Proceedings of the International Conference on Inventive Research in Computing Applications (ICIRCA 2018)
IEEE Xplore Compliant Part Number:CFP18N67-ART; ISBN:978-1-5386-2456-2
DPFC Performance for improvement of Power
Quality in Power System undergoing unbalance
faulty condition
Bulbul Mewara 1,a , Dr. Annapurna Bhargava 1,b, Kritika Jain 1,c
1
Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Rajasthan Technical University, RTU, Kota
a
bmewara.mtech16@rtu.ac.in , b abrtu2006@gmail.com , c kjain.mtech16@rtu.ac.in
Abstract— A recently new proposed control structure for
improvement for Power Quality in power-systems has introduced
an extension for FACTS, known as Distributed Power Flow
Controller. This device controls the system behavior under
defective conditions by controlling series and parallel convertors
associated with it. The DPFC is the modified version of Unified
power Flow Controller (UPFC) by terminating its inter-
connection using dc-link capacitor. It applies the D-FACTS
concepts in series control convertor and STATCOM like control
in parallel convertor. The power transferring is bi-directional
between two convertors with the help of X-mission line. The
controlling capacity of DPFC is as same for UPFC and
additionally it is much convenient and cheaper than UPFC. In
this presented paper DPFC is used for mitigating power
fluctuations during unbalance fault. The simulation model and its
results are evaluated using MATLAB/SIMULINK and validates
its ability for PQ improvement.
Keywords— Power electronics,UPFC,DPFC,D-FACTS,FACTS
technology,Voltage Source Convertors.
I. INTRODUCTION
In the recent era, Power Quality (PQ) distortion is
emerging as a complex problem for the power network X-
mission. The power requirement is also growing up to a very
extent. Besides this non-linear type loads requires high PQ for
its reliable X-mission as the constraints increases day by day
need of qualitative use of default power system and its control
over the power flow enhanced. The PQ problems includes
voltage, current and power fluctuations which leads to failure
of power devices [1]. In the past decade, the power electronic
progressively acting as a universal solution to the existing
problems and constraints.
Especially, the FACTS based on power electronics are
fundamentally convertors or thyristor operated devices for
controlling the X-mission and distribution power flow and to
control other system variable parameters like X-mission
reactance, phase angle and voltage [7,10]
The most helpful and robust device is UPFC among the
FACTS devices [2,7]. It is the integration of two other most
prominent parallel convertor and series convertor controller
i.e., STATCOM and SSSC respectively. STATCOM and
SSSC are mutually linked with the mutual dc-link capacitor.
STATCOM injects the current in X-mission line and SSSC
978-1-5386-2456-2/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE
injects and regulates the voltage which is in quadrature with
reference with the line current [3,4]. The mutual dc link
capacitor provides the two-way flow of power in X-mission
network.
In the UPFC, both convertors work in synchronism to
draw and supply real power demand in the power system. The
UPFC is not widely utilized up to its capabilities because it
handles the voltage and current at the high ratings than usual
custom devices (DVR, PFCD). Therefore, the over-all cost
estimated of the system enhanced. Including the mutual dc
link connection, the failure in any worst situations on any
convertor will have the effect on the entire power system.
The DPFC is essentially obtained from UPFC with the
extermination of the mutual Dc-link capacitor between the
series and parallel convertors. Additionally, DPFC utilize the
fundamentals of D-FACTS (Distributed-FACTS) [5,6]. The
DPFC has equivalent control capabilities like UPFC to control
variant line parameter like, line reactance, phase-angle, and
voltage. The power compensation and exchange occur
between series and parallel is done through X-mission-line
using 3rd harmonic frequency current [8,9].
This paper constitutes the following in the further section;
In II section,the brief working principle of UPFC is given. The
DPFC approach and its principle of working is discussed in III
section. The IV section devoted to DPFC control. The
Simulation model and results are granted in V section.
II. UPFC TOPOLOGY
The UPFC is strongest and complex device, integrating the
properties of STATCOM and SSSC. UPFC is beneficial
because of its capability of transferring the real power in both
directions and maintain the DC voltage at the DC link terminal
[2,7].
The main components of UPFC are two voltage-source
convertors (VSC’s) that are connected with the help of
coupling transformer. One VSC is connected in parallel on the
sending end with X-mission line and another one series
connected with a X-mission line. The dc terminal of both the
convertors are coupled together to create the way for real
power flow. Fundamental diagram of UPFC is shown in figure
1.
704
 Proceedings of the International Conference on Inventive Research in Computing Applications (ICIRCA 2018)
IEEE Xplore Compliant Part Number:CFP18N67-ART; ISBN:978-1-5386-2456-2
Fig. 1. Fundamental configuration of UPFC
The use of series convertor controller is to insert the 3-∅
symmetrical voltage of manageable magnitude in series with
the X-mission line, thus for control of reactive power and real
power. Electronically, the series convertor provides the real
power and reactive power that is transferred to dc terminal.
The parallel convertor works in a way that the power
required at dc terminal capacitor is kept constant (Vdc) by
supplying the voltage from the line. By UPFC, the over-all
real power taken from the line is equivalent to the losses of the
convertors and their coupling transformers. The other purpose
of parallel convertor is exchanging reactive power and
x A High Pass filter is connected in parallel in
X-mission line on the other hand.
x Star-Delta transformer on either side of the
line.
To give equivalent control capacity in DPFC as of UPFC,
the following approaches are given below.
B. Extermination of dc link
In DPFC, the X-mission line acts as a medium for real
power exchanging by extermination of mutual dc link
connection. Therefore, X-mission line connects the ac side
terminals of parallel and series control convertors. The
approach is established on the power approach of non-
sinusoidal components [3].
As per the mathematical Fourier approach, all non-
sinusoidal current and voltage can be conveying by the
summation of sinusoidal functions in distinctive frequencies
with distinctive magnitudes. Now, the over-all real power in
result from these non-sinusoidal V and I is expressed as the
average value of the multiplication of the current and voltage.
The aggregated real power can be defined as
regulate the voltage.
III. DPFC TOPOLOGY
A. DPFC configuration
Two approaches are implemented on UPFC to achieved
DPFC. DPFC consist of parallel and series convertors as in
UPFC. The composition of parallel convertor is same as of the
STATCOM, whereas the series convertor for series follows
the concept of D-FACTS. [5,11] .
All convertor contained by the DPFC are independently
and have their personal DC capacitor which provides the DC
voltage as much as required. The arrangement of DPFC
shown in fig 2.
 
