DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2014.30
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1209
Date of Award
5-2014
Degree Name
MS in Electrical Engineering
Department/Program
Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Taufik
Abstract
In recent years, both a significant increase in electrical demand and a large influx of intermittent renewable energy sources have put a considerable stress on the nation’s electrical grid. Conventional power flow control techniques such as capacitor banks and tap-changing transformers are incapable of adequately handling the rapid fluctuations in power supply and demand that today’s grid experiences. Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) controllers are a practical way to compensate for such rapid power fluctuations. One type of shunt FACTS controller is the Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM), which uses fully controllable switches to source or sink reactive power to a point on the grid, thus reducing voltage fluctuations due to load changes. The purpose of this thesis is to model and simulate the operation of two Distribution STATCOMs (D-STATCOMs) operating on the same point on the grid. These D-STATCOMs also utilize parallel full-wave rectifiers that directly connect the ac grid to the dc capacitor of the D-STATCOMs. Parameters such as power loss, reaction time, stability, and THD are measured for several test scenarios. Results from this thesis show that two D-STATCOMs operating on the same point can be stable and effective under a wide range of conditions. This thesis also concludes that the inclusion of parallel rectifiers with the D-STATCOMs results in no performance improvement of the D-STATCOMs.