Design And Control Of

Ingeniería Solidaria
A Single-Phase Voltage
Compensator Based On An
AC Chopper
Diseño y control de un compensador de voltaje monofásico
basado en un chopper AC

Projeto e controle de um compensador de tensão de fase

única baseado em um chopper CA

Giang Le Ngoc1
Trung Dang Tien2
Tuan Nguyen Ngoc3
Linh Nguyen Thi Dieu4

Received: September 10th, 2020

Accepted: December 10th, 2020
Available: January 12th, 2021

How to cite this article:

Giang Le Ngoc, Trung Dang Tien, Tuan Nguyen Ngoc, Linh Nguyen Thi Dieu, “Design and
Control of A Single-Phase Voltage Compensator Based on an Ac Chopper,”
Revista Ingeniería Solidaria, vol. 17, no. 1, 2021.
doi: https://doi.org/10.16925/2357-6014.2021.01.01
Research article. https://doi.org/10.16925/2357-6014.2021.01.01
1
AD-AF Academy of Viet Nam, Son Tay, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Email: [email protected]
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0198-2857
2
Electric Power University in Vietnam
Email: [email protected]
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7388-8037
3
Le Quy Don Technical University, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Email: [email protected]
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3541-7712
4
Faculty of Electronics Engineering Technology, Hanoi University of Industry
e-mail: [email protected]
Orcid: https://orcid.org/ 0000-0001-8596-392X
 2 Design And Control Of A Single-Phase Voltage Compensator Based On An AC Chopper

Abstract
Introduction: This paper is the result of the research “Design and control of a single-phase voltage compensa-
tor based on an AC Chopper” developed in the AD-AF Academy of Viet Nam in 2019.

Problem: This article develops the concept of power electronic devices based on AC choppers and provides a
solution for voltage sag and deep fade in rural power grids.

Objective: Improve the quality of the electricity system in rural Viet Nam.

Methodology: With the improvement of power systems, power quality has become the major concern of cus-
tomers and grid companies. Voltage sag has turned into a research priority because of its frequent occurence
and resulting economic losses. Based on the rounded analysis of traditional voltage compensation devices,
this article develops the concept of power electronic devices based on AC choppers and provides a solution for
voltage sag and deep fade in rural power grids.

Results: On the one hand, it reduces the cost and space requirements of the device. On the other hand, it
provides a solution for the short compensation time of UPS and DVR.

Conclusion: The trial operation proves that this single-phase low-voltage compensation device has obvious
compensation effects for the most resistive loads and some inductive loads, less harmonic content, long con-
tinuous compensation time and stable performance.

Originality: This compensation device integrates the advantages of UPS and DVR, and also solves their short-
comings and deficiencies.

Limitations: The authors need to spend more time on the development and design of three-phase low-voltage
compensation devices.

Keywords: voltage sag; AC chopper; voltage compensation, rural power grid.

Resumo
Introdução: Este artigo é o resultado da pesquisa “Projeto e controle de um compensador de tensão monofá-
sico baseado em um cortador de corrente alternada” desenvolvida na AD-AF Academy do Vietnã em 2019.

Problema: Este artigo desenvolve o conceito de dispositivos eletrônicos de potência com base em choppers CA
e fornece uma solução para queda e queda de tensão em redes elétricas rurais.

Objetivo: Melhorar a qualidade do sistema elétrico na zona rural do Vietnã.

6Metodologia: Com a melhoria dos sistemas de energia, a qualidade da energia se tornou a principal preocu-
pação dos clientes e empresas de rede. A queda de tensão tornou-se uma prioridade de pesquisa devido à sua
ocorrência frequente e às perdas econômicas resultantes. Com base na análise arredondada de dispositivos
de compensação de tensão tradicionais, este artigo desenvolve o conceito de dispositivos eletrônicos de po-
tência baseados em choppers CA e fornece uma solução para queda e desvanecimento profundo de tensão
em redes de energia rurais.

Resultados: Por um lado, reduz o custo e os requisitos de espaço do dispositivo. Por outro lado, fornece uma
solução para o curto tempo de compensação de UPS e DVR.

