Implementation of Single-phase pq Theory

Mehrdad Tarafdar Haque*, and Toshifumi he**

Electrical Engineering Department, Tabriz University, Tabriz, IRAN*

Phone & Fax.: 98-41 1-3356025
e-mail: tarafdar@ieee.org

Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, JAPAN**

Phone: 8 1-6-6879-7695
Fax.: 81-6-6879-7263
e-mail: ise@pwr.eng.osaka-tJ.ac.jp

Abstract only in three-phase systems. This subject results in

Instantaneous reactive power compensation in single-
phase scheme is implemented. The analytical analysis is
presented. The proposed single-phase based theory can
be usedfor reactive power compensation of single-phase
as well as three-phase systems, successfully. This method
generates sinusoidal reference current waveform in the
utility side in imbalanced utility voltage andor
imbalanced load current cases. The validity of presented
method and its comparison with original p q theory is
studied through simulation results.
Key words: single-phase, pq theory
1 Introduction
In modem power systems the requirement for reactive
power compensation is becoming more and more
rigorous. During the last decades, voltage source
inverters (VSIs) due to advancements in power
electronics and control methods have attracted a great
deal of attention for fast dynamic reactive power
compensation. It is possible canceling out the reactive
power of load using injection of specified current
waveform to the utility by VSI. Obviously, the most
important subject in the operation of these inverters is
the strategy of generation of reference current
waveforms, which the inverter should inject in each of
the phases. Between the various methods in this field,
the instantaneous pq theory has gained considerable
attention [ 11.
After the presentation of original pq theory [ 1,2] some
instantaneous power based theories presented [3-61. The
main objectives of these articles were extension of pq
theory to three-phase three-wire and/or three-phase four-
wire systems considering different utility voltage and/or
load current conditions. These conditions include
subjects such as imbalance and/or harmonic polluted
utility voltage, imbalance and/or harmonic polluted load
current and neutral current compensation [7-91.
Considering this fact that the pq theory is a three-
phase system based theory, it is obvious that all of the
researches which are based on this theory, are usable
dependency of reference compensation current in one
phase to the current and voltage waveform of other two
phases.
The main objective of this paper is presentation of
single-phase pq theory and using it for instantaneous
reactive power compensation of each of the phases of a
three-phase system, independently. Single-phase pq
theory has two main advantages over existing original pq
theory as follows:
(a) Single-phase pq theory compensates for
instantaneous reactive power of single-phase as well
as three-phase systems. It can be used in single-
phase loaded three-phase systems, too. But, original
pq theory generates incorrect compensating currents
in remaining phases of a three-phase system, which
is loaded by a single-phase load on one of its phases.
(b) Single-phase pq theory generates sinusoidal
reference currents in the utility side when utility
voltages and/or load currents are imbalance but
original pq theory cannot generate sinusoidal current
waveform in above-mentioned conditions.
2 Theory of operation
The basic idea of original pq theory begins with
transforming the instantaneous space vectors of three
phase utility voltages and load currents from a-b-c
coordinates into a-p coordinates using (1) and (2) [ 11.
The instantaneous real power, p(t) and imaginary
power, q(t) of load is defined as follows:

