Unified power flow controller with matrix converter: Performance evaluation with fuzzy logic control

With rapid advancements in the high power semiconductor devices and their control features, the power system stability improvement has become feasible with various types of FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission Systems) controllers. Among them, the most widely preferred device is Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC), which employs two back to back inverters connected via DC link capacitor. The capacitor brings in several disadvantages and affects the system reliability. This paper proposes to replace the converter topology with a Matrix Converter (MC), which allows direct ac to ac power conversion without any energy storage. Further, the performance of UPFC mainly depends on how quickly and accurately compensation signals are derived. In this regard, the existing controller mechanism can be altered with a Fuzzy based controller. A realistic 14-bus test system is used to model the system. The MC-UPFC along with Fuzzy Logic Controller is simulated in this test system using MATLAB. The simulation results show that the controller enhances dynamic stability of the system with good robustness.