Design of a single-phase grid tied inverter optimized for reactive power support

Johanesen, Mackenzie

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115805 Copy

Description

Title

Design of a single-phase grid tied inverter optimized for reactive power support

Author(s)

Johanesen, Mackenzie

Issue Date

2022-04-29

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Stillwell, Andrew R

Department of Study

Electrical & Computer Eng

Discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Flying Capacitor Multilevel Inverter
• Inverter
• Reactive Power
• Single Phase Inverter
• Power Electronics

Abstract

When reactive power is not locally compensated, the demand over transmission lines causes active power line losses. Single phase inverters can be used for local reactive power compensation in addition to DC to AC conversion, but typically these devices are optimized for near unity power factor outputs. Inverter hardware can be optimized for full reactive power support to allow for a full power factor range of operation. Large output filter inductors add additional reactive power load, which increases the energy storage requirements of the twice line frequency energy buffer. A flying capacitor multilevel (FCML) inverter topology can be utilized to increase the effective switching and decrease the unfiltered voltage ripple of the inverter to limit the size of the output inductor and DC bus capacitor. A scaled design of a four-level FCML was constructed and the performance was characterized across a large power factor range. The experimental prototype demonstrated a peak efficiency of 98.67% and an optimal loss to output apparent power ratio of 0.0135-0.015 W/VA.

Graduation Semester

2022-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Mackenzie Johanesen

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