A novel model-free prediction of power quality problems via DSTATCOM

The distribution static compensator (DSTAT-COM) has benefitted from computer aided-design simulations. But its performance has been hampered by inadequacies in linear models of the power quality problem due to variations in system parameters, uncertainties and often missing gradient information. To address this problem, this paper applies model-free predictive control (MFPC) and describing functions in nonlinear modelling to DSTAT-COM control, using a simplex optimisation approach to online tuning. The MFPC offers the advantage of bypassing the computationally over-burdened state-space model and can sufficiently handle constraints, while arresting voltage quality violations online at high speeds against changes in customers loads. The effectiveness and efficiency of the novel method is compared against the proportional-integralderivative as well as the fuzzy proportional-derivative controllers in a simulink environment.