Performance evaluation of custom power devices in power distribution networks to power quality improvement: a review

Abstract

Power distribution networks are considered the main link between power industry and consumers and they are exposed to public judgment and evaluation more than any other section. Thus, it is essential to study power quality in distribution section. On the other hand, power distribution networks have always been exposed to traditional factors such as voltage sag, voltage swell, harmonics and capacitor switching which destruct sinusoidal waveforms and decrease power quality as well as network reliability. These are the abnormalities which are imposed to the networks by the consumers resulting in bad effects on other consumers and the network equipment. Thus, power suppliers are committed to provide the consumers with a reliable power of acceptable quality. These goals are achieved by applying power electronic devices, called Custom Power devices, in power distribution networks to solve the problem of abnormalities which disturb power quality. The present study tries to introduce and compare different types of Custom Power Devices and explain their application and the simulation results show the role of these devices in power quality enhancement.