Particle swarm optimization based DSTATCOM with reduced DC-link voltage for load compensation

This paper suggests a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) based Distribution Static Compensator (D-STATCOM) with non-stiff source for load balancing. A D-STATCOM configuration comprises of voltage Source Inverter (VSI) with spit DC capacitor source to introduce compensating currents in to the system. DC-link voltage of VSI is reduced by employing capacitors in series with the interfacing inductor and in shunt at Point of Common Coupling (PCC) for eliminating high switching frequency constituents of inverter. Switching of VSI is done using Hysteresis Pulse Width Modulation (HPWM) and reference currents required for this are generated using a positive sequence component extraction based Instantaneous Symmetrical Component Theory (ISCT) in non-stiff system. Taking into consideration the issues related with capacitor unbalanced in split DC voltage source inverter, proportional integral (PI) controller using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique is implemented to kept DC link voltage at its desired value. The performance analysis of proposed topology has been verified over traditional topology through an extensive MATLAB simulation.