Improving power quality in microgrids using unified power quality conditioners

• Main Author: Lim, Kai Herng
• Other Authors: Gooi Hoay Beng
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/70765
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

As the world shifts reliance on energy generation away from traditional fossil fuel combustion methods, there is an increasing trend in the use of sustainable renewable energy sources (RESs). With their widespread use coupled with the intermittent and unstable nature of such energy sources, traits such as power quality problems and less than desirable reliability, partially due to the use of non-linear power electronics within the power converter systems present in RESs are introduced to the electrical grid. This brings about undesirable harmonic distortions to current and voltage levels, e.g. unbalanced currents, voltage sag/swell, harmonics, etc. Without a proper solution, this may indirectly lead to a decline in technological prospects of emerging microgrid industries and their businesses. This project will aim to study the Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC), a promising technology that possesses the ability to mitigate these problems simultaneously and more effectively as compared to conventional solutions that utilise single purpose compensating devices like surge suppressors, capacitor banks, L-C filters, etc. The study will focus on the 3-phase 3 wire UPQC configuration as it is most compatible and appropriate with the traditional 3-phased electrical grid. Following which, will be an in-depth study and simulation of an application of UPQC targeted at Distributed Generation (DG) microgrids, known as Intelligent Islanding. This improves the power quality of microgrids in regular operation through UPQC, as well as allowing microgrids to become electrical protected and entirely self-sustained on its coupled renewable energy source when the power grid experiences excessive voltage sag/swell or power interruptions.