Voltage Sag Mitigation Using a High-Frequency-Link Cycloconverter-based DVR

Hari Sree
Cardiac Rhythm Management Group Guidant Corporation 4100 Hamline Ave N St. Paul, MN 55112, USA hari.sree@guidant.com
Abstract
Voltage sags, primarily caused by frequent transmission and distribution-level power system faults, have been known to affect many industrial and commercial customers resulting in yearly losses amounting to millions of dollars. In order to mitigate voltage sags, many solutions at the load-end have been proposed which include Constant Voltage Transformers (CVTs), Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) and linefrequency-transformer-based series voltage injection devices. These approaches have their respective limitations with regard to capabilities, size and cost. This paper investigates a new approach to mitigating voltage sags using a high-frequency-transformer-link in the series voltage injection approach, to result in savings in size and weight. The paper discusses 3-phase implementation of this approach. It presents simulation results for linear and non-linear loads and experimental results from a single-phase proof-of-concept prototype.

Ned Mohan
Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Minnesota 200 Union St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. mohan@ece.umn.edu
Association or CBEMA). Though the most economical approach seems to involve purchase of equipment with higher ride-through capabilities [1,2]; already installed sensitive equipment clearly have a need for employing power conditioning equipment. Constant Voltage Transformers (CVTs) are employed for small and constant loads. Motor-generator sets can be employed for equipment with high ridethrough capability since their response time is slow. Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) respond fast but are an expensive approach especially at higher powers and are mainly used for protecting ITEs where outages are more problematic. In all the three cases above, the mitigation device handles the full load power. In Series Injection Devices (SIDs) [3,4], the rating of the power conditioner is decided by the amount of compensation desired. This is notable since most of the sagged voltage magnitudes are in the 50%-100% range [1]. Moreover, because of the absence of a brownout condition, the injected power in such devices can be derived from the sagged line itself without the need for additional alternate energy sources. Like off-line UPSs, SIDs can be bypassed under normal utility voltage conditions. Fig. 1 represents the conventional approach for series voltage injection. In a SID, as shown, a transformer is essential for electrical isolation between the input
Bypass Switch

1. Introduction
Voltage sags constitute the largest portion of power system disturbances at the customer end [1]. They are caused by faults on the transmission or distribution system and by sudden load increases on adjacent feeders. The most affected are process industries (affecting Adjustable Speed Drives (ASDs) and contactors in controllers) resulting in production outages, equipment down-times and re-calibration along with associated need for clean-up. The consequent financial losses could amount to millions of dollars annually. Sags also, to a lesser extent, affect Information Technology Equipment (ITE) which are finding increasing use in nearly all industrial and commercial customers. Their tolerance is specified by the ITI Curve (formerly, CBEMA curve) provided by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI; formerly, Computer Business Equipment Manufacturers

Utility Side

Load Side Line Frequency Transformer

Rectifier

Inverter

Fig. 1 Conventional Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR)

0-7803-6456-2/00/$10.00 2000 IEEE

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(rectifier end) and output (injection end). In the conventional approach, this is achieved by employing a line-frequency transformer. [5] introduced the concept of high-frequency-link based Dynamic Voltage Restorer (HFL-DVR). This paper further investigates the approach as applied three phase systems employing appropriate configurations (section 2) in order to achieve savings in space, weight and cost when compared with other conventional approaches. Section 3 presents the simulation results for three-phase systems with linear and non-linear loads. Section 4 discusses the hardware implementation and presents experimental results from a proof-of-concept single-phase prototype.

for a three-phase/three-wire system, series injection is required in two of the three lines while for a threephase/four-wire system, all the three lines need to be series compensated. In the proposed approach, as explained in [5], the switching logic implemented has the inverter switches operating at 50% duty cycle and the cycloconverter switches with PWM. This results in a square-wave
a HF Xfmr_a Inverter_a b c Cycloconverter_a & filter_a

