Prototype hardware realization of the DSTATCOM for reactive power compensation

This paper presents the hardware prototype implementation of a hysteresis current controller (HCC) based DSTATCOM for reactive power compensation. To compensate the desired amount of reactive power, the amount of current to be injected is calculated using the instantaneous reactive power theory. The reactive component of load current is set as the reference current. The VSC is operated in the closed-loop to supply the reference current. If the VSC supplies this reference current, the DSTATCOM is said to supply the required reactive power when connected to the grid. The performance of the DSTATCOM for reactive power compensation is studied in the prototype hardware using the field programmable gate array (FPGA) controller. The issues associated with the implementation of hardware prototype are discussed and the experimental setup is found to compensate the reactive power. The Spartan-3A DSP FPGA controller is programmed using the system generator feature in the MATLAB.