Custom Power Active Transformer for

Improving Power Systems Regulation

and Control
Pedro Rodriguez Cortés, Mohamed Atef Elsaharty, Jose Ignacio Candela

1
 Review
Power electronics based compensation strategies
❑ Rated power compensation is typically
achieved through a solid-state transformer
Rated Power Compensation (Smart Transformer) such as the ST. The ST is tailored to provide
ancillary services to the distribution grid.
AC DC DC AC ❑ The ST focuses on providing functionalities
MV DC MV DC
LV
AC
LV
over hardware advantages.
AC DC DC
❑ Fractional power compensation focuses on
hardware advantages with sufficient
functionalities.
❑ The use of transformers isolates the
converter and provides flexibility to use of-
the-shelf converters. However, using several
Fractional Power Compensation (UPFC/UPQC) transformers requires a larger footprint.
❑ Integration of several transformers into a
Integrated Shunt Transformer
Coupling or Distribution (DTSTATCOM) single unit would greatly reduce the footprint
Transformer
and costs.
Shunt Series
Transformer Transformer ❑ It has not been proposed to-date the
Series Integration
Shunt Transformer integration of both serial and shunt
Transformer
DC DC AC
transformers into a single unit for general
AC Link DC

DC Shunt Series
FACTS applications
DC AC
Converter Converter
AC Link DC

Shunt Series
Converter Converter

2
 A Monolithic Power Transformer
The Custom Power Active Transformer (CPAT)
❑ The CPAT results from equipping a passive transformer with additional auxiliary windings by following a
nonconventional design of its magnetic circuit.
❑ The resulting structure facilitates shunt and series services to the grid through power electronics in a single-
integrated transformer.
❑ Reduced cost (core , number of windings, tank, bushings) as compared to three single-phase transformers.
i11
v1 i1 i3 v3 i1 i2 i4
v11 i21 i31
i3
v1 v2 v3 v4
i12 v21 v31
v2 i2 v4
i4 v12
CORE
STRUCTURES
INTEGRATION v21
v2 v3
i11 i12 i21=i31
i1 i2 i3 i4 i
v1 v2 v3 v4
v1 v4
v11 v12 v31

3
 Custom Power Active Transformer
Extension to multi-phase
❑ Based on the CPAT theory, the structure can be further extension to multi-phase, shunt and series topologies.
❑ The extra compensation windings enable power exchange/sharing between several shunt converters.
❑ The multiple winding structure has the ability to utilize low-power independent converters for each
compensation objective.
i11 t1 11
n111
t1 21
n121
t1 r1
n1r1
t1 12 t1 22 t1r2

v11 i13 i14 n112 n122 n1r2

n1 i12 v14
v13 t1
n11k
1
k t1
n12k
2
k t1rk
n1rk

v12 n3 n4 t211
t2 21 t2 r1
n2 n211
t2 12
n221
t2 22
n2r1
t2 r2
i21 n212 n222 n2r2

v21 i23 i24 t2 1k

n21k
t2 2k
n22k
t2 rk
n2rk
n1 i
22 v23 v24
v22 n3 n4
n2
i31
v31 i33 i34 ta 11 ta 21 ta r1
n1 i v34 na11
ta12
na21 nar1
tar2
32 v33 na12
ta 22
na22 nar2

v32 n3 n4 ta1k ta 2k tark

n2 na1k na2k nark

4
 Custom Power Active Transformer
CPAT model
ΦPrim=Φsh Φsec
iprim Φ0
Equivalent
iser isec
magnetic circuit
Fprim vprim Fprim
+Fsh ish vser Fser vsec Fsec Φprim=Φsh Y Y Φsec
vsh Fsh Φser Φ0
L L L

Fprim l_prim
Fser l_ser Fsec l_sec
Equivalent Φl_prim Φl_ser Φl_sec
electric circuit Fsh l_sh
Φl_sh Φser
Y Y

5
 Custom Power Active Transformer
CPAT topologies Three single-phase CPATs
CPAT3
Single-phase CPAT CPAT1
CPAT2

i11 ip4
vp1 ip1 vp4
v11 i13 i14
Yn4
vp2 ip2 Yn1 n11 i12 v13 v14
v12 ndc n4
Yndc ndc

Yndc ip3 vp3

L2sh L1sh Lser

+
R vdc1
RRshshsh - Rser
+ ndc vser
Three-phase shell type CPAT i
C
CCshshsh
vdc2
- Cser
Three-phase shell type CPAT ishishsh n
ndcsh ndc
i11 LCL Conv.1 Conv.2 LC
v11 i13 i14 Filter
n1 i12 Filter
v13 v14
v12 n3 n4
n2
i21
v21 i23 i24 ip4
vp1 ip1 n1 i vp4
22 v23 v24 Yn4
Yn1 v22 n3 n4
n2
i31
v31 i33 i34
n1 i v34
32 v33
v32 n3 n4
vp2 ip2
n2
Yn2
Yn3 ip3 vp3

L2sh L1sh Lser

+
R vdc1
RRshshsh - Rser
+ n2 vp3
vdc2
Csh
i CCshsh - n3 Cser
ip2ishsh n
n2sh n3
LCL Conv.1 Conv.2 LC
Filter Filter