2. Approach Investigated
2.1 System Description
a

Inverter_c HF Xfmr_c

Cycloconverter_c & filter_c

(a)
HF Xfmr_a Inverter_a b HF Xfmr_b Inverter_b c HF Xfmr_c Inverter_c Cycloconverter_c & filter_c Cycloconverter_b & filter_b Cycloconverter_a & filter_a

Fig. 2 shows the single-phase implementation of the investigated approach. Under nominal utility voltage input condition, the bypass switch remains closed. When voltage sag is detected [6,8], the HFL-DVR is activated and the bypass switch is opened. A high frequency AC voltage is generated by the inverter, which is linked with the cycloconverter through a high-frequency transformer. The cycloconverter, essentially a matrix converter with bidirectional switches, converts this high-frequency-link voltage to line-frequency voltage. This in turn is filtered through a LC tank before being injected in series with the line. In the figure, the DC bus is shown to be charged from the sagged line itself. This is possible since most of the sags are limited to 50% of the nominal. Thus, alternate energy sources for the DC bus can be avoided. Fig. 3 (a) and (b) shows the implementation of the proposed system for three-phase three-wire and threephase four-wire systems respectively. As explained in [7],
Bypass Switch C_f LC Filter Utility Side Rectifier

neutral

(b)

Fig. 3 Three-phase implementations (a) three-phase three-wire system (b) three-phase four-wire system

Cycloconverter & Filter DC Bus Inverter a

L_f Load Side Cycloconverter

b High-Frequency Transformer c

Inverter High Frequency Transformer

Fig.2 Single Phase Implementation of the HFL-DVR

Fig. 4 Three-phase system implementation with oneinverter and one multi-winding transformer

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transformer link voltage. Thus, unlike in three-phase implementation of the conventional DVR [7,8], it becomes possible for implementation of the three-phase HFL-DVR with a single inverter and a single highfrequency isolation transformer with secondary windings for each of the compensated phases (fig. 4). It may be noted that since all the three line phase voltages do not sag by large amounts at the same time, the ratings of the inverter and the transformer need not be the sum of the individual ratings of the three inverters and three in a conventional SID. Thus, the savings in size and weight achieved by employing a high-frequency-transformer-link are more significant in a three-phase system.

switching sequence (fig. 5) for a positive output voltage reference, would be TURN-ON: ..1p 3n 4n 2p 1p. TURN-OFF: 4n 2p 1p 3n .. Increasing Time All inverter side switchings occur when the load current is freewheeled in the cycloconverter. Thus, if the magnetizing current is small, the inverter side switchings essentially occur at zero-current. On the cycloconverter side, the switches undergo zero-voltage turn-off when either the current is freewheeling through two of the bidirectional switches or the anti-parallel diode is forward biased. For example, in the transition sequence shown above, when 4n turns-off bus p is positive relative to bus n. Therefore, 4ns anti-parallel diode is forward biased resulting in a zero-voltage turn-off. When 2p turns off, the current is freewheeling through 1p and 3n. Thus, the potential between out1 and out2 is zero resulting, again, in a zero-voltage turn-off. Similarly, the diodes undergo zero-voltage turn-on. So, the net switching loss for the inverter-cycloconverter system is similar to a single-phase hard-switched inverter.

2.2 Switching Considerations

As described in [5], the inverter side switches operate at 50 % duty-cycle resulting in a square-wave shaped transformer link voltage. Fig. 5 shows how the desired injection voltage can be achieved by PWM control of the cycloconverter side switches. In the figure, Vs is the transformer secondary voltage; v_ref+ is the desired voltage waveform; v_ref- is 180 degrees out of phase with v_ref+; v_carrier is the high frequency carrier waveform; Vo is the output of the cycloconverter before filtering; and, G1 G4 are the gating signals to cycloconverters bidirectional switches. The cycloconverter implementation is shown in fig. 6 (using IGBTs). Each p and n combination represents a bi-directional switch. The choice of switching p or n is based on the direction of current in the output filter inductor. When switch combinations of 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 conduct, output voltage is obtained (fig. 5). All other times the output filter inductor current is freewheeled through switch combination of 1 and 3 or 2 and 4. As an example, for a positive current output of the cycloconverter (from left-leg to right-leg in fig. 6), the

