Synchronverter based Multifunctional UPQC for Distributed Generation Applications

This paper presents a multifunctional unified power quality conditioner (MUPQC) for distributed generation (DG) applications to emulate the behaviour of a synchronous generator besides the power quality enhancement. There are major dependability issues with the grid as a result of the increased use of renewable energy sources. The conventional synchronous generator has characteristics that support the stability and operation of the grid by providing voltage and frequency support. This power system reliability problem may be solved by operating the power electronic converter as a synchronous machine. Both generation side stability problems and load side harmonics problems can be solved by integrating the synchronous machine characteristics with the unified power quality conditioner (UPQC). In this study, this proposed converter system is termed as multifunctional UPQC (MUPQC). The innovative aspect of the study is the shunt converter’s control algorithm, which imitates the characteristics of synchronous generators while compensating for local current harmonics. So, this proposed MUPQC assists in frequency regulation and also has the ability to operate seamlessly between grid connected and standalone modes. Moreover, this proposed MUPQC eliminates the need of PLL. The proposed control strategy of the MUPQC is validated by performing MATLAB simulation.