A controller architecture for high bandwidth active power filters

This paper presents a novel architecture for a unit-delay digital deadbeat current controller for a shunt active power filter (APF). The APF is based on a fixed frequency pulsewidth modulated voltage-sourced converter (VSC). The proposed controller increases the APF current-tracking bandwidth without increasing the VSC switching frequency. Previous APF digital deadbeat controllers have a current-tracking delay of two or more sample-periods. One delay is due to current controller computation, a second sample delay represents VSC actuation time. The paper presents a new controller architecture employing both asynchronous programmable logic and a small microprocessor. Current-tracking feedback control calculations are executed in asynchronous programmable logic to effectively eliminate the controller computation delay. The microprocessor executes fundamental frequency disturbance rejection computations and all other supervisory functions. The proposed architecture retains all high-level functions in the microprocessor to minimize controller development time without compromising APF performance.