Control of Intelligent Reactive Power Compensators for Low-Cost Single-Phase Applications

Abstract

Proper management of reactive power constitutes a fundamental aspect in ensuring energy efficiency and operational stability in electric power systems. A poor power factor is associated with increased conduction losses and may lead to additional costs or financial penalties imposed by the utility operator. Therefore, this article proposes a reactive power compensation system aimed at reducing losses and improving the power factor in low-cost residential single-phase networks. The control strategy is based on the application of Park and Clarke transformations, which enable a convenient representation of electrical variables for controller design. The system’s performance is validated through simulations carried out in the Matlab/Simulink environment, demonstrating its effectiveness for low-cost applications in residential single-phase grids.