Power factor correction for nonlinear loads using sliding mode techniques

It is shown that sliding modes or variable structure techniques can be used for the design of active volt-ampere reactive (VAr) compensators. For these applications, multivariable systems have to be considered and the method has to be extended to the use of discontinuity surfaces being explicit functions of time. In spite of this, the resulting control strategy is extremely simple and does not require the calculation of the reactive power associated with the load. Computer simulations show the applicability and simplicity of the control method described.<>