Analysis of the Capacitor-Less D-STATCOM for Voltage Profile Improvement in Distribution Network With High PV Penetration

Abstract

Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) have disrupted the traditional electrical system. Grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems deliver electric energy closer to the consumer, shifting the paradigm from centralized to distributed generation. The impact of the stochastic PV output power gives rise to potentially rapid voltage fluctuations. Reactive power compensation is needed to regulate the voltage profile to meet the relevant standards. Traditional approaches like switched capacitors cannot provide reactive power that is continuously adjustable at short time scales. This paper examines an alternative distribution static synchronous compensator (D-STATCOM) based on a matrix converter (MC) for the low voltage distribution networks with high PV penetration. This technology can extend service life by using inductors for energy storage. The converter being studied provides ancillary services, including reactive power support; the impact on reliability, operational constraints, and electrical behavior is demonstrated. The contribution of this paper is a detailed analysis and impact study of the capacitor-less D-STATCOM in high PV penetration distribution networks. The significance of this paper is that it studies the behavior of the power electronics converter and its interaction with the power systems without assuming or neglecting details of either. Compensation effects and reliability comparisons between the proposed capacitorless D-STATCOM and the incumbent D-STATCOM technology are also studied in

A Discrete-Continuous PSO for the Optimal Integration of D-STATCOMs into Electrical Distribution Systems by Considering Annual Power Loss and Investment Costs

“…The D-STATCOM's devices allow injections inside the electrical system reactive power in a controlled manner realtive to the electrical network by obtaining different technical and economic benefits that are related to the objective function fixed by the operator of the electrical grid [17]. The benefits are more commonly related to the reduction in power loss, improvements in voltage profiles, chargeability of the branches, harmonic mitigation, power loss cost, energy purchasing cost, and investment costs, among others [18][19][20]. It is important to highlight that these benefits depend on the location and sizing of D-STACOMs within the electrical network, for which it is vital to propose a mathematical model that evaluates the effect of the integration of D-STATCOMs, allowing the identification of the location and nominal power of D-STATCOMs that present the best impact in terms of an objective function established by the grid operator [21].…”

Capacity usage determination of a Capacitor-less D-STATCOM considering Power System Uncertainties

“…Other examples of power electronics-based solid-state devices used for mitigating the adverse impact of DERs include static var compensators (SVCs) at transmission or sub-transmission voltage levels and D-STATCOMs based on voltage source converter (VSC) technology. A major disadvantage of the SVCs is the lack of harmonic control functionality and exorbitant capital costs in low voltage regimes [3]. Due to these reasons, SVCs are inherently not suitable for use in low-voltage networks that are plagued by power quality issues due to the increased use of nonlinear loads.…”

“…On the other hand, the VSC-based D-STATCOMs rely on electrolytic capacitors (E-caps) for energy storage. The reliance on E-caps adversely affects the reliability of the VSC-based D-STATCOMs, especially in locations with tropical climate conditions [3]. The literature on the reliability of the power electronics devices has established that nearly 30% of all the failures in power electronics-based devices are caused by the E-caps [2].…”

“…The capacitor-less D-STATCOM is a multi-functional device that can be used for power factor correction, voltage regulation, and harmonic compensation simultaneously with local autonomous control or directly controlled by the distribution network operator (DSO). A comparison between the capacitor-less MC-based D-STATCOM and the incumbent technologies is given in [3] Uncertainty quantification (UQ) in power networks, especially distribution systems, is an emerging area of research that has attracted much attention from the power system research community. The increased popularity of UQ methods to combat uncertainty challenges can be attributed to the rise of DERs, especially intermittent nonscheduled generation like solar and wind, and more recently, the accelerated growth of PHEVs.…”

Optimized Self-Adaptive Power Distribution for Microgrids in a Typical Tourism Water Village of Northern China under COVID-19 Background

“…Meanwhile, Ali Elrayyah proposed a novel load-flow analysis algorithm to select the droop parameters that optimize the reactive power sharing for droop-based islanded microgrids [4]. W. Rohouma examined an alternative distribution static synchronous compensator based on a matrix converter in order to regulate the voltage profile to meet the relevant standards [5]. M. Moghbel introduced a new custom power device for real-time control of reactive power and improving network voltage quality [6].…”