Z-Source Inverter Based Power Quality Compensator with Enhanced Ride-Through Capability

Distributed generation has been gaining acceptance over the years and it has the potential to provide reliable power to sensitive loads. However, distributed networks are prone to unbalanced faults conditions. This makes single inverter DG systems unsuitable as UPS systems. This paper proposes a Z- source inverter based power quality compensator and a control structure that supplies high quality voltage to the connected sensitive load in the presence of other non linear loads. The proposed topology consists of combination of shunt and series inverters connected to a common Z-source impedance network. The shunt inverter is controlled to maintain a quality voltage waveform at the load bus. Whereas the series inverter enhances the ride-through capability during grid faults, protects the shunt inverter by limiting the current and also controls the power delivered to the grid. The performance of proposed topology and controller is validated with simulation results obtained using Matlab/Simulink/PLECS. Further, it is supported with experimental results obtained using a prototype built in the laboratory.