Improved performance of multilevel inverter-based distribution static synchronous compensator with induction furnace load

Owing to the presence of large number of non-linear loads in the power distribution network, power quality levels are deteriorating. One such load is an induction furnace. The problem with the induction furnace load is that it introduces appreciable amount of harmonic distortion in the power system network. The performances of other loads connected in the power system network are also affected because of the presence of induction furnace load. In this study, the performance of a carrier phase shifted pulse-width modulation (PWM) multilevel inverter (five-level)-based distribution static synchronous compensator (DSTATCOM) is compared with that of a PWM inverter based-DSTATCOM with induction furnace load. The simulation results based on MATLAB/SIMULINK are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of multilevel inverter based-DSTATCOM for reducing harmonic distortion in the load current with induction furnace load in the distribution network.