Controller parameter optimization for a 13‐level cascaded H‐bridge medium voltage static synchronous compensator.

Summary: In this paper, a 13‐level cascaded H‐bridge medium voltage static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) has been designed for dynamic reactive power compensation. The dynamic performance of STATCOM has been enhanced by finding the optimal PI controller parameters using particle swarm and gravity search algorithms. In order to avoid capacitor voltage drifting, individual voltage balance control loop is introduced. The results of optimization methods on finding optimal PI controller parameters of STATCOM are verified and compared by simulation studies. The results show that each optimization technique renders effective tracking of both, DC‐link voltage reference values, direct current, reactive current, and reactive power reference values during the closed‐loop operation of STATCOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]