0-7803-7156-9/02/$10.0002002 IEEE - 761 - PCC-Osaka 2002

 From (3), the reference compensating currents on the
a-j3 coordinates, icompa and icompp are given as follows:
-1
Transforming these currents into a-b-c coordinates
results in the following equation:
[*lm1//(1)] [ 1 0 ][
fcomp/,(t)
icompc(f)
= - -0.5
-0.5
&/2
-&/2
icompa(t)
icomLJp(‘) 1
Where, ;compa(t) Icompb(1) and icompc(O are the
instantaneous compensating currents which should be
absorbed by voltage source PWM inverter from the
utility in each of the phases a, b and c, respectively.
Considering a there-phase utility which has a only one
single-phase load on phase “a” it is possible writing the
following expression:
i b ( t ) = ic(t) = 0
Using (2) to (4) results in the following equation:
Obviously, situating compensating currents of (7) into
(5) result in compensating currents not only in the phase
“a” but also in remaining phases “b” and “c”. But, the
phases b and c were unloaded and it is not necessary
absorbing such a compensating currents from these
phases. In other words, original pq theory generates
incorrect compensating currents in remaining phases of a
three-phase system, which has a single-phase load on
one of its phases.
Using the presented single-phase pq theory solves this
problem. Considering the transformation formulas of
a-p coordinates into a-b-c coordinates gives the
following expressions for current and voltage on c1 axis:
On the other hand, from (3), (4) and (5) we have:
Considering this fact that the voltages and currents on
the p axis are x/2phase lag in respect with the quantities
on a axis, it is possible writing the following equations:
These equations are correct in absence of negative
sequence of load currents and utility voltages. In (1 1)
and (12), v’, (t) and i’, (t) lead v, (t) and i, (t) by x/2,
(5) respectively.
Substituting of (S), (9), (1 1) and (12) in (10) gives the
following equation:
In eq. (13), v‘, (t) and i‘, (t) lead v,(f) and i , ( t )
by d 2 , respectively. This equation determines the
reference compensating current for instantaneous
reactive power compensation in phase “a”. The
(6) compensating current of (1 3) depends on the utility
voltage and load current in the phase “a”. Considering
this fact that compensating cument of phase “a” is
independent on the voltages and currents of other two
phases makes it possible using this equation for
(7) instantaneous reactive power compensation in single-
phase systems as well as three-phase systems with
single-phase load. In a similar mariner for obtaining (1 3),
it is possible concluding compensating currents in the
phases b and c using (14) and (15), respectively. These
currents are dependent only on the utility voltages and
load currents of the phases “b” and “c”, respectively.
3 Control Circuit of Single-phase pq
Theory
Fig. 1 shows the control circuit of presented method in
one of the phases. In this figure v(t), i(t) and icomp(t)
stand for the utility phase voltage, load current and
reference compensating current, respectively. The
notations of v’(t) and i’(t) show d2 phase leaded
waveform of v(t) and i(t), respectively.
From theoretical point of view, the control block of
‘ W 2 phase lead” should be a quadrature filter, which its
transfer hnction is as follows [lo]:
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”“‘+ phase lead
i comp 0)
Fig. 1. Control circuit single-phase pq theory
The operation of this filter is equivalent with
implementation of Hilbert transform in the frequency
domain. The output function of this filter is orthogonal to
its input signal in steady state as well as transient case.
Unfortunately, from practical point of view, it is not
possible making this filter, exactly. In this paper the
following all pass filter is used for approximation of
operation of quadrature filter:
1-6s
H ( s ) = --
(17)
1+6S
Where, T I = l / o l and o1 stands for angular
fundamental frequency.
In three-phase systems, it is possible using the
proposed control circuit of Fig. 1 in each of the phases,
independently. In this way, the control circuit
compensates for instantaneous reactive power of each of
the phases, independently. For example, considering a
single-phase loaded three-phase system and using (6),
( 1 4) and ( 1 5) results in zero compensating currents in the
phases b and c.
The other feature of single-phase pq theory is
generation of sinusoidal reference current waveforms in
the utility side in imbalance utility voltages and/or
imbalance load side currents cases. Obviously, this is
because of single-phase based operation of presented
theory. The simulation results of following section has
been used to explain the operation of single-phase pq
theory.
4 Simulation Results
The operation of presented single-phase pq theory is
studied through simulation results. Three similar single-
phase pq theory based control circuits (see Fig. 1) are
used in each of the phases a, b and c, independently. Fig.
2 shows the simulated power system. The source
consists of a 3-phase 4-wire 120 V (rms, L-L), 60 Hz
utility. The load consists of a three-phase balance R-L
load, another three phase balance R-L load which, can be
switched ON and OFF using a three phase thyristor
switch and a resistive load which can be switched ON
and OFF using a single-phase thyristor switch.
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Fig. 2. Simulated power system
This circuit has four stages of operation as follows:
1- From zero to 50 (ms) the load of utility is only
the three-phase balanced R-L load. This load
would result in reactive power burden on utility.
2- The second three-phase balance R-L load
switches ON to the utility at 50 (ms). Switching
this load ON can be used for studying the
dynamic operation of control circuit.
3- At 100 (ms), the single-phase load on the phase
“c” switches ON. This load generates imbalance
load current case. Indeed, the single-phase
reactive power compensation ability of control
circuit is studied from 100 (ms) to 150 (ms).
4- At 150 (ms) to the end of simulation time, the
magnitude of voltage of phase “a” is reduced to
50% of its rated value. This generates a voltage
imbalance case. On the other hand, the current of
phase “a” decreases and the current imbalance
case of previous interval changes to a new state.
Fig. 3 shows the simulation results. Fig. 3(a) shows the
utility voltages. This figure shows the voltage imbalance
case from 150 (ms) to 200 (ms).
Fig. 3(b) shows the load side currents. These currents
are balanced from zero to 50 (ms) and show reactive
power burden of load. From 50 (ms) to 100 (ms) these
currents are balanced again but reactive power burden of
load is increased. From 100 (ms) to 150 (ms) there is a
current imbalance case and from 150 (ms) to 200 (ms)
there is current and voltage imbalance case,
simultaneously. The control circuit uses the voltage and
current waveforms of F i g s 3(a) and 3(b) as input signals
for generation of reference reactive power compensating
current waveforms.
Fig.s 3(c) and 3(d) show the reference source side
currents after the operation of pq theory and single-phase
scheme of pq theory, respectively. Considering Fig. 3(c)
shows that original pq theory cannot generate sinusoidal
waveform at the source side in load current and/or utility
voltage cases (i.e. from 100 (ms) to 200 (ms)). On the
other hand, Fig. 3(d) shows that the operation of
 . .
0.2
0.1

