Performance of Distribution Grid Connected Solar Photovoltaic Array with Unified Power Quality Conditioner

Abstract

The control of distribution grid connected Solar Photovoltaic Array with Unified Power Quality Conditioner (SPV-UPQC) is presented. The SPV-UPQC comprises of a solar photovoltaic array, a shunt active power filter (APF) and series APF. In UPQC, the series and shunt Active Power Filters (APFs are connected in back to back with a common DC-bus capacitor. The shunt active compensator is used to extracts the power from solar PV array as well as compensates load current harmonics. The Synchronous Reference Frame (SRF) based control theory is used in shunt active compensator for extracting fundamental load active current component. The Unit Vector Template (UVT) technique is used in series active compensator. The series active compensator mitigates grid voltage sags and swells conditions by injecting voltage in phase or out of phase at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) respectively. The proposed system performs both the transfer of active power and power quality enhancement simultaneously. The performance of the test system are examined under steady-state condition, grid voltage fluctuations and varying solar irradiation conditions by detailed simulation in MATLAB/Simulink software.