Design and implementation of a laboratory-scale microcontroller-based multi-pulse STATCOM

In this study, the design and application of a laboratory-scale, multi-pulse Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) are presented, which provides reactive power compensation at the point of common coupling (PCC) for the purpose of enhancing the performance of the AC transmission system. STATCOM consists of two units of three-phase, six-pulse Voltage Source Converter (VSC) bridges, where IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) semi-conductor switches are used. Fundamental Frequency Modulation (FFM) technique is used for controlling the converter bridges. The control system has been implemented with low-cost 16-bit microcontrollers. The validity of the laboratory-scale prototype was examined via experiment and simulation studies performed on an energy transmission system with a busbar. The experimental results are compared with the results obtained from the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation program.