Improvement of power quality in wind energy applications using a DSTATCOM coupled with a Flywheel Energy Storage System

The inclusion of wind power in power systems is steadily increasing around the world. This incorporation can generate a number of problems on the dynamics of power systems. In addition, over the last few years, new power electronic devices coupled with energy storage have emerged. These new devices allow the operation of electric systems to be controlled. In this work, the use of a Distribution Static Synchronous Compensator (DSTATCOM) coupled with a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) is proposed to mitigate problems, mainly in power quality, introduced by wind generation in the electric system. A dynamic model of the DSTATCOM/FESS device is presented and a multi-level control technique is proposed. The control technique has one control mode for active power and two control modes for reactive power, power factor correction, and voltage control. Tests of the behaviour of the device are analyzed when it is combined with wind generation in the electric system. The results demonstrate a satisfactory performance of the control technique proposed as well as a high effectiveness of the device, to mitigate problems introduced by wind generation.