2.3 Design Considerations

[5] describes in detail the controller, which employs load current feed-forward. For a three-phase implementation (fig. 4) the cycloconverter for each phase is independently controlled. The design of the system involves choosing the desired amount of compensation, that is the maximum injected voltage magnitude, v_inj_max, the minimum sagged voltage, v_input_min, desired dynamic response and the type of load (linear or non-linear). v_inj_max, v_input_min (which establishes p

1p 1n Transformer Secondary Side 4p

3p 3n Output Filter Out2 Side

Out1

2p 4n 2n

n Fig. 5 Switching Logic

Fig. 6 Cycloconverter implementation using IGBTs

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the DC-link voltage) and the desired dynamic response together determine the converter gain which, in turn, determines voltage ratings of the switching devices and the transformer. For linear loads, where the current is sinusoidal, the filter capacitor can be substantially small for a high switching frequency. However, for non-linear loads (like ASDs which have a diode-bridge front-end), the presence of current harmonics closer to the line frequency necessitates the need for larger filter capacitors. The choice of the filter inductor, on the other hand, is decided by the amount of current ripple that can be tolerated. In order to prevent multiple zero crossings of the inductor current, it is desirable to choose a sufficiently large filter inductor. The presence of leakage inductance on the secondary winding of the high-frequency transformer is of consequence in the investigated approach since it involves the sudden interruption of the transformer current. This leakage is minimized using a co-axial power transformer [10] configuration, where the secondary winding is the outer conductor, placed close to the core. Also, voltage spikes caused by the leakage inductance are clamped and the energy recovered by the energy feedback set up shown in fig. 7. The factor a is decided based on the magnitude of the clamp voltage level.

Linear Load (three-phase balanced resistive) Non-linear Load (Three-phase Diode Rectifier with resistive load at end): 60 ohms Transformer Transformation ratio: K=2 Filter Capacitor, C_f = 500uF (Considering compensation for non-linear load) Filter Inductor, L_f = 1mH Switching Frequency: 30kHz In the simulation, the DC bus is energized from the three-phase source through a diode-bridge rectifier. Fig. 8 shows the switch transitions. On the inverter side (fig. 8 (a)), the switches undergo zero-current-switching. On the cycloconverter end (fig. 8 (b)), the controlled switches undergo zero-voltage turn-off and the diodes undergo zero-voltage turn-on. Fig. 9 shows the results for a threephase balanced resistive load and fig. 10 shows the results for a three-phase diode-bridge load (for example, an Adjustable Speed Drive).

v_switch

3. Simulation Results
Simulation of a three-phase three-wire implementation was done using SIMPLORER simulation package based on the following system and design parameters: Nominal Phase Voltage: 170V peak Phase A (sagged): 99 V peak, -30 degrees Phase B (sagged): 99 V peak, -90 degrees Phase C (normal): 170 V peak, 120 degrees Line Frequency: 60 Hz
DC-Link T1 INVERTER T3 1:K

i_switch

(a) i_diode & i_switch

v_switch

v_gate
T4 T2

v_diode (b) Fig. 8 Simulation Results: Device transitions (a) Inverter side switching (b) Cycloconverter switching

1:(K+a*K)

Fig. 7 Leakage Inductance Energy Recovery Circuit

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v_b

v_c v_a (a)

f a b c d e

v_c

v_a Fig. 11 Set-up of the Single-phase prototype (a)Inverter with gate drives (b)High-Frequency Power Transformer (c)Transformer Leakage Energy Feedback (d)Cycloconverter with gate drives (e)Filter Capacitor Bank (f)Control Board with Filter Inductor

i_a v_b (b)

i_b

Fig. 9 3-phase simulation results for resistive load (a) utility side phase voltages (b) load side phase voltages and two of the line currents