Where, Vk = voltage and Ik = current of kth harmonic
frequency. The ∅k = angle between voltage and current.
The above equation shows that the real power of different
frequencies is insulated and have no effect on each other. This
independent nature of real power at distinctive frequencies
gives opportunity to convertor having no dc-link as a source of
power can produce real power at one frequency and take in the
same power from another frequency.
Above approach used in the DPFC, as the parallel
convertor take the real power from X-mission line at
fundamental frequency while insert the current again back into
the X-mission line at harmonic frequency. The X-mission line
carries harmonic current which is used in the series convertors
to produce the required aggregate of real power at
fundamental frequency by generating the voltage at harmonic
frequency. Figure 3 [3] shows the exchanging of the power
through the X-mission line.

Fig. 2. Fundamental arrangement of DPFC

As shown fig. 2, besides fundamental factor of

components i.e. parallel and series convertors, the DPFC also
Fig. 3. Real power exchanging between DPFC convertors.
needs the following:

978-1-5386-2456-2/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE 705

 Proceedings of the International Conference on Inventive Research in Computing Applications (ICIRCA 2018)
IEEE Xplore Compliant Part Number:CFP18N67-ART; ISBN:978-1-5386-2456-2

The high pass filter at the sending end of the X-mission- to the parallel control it gives current reference signal. It
line is used for blocking of the harmonic frequency current provides signals at fundamental frequency. The block for
and bypass it. Therefore, arrange for the return path to the central control is in figure 5 [5].
harmonic frequency.

C. Harmonic of 3rd frequency selection

In 3-∅ of power system the harmonic of 3rd order has
exclusive characteristic because its identical in each phase,
which is denoted “zero-sequence”. Conceptually, the 3rd , 6th
and 9th frequencies are all zero sequence while above all are
useful for real power exchanging in the DPFC. But according
to the power transfers in X-mission line, transferrable power
depends upon the X-mission line impedance. Meanwhile, the
reactance of X-mission line is fundamentally inductive in
nature which is directly dependent to the frequency. Due to Fig. 5. The DPFC block of central control [5].
high frequency there will cause of high impedance. As a
result, the lowest frequency harmonic i.e. 3rd is selected. B. Parallel control
D. Distributed FACTS Technology Aim of parallel control is to insert the 3rd harmonic current
constantly into X-mission line, so as provide real power to the
The motive to use D-FACTS is that it allows installation of series convertors. The schematic diagram is shown in figure 6
many single phase small low rating convertor in series instead [5].
of using one big 3-∅ series convertor of high rating.
The single phase small series convertor is installed with X-
mission line coupled through transformer of one-turn. This
transformer uses X-mission line as the secondary winding and
provides the controlled reactance for the X-mission line
immediately. The fundamental configuration of D-FACTS is
shown in figure 4 [5,6].

