Integration of fault current limiting function into a single-phase series compensator

Abstract

Single-phase Series Compensators are very attractive electronic device for Distribution System Operator (DSO) in order to increase power quality level and load management in LV networks with reduced investment cost. One of the main important problem in LV network is due to voltage drop. The main approach to mitigate voltage drop, is employing custom power system devices as uninterruptible power supply or adapt solid-state transfer switch. Nowadays, also Dynamic Voltage Conditioners (DVC) or Dynamic Voltage Restorers (DVR) are effective apparatus and economically justified solution to compensate voltage disturbances. In contrary to the previous solutions, these devices can be efficiently used not only to solve the problem of voltage disturbance for the loads, but also to mitigate the disturbances of the upstream LV network due to a fault in the downstream by limiting the downstream fault current. Generally, there are two main strategies in order to limit downstream fault current in DVC or DVR devices: the conventional passive strategy and the innovative active one. This paper analyzes the operation principle of active solutions integrating a Fault Current Limiting (FCL) function into a DVC device, by simulation results in MATLAB environment and comparing their performance.