Conclusão: A operação de teste prova que este dispositivo de compensação de baixa tensão monofásico tem
efeitos de compensação óbvios para a maioria das cargas resistivas e algumas cargas indutivas, menos con-
teúdo harmônico, longo tempo de compensação contínua e desempenho estável.

Originalidade: Este dispositivo de compensação integra as vantagens do UPS e DVR e também resolve suas
deficiências e deficiências.

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Limitações: Os autores precisam dedicar mais tempo ao desenvolvimento e projeto de dispositivos trifásicos
de compensação de baixa tensão.

Palavras chave: queda de tensão; Chopper AC; compensação de tensão, rede elétrica rural.

Resumen
Introducción: este artículo es resultado de la investigación “Diseño y control de un compensador de voltaje
monofásico basado en un convertidor AC” desarrollado en la Academia AD-AF de Vietnam en 2019.

Problema: este artículo desarrolla el concepto de dispositivos electrónicos de potencia basados en

​​ convertido-
res CA y proporciona una solución para la caída de voltaje y apagado de las redes eléctricas rurales.

Objetivo: mejorar la calidad del sistema eléctrico en las zonas rurales de Vietnam.

Metodología: con la mejora de los sistemas eléctricos, la calidad de la energía se ha convertido en la principal
preocupación de los clientes y las empresas que ofrecen energía. La caída de tensión se ha convertido en una
prioridad de investigación debido a su frecuente aparición y a las pérdidas económicas que conlleva. Con base
en el análisis completo de los dispositivos tradicionales de compensación de voltaje, este artículo desarrolla
el concepto de dispositivos electrónicos de potencia basados en
​​ convertidores CA y proporciona una solución
para la caída de voltaje y el apagado de las redes eléctricas en el ámbito rural.

Resultados: por un lado, se reduce el costo y los requisitos de espacio del dispositivo. Por otro lado, se propor-
ciona una solución para el corto tiempo de compensación de UPS y DVR.

Conclusión: la operación de prueba demuestra que este dispositivo de compensación de bajo voltaje monofá-
sico tiene efectos de compensación obvios para las cargas más resistivas y algunas cargas inductivas, menor
contenido de armónicos, tiempo de compensación continuo prolongado y rendimiento estable.

Originalidad: este dispositivo de compensación integra las ventajas de UPS y DVR, y también resuelve sus
desventajas y deficiencias.

Limitaciones: los autores deben dedicar más tiempo al desarrollo y diseño de dispositivos de compensación
trifásicos de baja tensión.

Palabras clave: caída de tensión; Helicóptero AC; compensación de voltaje, red eléctrica rural.

1. INTRODUCTION
In recent years, Viet Nam’s rural areas have developed rapidly, rural electricity de-
mand has increased, and electricity consumption has increased significantly, while
rural power grids remain relatively simple. This is the cause of the voltage sag
phenomenon, which is long-lasting, and deep fade over the rural power grid [1].
So, the improvement of power system operation efficiency and power quality has
become the major concern of customers and grid companies in Vietnam’s rural
communities [2, 3].
Most modern power systems face many issues in power quality. All the power
quality issues include problems that are related to voltage. The result of this voltage
quality issue leads to the most frequent and common problem called voltage sag.

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 4 Design And Control Of A Single-Phase Voltage Compensator Based On An AC Chopper