Fig. 6. The parallel control of DPFC [5]

C. Series Control
Series control aims to sustain the dc voltage of capacitor of
each series convertor by the help of 3rd harmonic frequency
components. It provides series voltage at the fundamental
frequency which indicated by main control. The fundamental
Fig. 4. The fundamental configuration of D-FACTS [6]
series control is given in figure 7 [5].

The D-FACTS are self-powering from the X-mission line. It

results in cheaper cost and enhanced reliability. It requires no
isolation of high voltage between lines phases. The repetition
of multiple series convertor provides continuous operation
during failure of single series convertor.
IV. DPFC CONTROL
The DPFC has three control system which are as follows:
central, parallel and series control.
A. Main control
The central control DPFC works at power-system level. It Fig. 7. The series control of DPFC [5]
gives reference signals to the parallel control and series
control. To series control it gives reference voltage signal and

978-1-5386-2456-2/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE 706

 Proceedings of the International Conference on Inventive Research in Computing Applications (ICIRCA 2018)
IEEE Xplore Compliant Part Number:CFP18N67-ART; ISBN:978-1-5386-2456-2

V. SIMULATION MODEL AND RESULTS

In this section simulation models and their Simulink results
are shown which are evaluated using MATLAB/Simulink.
A. Simulink model
The two-machine system with and without DPFC are depicted
in figure 8 and 9, respectively. The proposed model contains
two similar 3-∅ source, with having a non-linear load at
receiving end. In figure 9, the DPFC is occupied in the X-
mission line where the parallel convertor is coupled through
the three-phase parallel transformer (delta-star) and series Fig. 9. Simulink model with DPFC
convertors are distributed in each phase of X-mission line. As
concepts of DPFC, receiving end of X-mission line is coupled
through the three-phase star-delta transformer in the given
model. The system factors of the model are tabulated in table-
1.
Simulation model Parameters

S.No. Factors Values

1. 3-∅ source
Voltage rated 220 KV
Rated power/Frequency 250 MW/50 hz
X/R 7
Short-circuit capacity 1000 MW
Source resistance 0.8929 ohm Fig. 10. Simulink block of series control
Source inductance 6 mH
2. Coupling transformer of 3-phase parallel
convertor
Dc-link capacitor 2000 micro Farad
Nominal power/frequency 250 MVA/ 50 hz
3. Coupling transformer of 3-phase series
convertor
Nominal power/ Frequency 250 MVA/ 50 hz
4.. 3-phase fault
type A-Ground
snubber resistance 1Mega-ohm
Ground resistance 0.01 ohm
Fault resistance 0.001 ohm
Fig. 11. Simulink block of parallel control
To validate the DPFC performance the line to ground (phase
A to ground) fault is taken into frame on the X-mission line.
The fault duration is t=0.5s to t=1s. B. Simulink Results
Results shown below are performed in MATLAB 16b. Fig. 12
shows the reference voltages given to the X-mission line by
the series control convertor. These voltages are in 2 references
i.e. Vd,reference and Vq,reference . The reference current waveform
to the parallel control convertor is given in figure 13. The
figure 14 shows the fluctuations of power in fault simulation
period t= 0.5 to t=1 when DPFC is not installed. The figure 15
presents the mitigated fluctuations of power between the time
period of fault situation.
Fig. 8. Simulink model without DPFC

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 Proceedings of the International Conference on Inventive Research in Computing Applications (ICIRCA 2018)
IEEE Xplore Compliant Part Number:CFP18N67-ART; ISBN:978-1-5386-2456-2
Fig. 12. Reference voltages of series convertor
Fig. 13. Refrence Line current of parallel convertor of DPFC
Fig. 14. Fluctuations in Real and Reactive Power during fault conditions.
Fig. 15. Fluctuations mitigate using DPFC in Real and Reactive Power.
978-1-5386-2456-2/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE
VI. CONCLUSION
The presented paper studies show about the DPFC and its
control. The DPFC is most prominent device afterwards
UPFC. It reduces the cost of whole system because no
isolation needed between the series convertors and their rating
of components decreases too. The Simulink model for two-
machine systems with and without DPFC are simulated to
validate its performance under unbalance fault conditions. The
control is also designed for parallel and series control within
DPFC. The simulation results are found satisfactory in
mitigation of power fluctuations and to control the power
flow.
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