Description and evaluation of 3-level VSC topology based statcom for fast compensation applications

Traditional SVC is a cost effective FACTS device for reactive power control and flicker mitigation. STATCOM offers enhanced performance for power quality maintenance to a higher cost. Improvements of power semiconductors have opened new possibilities for development of STATCOM with various Voltage Source Converter (VSC) topologies. This document describes a STATCOM based on a 3-Level - Neutral Point Clamped - Voltage Source Converter (3L-NPCVSC).