The bootstrap variable inductance and its applications in AC power systems

A new AC power controller is proposed, the bootstrap variable inductance, which can emulate variable positive/negative inductance. The term 'reductance' is coined as a synonym for negative inductance. Unlike the conventional capacitive approach for treating unwanted inductive reactance, reductance has the advantage that resonance is impossible. The bootstrap variable inductance has a variety of FACTS applications: series compensation of AC power lines; fault-current limiting; reactive power control; and load power factor improvement. The authors demonstrate its feasibility through simulations.