Voltage dip or voltage sag is the reduction in certain levels of voltage, which reduces
the quality of power. Just as there can be voltage reductions there are also increases
in voltage known as voltage swell [4]. The connection of non-linear loads in the system
and short circuit faults are considered the major cause for the occurrence of voltage
sag. This issue may collapse the entire system causing malfunction or failure of the
equipment [5].
Many devices are used for compensating the voltage disturbances:
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) provide a number of benefits to both home
and business use, keeping vital computer and electronics systems running through
brief power outages and preventing damage from sudden power loss. Using a UPS
also involves a number of disadvantages, especially in the upfront and maintenance
costs. UPS batteries do not last forever. Like all rechargeable batteries, their capacity
to hold a charge diminishes over time. In order to keep its batteries charged at all times,
a UPS system must draw more power than the attached equipment requires [6].
Dynamic voltage restore (DVR) is a kind of FACTS device which is used for
series compensation in distribution networks [7]. The DVR can mitigate voltage sag
and improve power quality of the system [8]. The DVR is able to produce and absorb
reactive power by controlling the series injected voltage (Vse) [9]. But to exchange
active power with the system, the DVR needs the DC storage unit [10]. The DC storage
unit saves a finite amount of energy, so it cannot support the critical load at the faulty
condition for a long period of time. It is one of the worst deficiencies of DVR [11].
AC-choppers have been used for AC voltage regulation and voltage sag com-
pensation as proposed in [12]. The AC-Chopper can be used to perform like an au-
tomatic voltage regulator as presented in [12]. The AC-chopper can offer a minimum
energy injection using micro-SMES; as has clearly been verified in [13]. As can be
seen, a developed PWM technique in [13] is for fast output voltage control for a con-
ventional converter which can be utilized in AC-choppers with some modification.
Hence, fast dynamic voltage response for AC-choppers can be achieved by using an
instantaneous voltage control technique as presented in [14]. The simulation and ex-
perimental results have been reported and have been validated in [15] for single-phase
AC-chopper applications.
This article develops power electronic devices based on AC choppers and pro-
vides a solution for long-lasting voltage sag and deep fade over rural power grids. This
compensation device integrates the advantages of UPS and DVR, and also solves their
shortcomings and deficiencies. On the one hand, it reduces the cost and space of the
device. On the other hand, it solves the short compensation time of UPS and DVR.

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2. CONTENT AND RESEARCH METHODS

2.1. Traditional Voltage Compensation Device [7, 9]
With its good dynamic performance, the dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) has become
the most economical and effective way to solve the voltage sag problem.
However, the dynamic voltage restorer also has serious defects: The device re-
quires battery energy storage to complete the voltage compensation function, in some
areas where the voltage drops frequently, the device is prone to frequent charging and
discharging, and the battery life is bound to be greatly shortened, thereby increasing
its operating cost; The capacity of the energy storage element in the device is limited;
After a voltage drop occurs, the device can only be dynamically compensated within
half a cycle to a few cycles. Therefore, for areas with a long voltage drop duration, the
device is not applicable.

2.2. Single phase voltage compensator based on AC

Chopper [5]
After inheriting the advantages of the above voltage compensation devices, this pa-
per designs the device circuit topology shown in Figure 1. The voltage compensation
device is mainly composed of a series transformers, a filter, an AC chopper unit and a
series compensation capacitor. Each part will be analyzed in detail below.

Filter
Filter

Series
Transformer Output

Series
Input AC chopper unit compensation
capacitor

Figure 1. The topological structure of the device

Source: own work

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 6 Design And Control Of A Single-Phase Voltage Compensator Based On An AC Chopper

AC chopper unit: The AC chopper circuit is the core part of the entire voltage
compensation device and the basis for the realization of the voltage compensation
function.

2 ∞
sin ϕa
uo (t ) = ui (t ) × S (t ) = U m sin ωt[ D +
π
∑ a =1 a
cos(aωc t − ϕa )]
(1)
sin ϕa
U Nm ∞
= U m D sin ωt + ∑
π a =1 a
{sin[(aωc + ω )t − ϕa ] − sin[((aωc − ω ) − ϕa ]}

