Field Programmable Gate Array-Based Execution on a Distributed Energy Resource Supported Electrical Distribution System for Enhanced Power Quality with Optimal Active Power Flow Control

This paper explains the experimental study of a distributed energy resource (DER) integrated three-phase, three-wire electrical distribution system (EDS) under power quality (PQ) and optimal active power flow control (OAPFC). In this research, a back-to-back connected two-level VSI (BTB-TVSI) based distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM) for unbalanced non-linear load is designed. The aim is to provide better OAPFC in EDS with shunt compensation to maintain a round-the-clock quality power supply for end users. The improved neural network-based adaptive least mean square (ALMS) control algorithms are employed for DSTATCOM. The ALMS control strategy is realized using the SPARTAN-6 field programmable gate array (FPGA) evaluation kit. This research involves the comparative study of a two-level voltage source inverter (VSI) and a BTB-TVSI in terms of their OAPFC capability and robustness in mitigating power quality (PQ) against source current disturbances, low power factor (PF), poor voltage regulation, unbalanced voltage at the point of common coupling (PCC), high switching stress, and issues in the EDS operation. The experimental results demonstrate that the BTB-TVSI using an ALMS controller is able to achieve better dynamic performance and lower total harmonic distortion (THD) under selected/permissible limits in comparison to a conventional VSI.