Abstract
M.Ing.
Previous studies on the four-pulse dynamic compensator showed the existence of a
stable limit cycle in the compensating current. Attempts were made to eliminate this limit
cycle by placing a small signal active filter in the feedback path of the system, as it
influenced the efficiency of the compensator. The efficiency of the active filter depends,
on system parameters such as the impedance of the supply network and the load.
Thus the small signal active filter eliminated the limit cycle only conditionally.
A control method referred to as error modulation, was developed in order to eliminate
the limit cycle unconditionally. According to this method the amplitude of the error is
used to determine the modulation depth. Results showed that this method completely
eliminates the limit cycle. In order to analyse this method analytically, a dual-input
describing function for the altered non-linearity was derived. It was possible, by using
the describing function, to explain the stability of the system with error modulation.
Tests on the system revealed a poor dynamic response. The undamped nature of the
system decreased the efficiency of the system. Damping was introduced to the system
in such a way, that losses were kept at a minimum, while the dynamic response of the
system improved.
It has also been experienced that the losses in the system tends to use all the stored
energy in the inductor. Previous attempts to stabilise the amount of stored energy in the
inductor,did not succeed. 'n Control system using feedback was thus developed to
stabilise the energy in the inductor, and the dynamic compensator losses are drawn
from the supply.