figure 5.1 Simulink Library

To see the content of the block set, click on the "+" sign at the beginning
of each toolbox. To start a model click on the NEW FILE ICON as shown in the
screenshot above. Alternately, you may use keystrokes CTRL+N. A new window
will appear on the screen. You will be constructing your model in this window.
Also in this window the constructed model is simulated.

Figure 5.2 Simulink New Model Window

29
 To become familiarized with the structure and the environment of
Simulink, you are encouraged to explore the toolboxes and scan their
contents. You may not know what they are all about but perhaps you could
catch on the organization of these toolboxes according to the category. For
instant, you may see Control System Toolbox to consist of the Linear Time
Invariant (LTI) system library and the MATLAB functions can be found
under Function and Tables of the Simulink main toolbox. A good way to
learn Simulink (or any computer program in general) is to practice and
explore. Making mistakes is a part of the learning curve. So, fear not, you
should be. A simple model is used here to introduce some basic features of
Simulink. Please follow the steps below to construct a simple model.

5.2.2 Step 1: Creating Blocks

From BLOCK SET CATEGORIES section of the SIMULINK LIBRARY

BROWSER window, click on the "+" sign next to the Simulink group to
expand the tree and select (click on) Sources.

Figure 5.3 Source Selection

30
 A set of blocks will appear in the BLOCKSET group. Click on the Sine
Wave block and drag it to the workspace window (also known as model
window)

Figure 5.4 Sinusoidal Source Selection

To move the blocks around, simply click on it and drag it to a desired

location. Once all the blocks are dragged over to the work space should
consist of the following components:

Figure 5.5 Blocks Selection into Simulink Model Window

Step 2: Making Connections

To establish connections between the blocks, move the cursor to the

output port represented by ">" sign on the block. Once placed at a port, the
cursor will turn into a cross "+" enabling you to make connection between
blocks. To make a connection: left-click while holding down the control key

31
 (on your keyboard) and drag from source port to a destination port. The
connected model is shown below.

Figure 5.6 Connection Diagram

A sine signal is generated by the Sine Wave block (a source) and is

displayed by the scope. The integrated sine signal is sent to scope for display
along with the original signal from the source via the Mux, whose function is to
multiplex signals in form of scalar, vector, or matrix into a bus.

Step 3: Running Simulation

You now can run the simulation of the simple system above by clicking on
the play button (alternatively, you may use key sequence CTRL+T, or choose
Start submenu under Simulation menu).

Figure 5.7 Scope of Different Waveforms

32
5.3 Blocks used in our simulation model

1. Subsystems

Subsystems allow you to create a hierarchical model comprising many

layers. A subsystem is a set of blocks that you replace with a single Subsystem
block. As your model increases in size and complexity, you can simplify it by
grouping blocks into subsystems. Using subsystems:

 Establishes a hierarchical block diagram, where a Subsystem block

is on one layer and the blocks that make up the subsystem are on another

 Keeps functionally related blocks together

 Helps reduce the number of blocks displayed in your model

window.

Subsystems used in our model

(a) PV panel

PV panel subsystem shown here is masked sub system , designed on the

basis mathematical model of current equation of pv cell. Using this subsystem
we can connect required number of modules in series or parallel with choice of
parameters.

Figure 5.8 Subsystem showing pv panel

33
Figure 5.9 Internal Structure Of PV Panel subsystem

34
The below figure shows the available parameters for this subsystem

Figure 5.10 Parameters of PV panel subsystem

35
(b) Perturb and Observe MPPT subsystem

This subsystem developed on the basis of P &O algorithm helps us to

track the maximum power point of of PV module. It takes voltage and current
sensed from the panel as inputs and tracks maximum power point. The output
is given in the form of duty cycle to boost converter, such that panel operates at
the voltage corresponding to maximum power

Figure 5.11 MPPT subsystem

Internal structure of subsystem

Figure 5.12 MPPT internal structure

36
(c) Boost converter subsystem

Basic boost converter using IGBT is used in the smart converter. The duty cycle
for the converter is given by MPPT block

Figure 5.13 Boost converter subsystem

Internal structure of subsystem

Figure 5.14 Internal structure of boost converter subsystem

37
Table 5.1 Parameter Values in Boost converter

Parameters Values

Capcitor (source side) 3 mF

Capacitor (Load side) 0.1 F

inductance 0.01

38
 Chapter 6
Simulation model & Results

6.1 Simulation Model For Single Phase Smart Converter

The simulation model for the single phase smart converter constructed in
MATLAB which is as follows:
Panel parameters

39
Figure 6.1 Simulation Model of Single Phase Smart Converter

40
 Output of PV panel are given to MPPT controller and boost converter, the
converter tracks the MPP using P & O algorithm, and gives duty cycle as output
to converter such that maximum power is drawn from PV module.