6
 Custom Power Active Transformer
Proposed CPAT control architecture
Distribution system (Unified Power Quality Controller)
❑ Primary current harmonics compensation
❑ Primary reactive power compensation shunt converter services
❑ Inrush current mitigation
❑ Load voltage regulation
series converter services
❑ Load voltage harmonics compensation
Transmission system (Unified Power Flow Controller)
❑ Primary current harmonics
compensation shunt converter services
❑ Primary reactive power compensation
❑ Secondary active power control series converter services
❑ Secondary reactive power control

7
 Custom Power Active Transformer
UPQC-CPAT controllers ❑ The harmonics controller loop acts on
❑ The Reactive Pow er compensation loop acts
SHUNT directly on the primary current such that all
reactiv e power required by the transformer and
load are supplied through the shunt converter.
specif ic frequencies of the primary
current aiming to minimize their value
to a pre-set value (typic ally zero).
Reactive Power Compensation Moreover, sudden jolts of current required by This is achieved by supply ing the
DC Bus Controller Current Controller transformer w ith such required
Controller the load are preliminarily supplied through the current frequencies through its series
shunt converter. or shunt w indings.
vdc* Iprim_dc iprim *
PR ish_f* ish *
Δish PR vsh
PI
Controller Controller

vdc sin(ωt)prim iprim ish

ω ω

Harmonics Controller
SYNCHRONIZATION
2ω Synchronization
INPUT OUTPUT
iprim_h* Δiprim Resonant ish_h*
DSOGI-FLL
Controller
iprim 3ω
Resonant DSOGI
Controller
SOGI-QSG Magnitude and synchronizing signal
nω
Resonant
Controller
vαk,vβk vαk+' sin(ωt)k
vk t Ts vαk',vβk Vk
[Tαβ] KDSO GI PNSC vβk+'
SERIES z-1 Magnitude

Vk
Magnitude Controller Ts
z-1

Vsec* PI
vser
′ FLL
𝑞𝑣𝛼𝑘
Vsec sin(ωt)sec ′
𝑞𝑣𝛽𝑘
Harmonics Controller
KFLLTs Ts ωk
2ω (vαk+ vβk+ z-1
vsec_h* Δvsec Resonant 𝜀𝛼𝑘 𝜀𝛽𝑘
Controller
ω0
vsec 3ω
Resonant
Controller

nω
Resonant
8 Controller
 Custom Power Active Transformer 50kVA Three-phase CPAT-UPFC
CPAT Experimental Setup
15kVA CPAT-UPQC

CPAT3
Conv.1
OPAL-RT Power CPAT2
Amplifier Grid CPAT1 Conv.2

Line2
DC Bus
iprim CPAT3
CPAT2
vprim* U CPAT1
vprim
ish isec vg
vsh* Power V Line1 Yn v11
OPAL vsh vser vsec Yn
* Amp. iser Z1
i12
v13 v14
vser n3 Z4
W ip1 n
Yn2

CPAT
n2
iU iV iW N n ip4
Yn3

iprim
L2sh L1sh Lser
+
Cdc1 Vdc1
ish R
RRshshsh
-
Rser
Vdc vp3
iser Csh
n2,n3
i CCshsh Cdc2 +
Vdc2 Cser
vsec ip2ishsh n -
n2sh n3
LCL Conv.1 Conv.2 LC
Filter Filter

9
 Custom Power Active Transformer
Experimental Results CPAT-UPQC

Shunt-series compensation
Load Voltage regulation and harmonics compensation

10
 Custom Power Active Transformer
Experimental Results CPAT-UPQC
Without inrush current compensation With inrush current compensation(*)

(*)with pre-charged DC-bus

11
 Custom Power Active Transformer
Experimental Results CPAT-UPFC
Line2
Without primary current harmonics compensation
CPAT3
CPAT2
CPAT1
vg
Line1 Yn v11
Yn
Z1
i12
v13 v14 Line1
n3 Z4
ip1 n
Yn2 current
n2 n ip4
Yn3

L2sh L1sh Lser

+
R Cdc1 Vdc1
RRshshsh
Vdc
-
Rser Line2
vp3
i
C
CCshshsh Cdc2 +
n2,n3
Vdc2
current
ip2ishsh - Cser
nn2sh n3
LCL Conv.1 Conv.2 LC
Filter Filter
With primary current harmonics compensation on line 1

Grid
Voltage

Line1 Line1 current

current harmonics

Line2
current

12
 Custom Power Active Transformer
Experimental Results CPAT-UPFC
Result to change in Line 2 reference power Steady-state Line1 and Line2 current

Vgrid
Vgrid
iLine1

iLine2

iLine1
PLine1

QLine1
iLine2
PLine2

QLine2

Uncompensated magnetizing current harmonics at Line2

13
 Custom Power Active Transformer
Conclusions
❑The CPAT has shown the ability to combine the possibility of series and
shunt services in a single transformer.
❑Shunt and series services are dependent of the required control
objective.
❑A CPAT reduces the required footprint, material requirement and cost as
compared to a shunt-series compensation with isolation transformers
❑Can be extended into multi-phase, multi-series and multi-shunt
compensation system.
❑Overall, the proposed CPAT presents a competitive and cost effective
solution.
•10.1109/TPEL.2017.2740360
The CPAT has been published in IEEE Transactions on Power
•10.1109/TPWRD.2017.2755725 Electronics and IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery

14
Pedro Rodriguez Cortés