Reactive Power Compensation using a Matrix Converter

Abstract

This Master's thesis investigates a new application for the matrix converter: Shunt reactive power compensation. The suggested Matrix Converter-based Reactive power Compensation (MCRC) device is composed of a matrix converter, which input is connected to the grid and an electric machine at the output of the converter. The reactive power flowing in or out of the grid can be regulated with the matrix converter by controlling the magnitude and/or phase angle of the current at the input of the converter. The matrix converter has no bulky DC link capacitor like traditional AC-DC-AC converters. The thought electric machine is a Permanent Magnet (PM) synchronous machine which is compact as well, yielding an overall compact device. The main focus of the thesis is to evaluate the reactive power range that the MCRC device can offer. The reactive power range depends mainly on the modulation of the matrix converter. Two different modulation techniques are studied: the indirect virtual space vector modulation and the three-vector-scheme. The indirect space vector modulation can provide or draw reactive power at the input of the matrix converter as long as there is an active power flow through the converter that is different from zero. For pure reactive power compensation the indirect space vector modulation cannot be used and the three-vector-scheme must be used instead. Both modulation techniques are presented in details as well as their reactive power compensation range. To verify the reactive power capabilities of the device, three different simulation models are built in MATLAB Simulink. The first simulation model represents the MCRC device with the matrix converter modulated with the indirect space vector modulation. The second model represents also the MCRC device with the matrix converter modulated with the three-vector-scheme. In both model the PM machine is represented by a simple equivalent circuit. Simulations done with both models show a good accordance between the theoretical analysis of the device and the experimental results. The last simulation model features a simplified version of the MCRC system connected to a grid where a symmetrical fault occurs. The MCRC proves to be efficient in re-establishing the voltage to its pre-fault value.