Results of Single Phase Smart Converter

6.11 I V curve

Scale X-axis : voltage in volts Y-axis : Current in amperes

Figure 6.2 I V curve of PV panel

The I V - curve of PV panel is Non-linear from the graph.

41
6.12 P V curve

Scale X-axis : Voltage in volts Y-axis : Power in Watt

Figure 6.3 P V curve of PV panel

From the P-V graph it is clearly seen that maximum power is around
4700 W.
But by using P & O algorithm the operating point of PV panel is around
maximum power point region. So maximum power obtained is around MPP.

42
Figure 6.4 P , V , I curves with MPPT
Scale : X-Axis –Time is sec Y –Axis : (i)Voltage in Volt
(ii) Current in Ampere (iii) Power in Watt
From the graph it can be seen that the maximum power extracted is
around 4400 W.

6.2 Simulation model for Four Phase Smart Converter

Four phase smart converter model is designed based on time sharing
concept of MPPT controller . The controller tracks MPP of four PV modules one
by one as explained in smart converter chapter.
When four PV modules connected are at different irradiance due to
shading, MPPT controller will track the MPP of individual module such that
maximum amount of power is drawn from each module.

43
Figure 6.5 Simulation model for Four Phase Smart Converter

44
Results

In control strategy for MPPT controller , simulation time is used as

reference ,controller tracks MPP module 1 for first 2.5 sec and fix the duty cycle
for first module then for next 2.5 sec it tracks MPP of module 2 and so on.
For simulation of 10 sec the power obtained from four PV modules are shown in
below figure, taken from power scope of model.
Scale X-axis : Time in sec Y-axis : Power in KW

Figure 6.6 power output from four modules

45
 Panel Maximum Power extracted (KW)
Irradiance ( 2)

Panel1 1000 228

Panel2 800 216

Panel 3 600 204

Panel4 1000 228

Table 6.2 Panel Outputs from scope

The irradiance on the four modules is not the same, so their will slight
change in maximum power available on each module. We can see that from
scope

7.CONCLUSION

The model proposed for multi phase smart converter has been designed
in MATLAB and simulated. The simulation results are obtained and are fulfilling
the aim of the project.

46
8. Future scope

Recent research on distributed MPPT appeals that subpanel level peak

power tracking can further improve energy production compared to panel level
MPPT , a unified output MPPT control structure is presented in order to reduce
the cost and simplify the distributed MPPT system as shown in Fig.

Figure 8.1 Unified output MPPT control structure for subpanel converter

In this subpanel converter, all the cell strings share the same voltage
reference. Analysis and derivation indicates that this MPPT control structure
can effectively deliver maximum power when mismatch happens among cell
strings. Based on this control strategy, a multi-phase subpanel MPPT converter
is proposed in Fig. 8.1 Taking panel 1 as an example, when controller is
tracking panel 1, controller gives perturbation on Vref1. Meanwhile, the voltage

47
reference of other three panels are fixed, which means the other three panels’
power are constant. Thus, if Vref1 is perturbed toward higher power point, then
the total power of two top panels becomes higher; otherwise, if Vref1 is
perturbed toward lower power point, then the total power of two top panels
becomes lower. Using this method can track MPP of panel 1, and after that
controller moves to track other panel while fix Vref1 at its peak power point.

Figure 8.2 Proposed multi-phase subpanel converter with single controller

48
 References

[1] Nimni, Y.; Shmilovitz, D.; ‖A returned energy architecture for improved
photovoltaic systems efficiency,‖ Proceedings of 2010 IEEE International Symposium
on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS), pp.2191-2194, May 30 2010-June 2 2010

[2]L. Jiang, et al., "R-based MPPT method for smart converter PV system,"
inPROC .IEEE Appl . Power E;ectron . Conf. Expo., 2012, pp. 2072-2079.
[3] B. N. Alajmi, K. H. Ahmed, S. J. Finney, and B. W. Williams, ―A maximum power
point tracking technique for partially shaded photovoltaic systems in microgrids,‖
IEEE Trans. Ind . Electron., vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 1596–1606, Apr.
2013.
[4] Feng Wang, Pengju Kong, Fred C. Lee, and Fang Zhuo, ―Analysis and
optimization of module integrated MPPT converter based residential PV system‖,
th
Power Electronics and Applications (EPE) 2013 15 European conference ,pp. 1
– 7, Sept. 2013.
[5] F. Wang, et al., ―Analysis of Unified Output MPPT Control in Subpanel PV
Converter System, IEEE Trans.Power Electron., vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 1275–1284,
Mar. 2014.
[6] Non-Conventional Energy Sources by G.D RAI , Khanna Publishers.

49