It can be seen from Equation 1 that the modulated output voltage is composed
of the fundamental wave and higher harmonics at the same frequency as the sinu-
soidal input voltage. So as long as the high-frequency harmonics are filtered out by
the low-pass filter to make the output voltage uo ( t ) = DU i ( t ) = U m D sin ωt , then the
output voltage can be adjusted directly by adjusting the duty ratio D, that is, the output
voltage can be linearly adjusted.
User side filter: It can be seen that the output voltage is mainly composed of
the fundamental wave component and the higher harmonic component, so in order
to ensure that the output voltage distortion rate is low, the higher harmonic contained
within must be removed. Because the harmonics contained in the output voltage are
mainly composed of sin[(aωc + ω )t − ϕ a ] and sin[(aωc − ω ) − ϕ a ] , which ωc is de-
2π
termined by the carrier cycle Tc , that is ωc = , the carrier cycle Tc is determined
Tc
by the carrier ratio K = T / Tc , so selecting the parameters of the band-reject filter
should be based on the carrier frequency of the AC chopper.
Transformer secondary filter: Since the grid inevitably contains harmonics, a
filter must be installed in front of the AC voltage regulation unit to optimize the input
voltage waveform.

2.3. Voltage compensation strategy

2.3.1. Full compensation method [6]

This method can not only solve the drop of voltage amplitude but also solve the prob-
lem of voltage phase shift, and can make the compensated voltage fully recover to
levels before the drop. However, this strategy also has serious disadvantages:

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 Giang Le Ngoc, Trung Dang Tien, Tuan Nguyen Ngoc, Linh Nguyen Thi Dieu 7

The implementation of this method needs to rely on a considerable system

capacity, which requires having a large enough capacitance value to achieve it, which
increases the difficulty and cost of system implementation; This method is almost
impossible to achieve in the case of a large voltage drop depth or a large phase shift.

2.3.2. In-phase compensation method [8]

The basic principle is to ensure that the compensation voltage vector is in phase with
the system voltage vector after the drop, so that the compensated voltage amplitude
returns to the normal level. The main advantage of this method is that the compen-
sation voltage that the device needs to provide is always the minimum value, and the
control method is simple and easy to implement.
The main disadvantage of this method is that the output power is not controlled,
and the phase jump problem caused by voltage sag is not solved.

2.3.3. Minimum energy compensation method

Using this method compensates for the sag by injecting minor real power to the sys-
tem. The minimum energy compensation method has the least active power output,
but the output voltage is large.

2.3.4. Improved minimum energy compensation method

In the voltage tolerance method with minimum energy injection, a small drop in volt-
age and small jump in phase angle can be tolerated by the load itself. If the voltage
magnitude lies between 90%-110% of nominal voltage and 5%-10% of the nominal
state, the operation characteristics of loads will not be disturbed. Both magnitude and
phase are the control parameters for this method, which can be achieved by small
energy injection.

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 8 Design And Control Of A Single-Phase Voltage Compensator Based On An AC Chopper

•
U

•
UL

•
A
U sag
θ B
α
β
•
IL
Figure 2. The diagram of the principle of the improved minimum
energy compensation method
Source: own work

2.4. Research on Control Strategy of Voltage

Compensation Devices [10-11]
In terms of system control strategy, open-loop control is simple and easy to imple-
ment, but its stability is poor; the closed loop control system is absolutely stable.
Therefore, closed-loop control is selected.
In closed loop control, the control action from the controller is dependent on
feedback from the process in the form of the value of the process variable. A closed
loop controller, therefore, has a feedback loop which ensures the controller exerts a
control action to manipulate the process variable to be the same as the “Reference
input” or “set point”. For this reason, closed loop controllers are also called feedback
controllers.
Closed loop control is preferred due to its strong dynamic behaviour compared
to open loop. The control scheme of closed loop is presented in Figure 3.

System Output
side voltage AC chopper
Controller compensation
System collection unit
voltage User
side
side
User side
voltage
collection

Figure 3. Schematic diagram of the closed-loop control system

Source: own work

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3. RESULTS
3.1. Hardware and software design and simulation
This paper is based on the power system simulation software PSCAD /EMTDC V4.20
to simulate the basic structure of the voltage compensation device and detection and
control methods.

Figure 4. Topological simulation model of device’s main circuit

Source: own work

In Figure 4, the ratio of the series transformer is set to 1:1, the input side low-
pass filter capacitor is set to 50μF, the IGBT drive signal of the AC chopper unit is
controlled by P1, P2, P3, P4, and the 40-ohm load resistor.
The voltage detection method used in this simulation is the effective value
detection method. This method is simple and easy and has good accuracy. The sim-
ulation structure is shown in Figure 5 below.

