Power Quality Improvement using UPQC with Single and Three-Phase Non-linear Loads in Countryside Areas

Abstract

This paper is intended to simulate a power quality conditioning device, Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC), in countryside areas for non-linear loading. From past decades there is much increase in the requirement of the good quality electrical power in single phase distribution grids established in these locations. Due to technical advancement, three-phase loads are practiced more than single phase loads so that the demand for three phase distribution grids is growing. But the installation process of three-phase grids, at countryside areas, is not an economic option and to get access to these systems is a very challenging task. So a neighbouring three-phase distribution system is required to be established at the location, where single-phase to three-phase UPQC with single wire earth return is appropriate for the end user due to economic considerations. A dual compensation strategy is implemented to obtain the reference quantities for controlling the converters. The proposed idea is accomplished to eliminate voltage harmonics and mitigate further instabilities and power quality problems. This system allows the balanced and regulated voltage with lower harmonic content. Synchronous Reference Frame (SRF) based controllers are considered to organize the input grid current and the load voltages of the UPQC. The present prototype under consideration analyses and validates the compensation and controlling techniques using PI controller. The control strategies are simulated using MATLAB/SIMULINK.