Design and Development of Soft Computing Based Unified Power Quality Conditioner for Improvement of Power Quality

The problem in power quality (PQ) typically affects non-linear loads. Harmonic currents generate resonance mechanism, condenser overload, performance reduction. Voltage sags are often present in electrical systems with power quality issues. Non-linear devices, such as converters of power electronics, increase the total reactivity provided by equal load and introduce harmonic currents into the grid. The demand for reactive power is well known to cause the feeder voltage to fall and to increase losses. Other losses and voltage distortions of waveform can result from the presence of harmonic currents, which can cause poor strength. Furthermore, there is an increase in the number of sensitive loads requiring ideal sine voltages for their correct operation. It is well known that the rising use of power sensitive electronic equipment fuels interest in power conditioning technologies. Therefore, some form of compensation needs to be provided if power output is to stay within the limits recommended by the specifications. A Unified Power Quality Controller (UPQC), which can control all transmission parameters, i.e., voltage, impedance and phases angle, is one of the Versatile AC Transmission System Controllers families (FACTS). In order to mitigate voltage problems supplied by the utilities, this study focuses on new UPFC schemes, which have enhanced power quality efficiency. One of the FACTS controls to minimise the impact of stress sales is the Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC). For quadrature injection voltage level, the UPQC series compensator is used. Therefore, the compensator series never uses active power in a constant state. The proposed method incorporates a compensator for a low power rating set, which injects voltage, which compensates for the system's power quality issue. The inclusion of the fuzzy logic controller with traditional UPQC decreases the voltage level and increases the power factor. The load factor is also increased. The circuit is built by means of a fuzzy logic controller and simulated by MATLAB / SIMULINK.