Reactive Power Compensation using STATCOM Based on Instantaneous Reactive Power Theory

Reactive power can have a range of negative impacts on energy generation and consumption in a power system network. These include creating unnecessary increases in generation, leading to the overall decline in grid efficiency and a drastic waste of resources. Reactive power compensation is, therefore, critical for improved system performance and elevated productivity. This research aims to design and simulate a three-phase reactive power compensation model using a Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) that can improve the system’s power factor and can also provide effective suppression of the system harmonics. This will be implemented using MATLAB/Simulink software in which the STATCOM will be connected to a 3-phase load system fed from 5kVA, 11kV/400V source. Based on an Instantaneous Reactive power (IRP) theory, the load reactive power is harnessed to generate an inverted signal which will drive the gates of semiconductor devices of the STATCOM inverter to cancel out the reactive current consumed by the load. Initially, a purely resistive load is connected to the system where the model response is observed through the Simulink display blocks. Subsequently, an incremental amount of reactive load is added in three steps: 4126 Var, 8576 Var and 13470 Var respectively. In each case, the response of the model is observed and analyzed. Conclusively, the designed model can instantly generate a compensating power with an ideal unit power factor in each case. Using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) signal analyzer, the outcome of the harmonic distortion imposed by the load currents has also been eliminated.