Figure 5. Simulation model of effective value detection method

Source: own work

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 10 Design And Control Of A Single-Phase Voltage Compensator Based On An AC Chopper

In Figure 5, V_source is the system-side voltage, V_load is the load-side volt-

age, Vs_rms is the effective value of the system-side voltage, and Vload_rms is the
effective value of the load-side voltage. The system-side voltage value is with the
standard voltage value 220V to calculate the duty ratio of AC chopping. The duty ratio
is calculated in Equation 2.

220 − Vs _ rms 220

D= = −1 (2)
Vs _ rms Vs _ rms
Simulation results of the voltage compensation device: In the simulation, the
voltage value of the system is adjusted to achieve the low voltage effect. The system
voltage adjustment module is shown in Figure 6 below.

Figure 6. System voltage regulation module

Source: own work

In the simulation process, we will irregularly adjust the system voltage between
200V~150V to test whether the voltage compensation device simulation model, volt-
age detection method, AC chopping drive pulse generation, etc. are effective. The sim-
ulation results are shown in Figure 7 below. It can be seen that the effective value of
the system voltage fluctuates continuously with the adjustment of the system voltage
regulation module, and the effective value has always been below 200V, and the load
voltage has been stable between 200V~220V. It can be seen that the effective value
detection method, Non-complementary AC chopping methods to deal with long-term
voltage instability, is very obvious.

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Figure 7. Input voltage and effective value of voltage after compensation

Source: own work

In addition, we made a simulation analysis of the stability of the device and the
output voltage distortion and set the system voltage to the maximum amplitude of
255V. The simulated system voltage waveform, load voltage waveform and compen-
sation voltage waveform are shown in Figure 8 below.

Figure 8. Input voltage and voltage waveform after compensation

Source: own work

It can be seen from Figure 8 that the output voltage waveform of the voltage
compensation device is perfect, without harmonic interference, and the output volt-
age has the stable amplitude at 300V without fluctuation
In this simulation, corresponding to Figure 8, the results comparing the effective
value of the system voltage and the effective value of the load voltage are shown in
Figure 9. It can be seen that the effective value of the system voltage is 180V, the
effective value of the load voltage is quite stable at 214V and there is no fluctuation.

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 12 Design And Control Of A Single-Phase Voltage Compensator Based On An AC Chopper

Figure 9. Comparison chart of long-term compensation stability

Source: own work

After the above simulation analysis, this device is feasible with regards to the
circuit topology, voltage detection method, voltage compensation strategy, or in the
application of AC chopping mode, and the compensation effect is very obvious. The
output waveform is perfect, and it meets the standard voltage requirements.

3.2. Hardware implementation of the voltage

compensation device
Its specific structure can be roughly divided into: main control circuit, output filter, AC
chopper unit, buffer and drive protection circuit of AC chopper unit, circuit breaker,
information collection and control circuit. The main hardware circuit block diagram is
shown in Figure 10.

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Protection
circuit

System side Series Load side

transformer Output filter
AC chopper

Main
control
circuit

Information
collection
circuit

Figure 10. Device hardware structure diagram

Source: own work

The main control circuit plays the role of system side and load side voltage
collection, voltage drop judgment, duty cycle calculation and AC chopping pulse out-
put in the entire voltage compensation device. It is the core component of the entire
device, mainly including the following parts: AD sampling conditioning circuit, system
voltage zero-crossing comparison circuit, circuit breaker and IGBT status feedback,
AC chopping pulse and dead zone control circuit, and watchdog module. The structure
diagram is shown in Figure 11.

Watchdog
module

Circuit
AD sampling Circuit breaker
breaker
conditioning MSP430 signal
control signal
circuit output
sampling

IGBT

Figure 11. Main control circuit hardware structure diagram

Source: own work

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 14 Design And Control Of A Single-Phase Voltage Compensator Based On An AC Chopper

The main board control circuit is shown in Figure 12 below.

