A Novel Approach For Improving Power Quality and to Maintain Power Factor Using ANN Controller Technique in a Hybrid Energy Based System

Abstract

The basic conventional energy sources for generating electric power are thermal, hydel and nuclear. Modern world needs more power. So it is mandatory to produce energy through non-conventional sources like solar, wind , tidel, geo thermal etc. They are available in plenty and are user friendly. These natural sources do not cause pollution. The main purpose of using hybrid energy power system is to overcome the intermittency and uncertainty of non- renewable energy sources and to make the power supply more reliable. newlineIn the present scenario, Power Quality (PQ) requirement is a living issue in power industry. Load compensation is a must for the improvement of PQ. Due to uncertainity in the availability of renewable sources, sudden rise/ drop in voltage and overload conditions pose different kinds of PQ problems. Among them, two issues are identified as the major problem on consumer side such as voltage sag and harmonics. Therefore to improve PQ, PQ issues should be identified and addressed. The most serious PQ issue arising in the industries is voltage sag. This research focuses on two strategies (i) Manual switching strategy and (ii) Automatic switching strategy. In manual switching strategy, voltage stabilization is achieved thereby maintaining the power factor. Automatic switching strategy is adopted to compensate the voltage sag as well as to reduce the harmonics. newlineThe system comprises of wind system, a Photovoltaic (PV) system, a diesel engine system and an ac load with a battery backup. In Manual Switching Strategy a Proportional Integral Controller (PID) is used for the voltage stabilization and to maintain power factor as constant. In Automatic switching strategy Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR), a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device restores the voltage necessary for sag compensation which uses the solar energy. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Controller technique ensures better and reduced Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). newline newline