4. Hardware Implementation
A single-phase proof-of-concept prototype (fig. 11) has been fabricated. The co-axial transformer is fabricated using toroidal cores from VAC Corporation. Both the primary and the secondary are cylindrical copper pipes arranged co-axial inside the toroidal cores. The secondary is chosen to be the closer one to the core in order to minimize the leakage inductance. The inverter and cycloconverter are implemented using discrete IGBTs and Fast Recovery Diodes from Ixys Corporation. Gate drives are implemented using the chip set of UC 3626 and UC 3627 from Unitrode. Fig. 12 shows the experimental waveforms.

v_b

v_a (a)

v_c

5. Conclusions
Three-phase high-frequency-link Cycloconverter-based Dynamic Voltage Restorer has been described in detail. The scheme results in savings in size, weight and costs in comparison with conventional methods. Design and implementation considerations for such a system have been discussed. Simulation results for linear and nonlinear load types confirm the operation of the proposed scheme. Experimental results from a single-phase laboratory prototype verify the feasibility of such a scheme.

v_c

v_a

v_b

i_a

i_b

(b) Fig.10 3-phase simulation results for diode bridge load (a) utility side phase voltages (b) three load side phase voltages and two of the line currents

Acknowledgment
Funding of this project through the National Science

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(a)

(b) Fig. 12 Single-phase prototype experimental results (a) 2: Injected Voltage (20V/Div) 3: Input Voltage (100V/Div) 4:Desired Voltage (135.34V/div) (b) 3: Filter Inductor Current (5A/div) 2: Injected Voltage (20V/div) Foundation (NSF) and the University of Minnesota Center for Electric Energy (UMCEE) is gratefully acknowledged.

Networks", United States Patent, Patent # 5,329,222, July 12, 1994. [4] Heydt, G.T. et al: "Simulation and Analysis of Series Voltage Boost Technology for Power Quality Enhancement", IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 13, No. 4, October 1998, pp1335-1341. [5] Sree, H. and Mohan, N.: High Frequency Link Cycloconverter-based DVR for Voltage Sag Mitigation, presented at the 2000 24th International Power Modulator Symposium, Norfolk, Virginia. [6] Bollen, M.H.J.: "Fast Assessment Methods for Voltage Sags in Distribution Systems", IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, Vol. 32, No. 6, November/December 1996, pp1414-1423. [7] Haddad, K. and Joos, G.: "Distribution System Voltage Regulation Under Fault Condition Using Static Series Regulators", IEEE Industrial Applications Society, Annual Meeting, New Orleans, October 5-9, 1997, pp 1383-1389. [8] Haddad, K. and Joos, G.: "A Fast Algorithm for Voltage Unbalance Compensation and Regulation in Faulted Distribution Systems", Proceedings of APEC 1998, pp 963-969. [9] Kawabata T, Honjo K, Sashida N, Sanada K, and Koyama M: "High Frequency Link DC/AC Converter with PWM Cycloconverter", Conference Record of the 1990 IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting 1990, pp.1119-24 vol.2. New York, NY, USA [10] Rauls, M.S., Novotny, D.W., Divan, D.M., Bacon R.R. and Gascoigne, R.W.: "Multi-turn High Frequency Co-axial Winding Power Transformers, Conference Record of the IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting. 1992, pp.956-63 vol.1. New York, NY, USA.

References
[1] McGranaghan, Mark: "Effects of Voltage Sags in Process Industry Applications", Stockholm Power Tech International Symposium on Electric Power Engineering.Vol.1, 1995, pp.4-10. New York, NY, USA. [2] Jouanne, A. V., Enjeti, P. and Banerjee, B: RideThrough Alternatives for ASDs, Feature Article, PowerPulse, www.darnell.com. [3] Gyugyi et al.: " Apparatus and Method for Dynamic Voltage Restoration of Utility Distribution

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