Figure 12. Main control circuit board

Source: own work

IGBT drive and protection circuit: IGBT is a device composed of a bipolar

transistor and a MOSFET. It not only has the characteristics of fast switching of the
gate voltage of the MOSFET, but also has the characteristics of high current handling
capacity and low saturation voltage drop of the bipolar transistor. The IGBT drive and
protection circuit of this voltage compensation device mainly use the FUJI EXB841
chip. The chip is a typical dedicated drive circuit suitable for IGBTs below 300A, and
has the main characteristics of single power supply, positive and negative bias, over-
current detection, protection, soft shutdown; the finished IGBT drive and protection
circuit is shown in Figure 12.

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 Giang Le Ngoc, Trung Dang Tien, Tuan Nguyen Ngoc, Linh Nguyen Thi Dieu 15

Figure 12. IGBT drive and protection circuit products

Source: own work

AC chopper unit: The AC chopper unit is the core component of the entire
voltage compensation device. Finished power module in this voltage compensation
device is shown in Figure 13 below.

IGBT

VS

Figure 13. Finished power module

Source: own work

Output filter: The basic schematic diagram of the LC filter, and finished product
of low-pass filter on output side of voltage compensation device is shown in Figure
14 below:

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 16 Design And Control Of A Single-Phase Voltage Compensator Based On An AC Chopper

Figure 14. Finished LC low-pass filter

Source: own work

3.3. Actual test results of the device on the Oscilloscope

The load uses was a 1.5 hp air conditioner. Figure 15 is the waveform of the input volt-
age and input current of the device at the instant of air conditioning startup. From the
figure, it can be seen that at the instant of air conditioning startup, the effective value
of the input voltage is dropped approximately 100V. The effective value of the input
current is increased approximately 200A.

Figure 15. Voltage and current waveform at the instant of air conditioning startup wi-
thout compensator
Source: own work

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 Giang Le Ngoc, Trung Dang Tien, Tuan Nguyen Ngoc, Linh Nguyen Thi Dieu 17

Figure 16. Voltage and current waveform from air conditioning startup
to the start of compensation
Source: own work

Figure 16 shows the input voltage and input current waveforms of the device
from air conditioning startup to the start of compensation. The left side of the black
line in the figure is the whole process of starting the air conditioner, and the right side
of the black line in the figure is the whole process of starting the compensation device.

Figure 17. Voltage and current waveform at the instant of air conditioning
startup with compensator
Source: own work

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 18 Design And Control Of A Single-Phase Voltage Compensator Based On An AC Chopper

The trial operation proves that this single-phase low-voltage compensation

device has obvious compensation effects; the effective value of the output voltage
is approximately 200V, the effective value of the input current is approximately 20A.

4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Firstly, this article puts forward the circuit topology of the voltage compensation de-
vice, and introduces the main functions of each part and the principle of AC choppers.
Then, this paper makes the contrast between AC choppers with AC-DC-AC convert-
ers, and analyzes the major superiority of the circuit topology proposed by this paper.
This paper expounds the basic principle of voltage detection algorithms, and
comprehensively analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of them. Then, this
paper chooses RMS detection as the detection method of our compensation device,
and proves the feasibility of it by emulation.
This paper intensively studies several voltage compensation strategies and
provides a comparative analysis of the pros and cons of them, proving their feasibility
by emulation. Meanwhile, this paper introduces several control strategies, analyzes
their basic principles and compares the practicability of them.
Finally, this paper briefly describes the software and hardware for the voltage
compensation device, the results of trial operations, and improvements based on
operations. The operations prove the correctness and effectiveness of the circuit to-
pology and algorithms. The trial operation proves that this single-phase low-voltage
compensation device has obvious compensation effects for the most resistive loads
and some inductive loads, less harmonic content, long continuous compensation time
and stable performance.

5. REFERENCES
[1] T.T. Ngoat, X.M. Zha, L.N. Giang, “Selecting optimal reactive compensation device for power
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www.scientific.net/AMM.556-562.1560.

[2] L.N. Giang, L. Kaipei, “Simple backstepping control design for the rotor - Side converter of a
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