0
-0.1
m
V.L.
9
1 1 1 1

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

(a) Utility Voltages

0 la O b A IC
0.04
0.02
0

-0.02
-0.04
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
(b) Load Side Currents

0 lqsoua 0 lqsoub A Iqsouc

0.03
(W
0.02
0.01
0
-0.01
-0.02
-n n?
-V.VY 1 - 1 8 8 1

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

(c) Source Currents by pq Theory

0 lasou 0 lbsoo A lcsou

0.03
' 0.02
0.01
0
-0.01
-0.02
-n n7
".W 8 1 1 1 1

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

(d) Source Currents by Presented Method

Fig. 3. Simulation results

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 presented single-phase scheme of pq theory not only
compensates for instantaneous reactive power but also
results in sinusoidal current waveform in all of the load
currents and source voltages cases. Obviously, such
ability is due to single-phase based operation of this
control circuit. It should be noticed that this control
strategy would not generate balanced current
waveforms in the utility side.
5 Conclusions
The demerits of original pq theory in compensation
for a single-phase loaded three-phase utility are
discussed through analytical expressions. Single-phase
pq theory is presented and its application in above-
mentioned condition is studied through analytical
expressions. The formula of single-phase reference
instantaneous reactive power compensation current is
derived. The validity of presented control strategy is
proved through simulation results. These results show
valuable dynamic response of single-phase pq theory.
The independent operation of single-phase pq theory in
each of the phases is other feature of presented control
strategy, which results in sinusoidal current waveform
in imbalance load current and/or utility voltage cases.
6 References
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“Generalized Theory of the Instantaneous
Reactive Power in Three-phase Circuits,” Proc.
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1386.
[2] H. Akagi, Y. Kanazawa, A. Nabae,
“Instantaneous Reactive Power Compensators
Comprising Switching Devices without Energy
Storage components,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl.,
Vol. 20, No. 3, MayIJune 1984, pp. 625-630.
- 765 -
[31 J. L. Willems, “A New Interpretation of the
Akagi-Nabae Power Components for
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Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 41, No. 4, Augest.
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