Analysis of power losses for instantaneous compensation of three-phase four-wire systems

This paper deals with the effect that the instantaneous compensation in three-phase four-wire systems, including or not the compensation of the neutral current, has on the supply line power losses. Thus, for three-phase circuits, the instantaneous compensation criterion has been established based on the instantaneous power theory. According to the instantaneous value concept the noninstantaneous power current is reduced, without altering the instantaneous active power. Two approaches are marked in this paper for instantaneous compensation: the first one is for eliminating the total noninstantaneous power current but the neutral current can still flow. The second one for eliminating the modified noninstantaneous power current, thus the neutral current component is compensated. It demonstrates that, in common situations of medium and low relative-values of the zero-sequence voltage, the total losses (line and neutral losses) obtained with the second approach are lower than those obtained with the first approach. The same results are obtained when a criterion based on the average value concept is used. Simulated and experimental results are obtained to confirm the theoretical properties and to show the compensator performance.