An efficient compensation of modified DSTATCOM for improving microgrid operation

This paper proposes a design for a modified distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM) with a proposed current controller for microgrid (MG) applications. The modified DSTATCOM is incorporated in a three-phase four-wire network system to deal accurately at grid connected mode with balanced, unbalanced and excursion load for both nonlinear and inductive loads. Moreover, it handles the stability issues of the MG at fault caused islanding incidents. The design criteria of the modified DSTATCOM parameters is presented and discussed. The hysteresis current controller is introduced to drive the voltage source converter (VSC) and its reference voltage signal is generated based on the instantaneous symmetrical components theory (ISCT). Matlab/Simulink software is used to verify the performance of the modified DSTATCOM with the proposed controller under different load types and loading conditions for grid connected mode and islanded mode of MG operation. Based on the simulation results, the power factor is improved and the non-linear harmonics currents are compensated therefore the harmonic distortion of the supply currents and voltage are reduced, moreover the stability operation at fault cause islanding is maintained. The results show the superiority of the proposed modification of DSTATCOM in dealing with unbalanced, distorted and bad power factor system in comparing with conventional DSTATCOM.