Journal of Power Electronics and Devices

Volume 5 Issue 3

Transformer-less Voltage Stabilizer Controlled By Proportional-

Plus-Integral (PI) Controller
Candidus U Eya*1, Emenike C Ejiogu2, Marcel U Agu3, Damian B Nnadi4
Lecturers, Electrical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nigeria
Email: *Candidus.eya@unn.edu.ng
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3557180

Abstract
Transformer-based voltage stabilizers are characterized by large size, heavy weight, noise
pollution, expensive production, unreliable operation and have limited ability to stabilize
output voltage. To overcome this problem, a pulse-width modulated transformerless voltage
stabilizer is considered in this paper. The output voltage variation is stabilized by Plus
Integral (PI) controller. The main properties of this proposed system are: (i) It is light in
weight and occupies small space; (ii) It has low total harmonic distortions; (iii) the output
possesses pure sine wave signals; (iv) It is very cheap for mass production. In this paper, we
applied the modulation index of 0.86 in the proposed system (PS). The total harmonic
distortion, THD of 3.968% was realized and we ensured constant voltage output of proposed
system within the input voltage band of (120-230) VAC. The proposed topic can be applied at
homes, offices and also in industries.

Keywords: Bridge rectifier, boost converter, inverter, PI controller, transformer-less

INTRODUCTION Moreover, fuse is another protective

Power instability supply to electrical and device that makes use of breaking
electronics appliances at homes and in principle on safe- guarding the life span of
industries had been an enormous electrical appliances [1]. But its
disturbing problems to the effective maintenance time factor when it cuts,
utilization of electricity. It causes a lot of reduces the efficiency of whatever system
damages to our equipment, and increases it is protecting. Hence, to improve beyond
cost of living. This power supply the breaking principles seen in fuse and
irregularities are caused mostly by voltage relay, the regulators are used [2−4]. A
fluctuations. In literature, many protective regulator as seen in [2, 4, 18] is a device
devices had been proposed and which is applied to control an output
implemented to ensure adequate protection quantity which may be electrical quantity
of equipment and appliances [1−5]. or not, such regulators includes speed
regulator, fuel flow regulators, voltage
In case of abnormalities in power supply regulator etc. Voltage regulator [2, 18] is
occur, the relay senses them and an electrical regulator designed to
immediately causes the breaker to open automatically maintain or provide the
and the facility element is isolated as constant output voltage signal using either
according to author in [1]. But since relay electromagnetic mechanism or passive or
operates mechanically, the parts wear out active electronic components. Since a
as the switch contacts become dirty. steady voltage is needed in certain
Besides, it cannot be switched ON and equipment, a voltage stabilizer is then
OFF at high speeds to control the rapid applied in this case [2]. Voltage stabilizer
transiency of voltage oscillations [1]. is a voltage regulator that is utilized in
home to output a constant voltage even if

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 Journal of Power Electronics and Devices
Volume 5 Issue 3

the backend power supply fluctuates [2]. It they have better characteristics
conditions the oscillation of AC power performance over the transformer based
supply. It could be static voltage stabilizer converters. The harmonic distortions in
or servo controlled voltage stabilizer [2]. transformer-less converters are highly
Static voltage and servo stabilizers [3, 5] mitigated by filtering and Pulse width
are mostly transformer-based stabilizer modulation, PWM, measures in the power
with different tapping and a sensor control electronic switches such as MOSFETS,
current that senses the input supply and thyristors, insulated gate bipolar transistor
accordingly, the output is taken from one (IGBT), etc. [10−15].
of the tapping of the transformer. The
transformer – based stabilizers, even In this paper, a transformer-less voltage
though have the advantages of operational stabilizer controlled by PI controller is
ruggedness and capability in riding out proposed. The stabilizer’s operational
momentary breaks in mains, yet they have principle is based on the output voltage
the following demerits: large in size , adjustment by the process of pulse–width
unbearable audible humming sound , very modulation scheme. At its input and output
bulky and difficult to carry about, more of this device, there are analog filters
expensive in production and low level meant for active smoothening of the
operating frequency. impulsive noises in the circuit. The core
merits of this proposed stabilizer are: it is
For higher power quality, and to solve the portable, noiseless in operation, takes the
most of the problems created by the operational range of 120−230VAC at
transformer-based stabilizer [2, 5−7], the 50Hz, less expensive in mass production,
transformer-less converters, despite some and occupies little space and small power
little harmonic distorting seen in them, loss.

THE POWER CIRCUIT OF TRANSFORMER-LESS VOLTAGE STABILIZER

Figure 1: The topology of power circuit of transformer-less voltage stabilizer.

The AC power supply (120−230) V meant 2v s 2

for rectification is applied to the Vrec  (1)

diagonally opposite ends of the bridge
vs- Supply voltage (120-230) V
rectifier (D1, D2, D3 and D4) without any
After the rectification, the boost converter
transformer. In full rectification, the
steps up and filter the rectified output
current undergoes positive and negative
voltage of the rectifier and supplies it to
cycles. The rectified output voltage of
the inverter. During the ON-STATE, the
rectifier, Vrec, is expressed as:
boost switch is closed, which makes the

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 Journal of Power Electronics and Devices
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rectified voltage, Vrec, appears across the will be taken based on the signals got by
inductor at the interval of 0  t  D , either sending the signal to turn ON or
D5 is reversed biased by the rectified OFF the boost Power switch is carried out
voltage and sets off. The change in by proportional term. The transfer function
inductor current of the boost converter of PI controller is given from PI section of
∆iLON is expressed as in (2): Fig. 3:
i L ON = Vrec * DT R
T s     4 
1  R4 1
 
(2) (5)
L
 Rin sC3 Rin  Rin sC3 Rin
L - Inductance of the inductor in H; T–
switching period, V rec -rectified voltage,
or as[16-18]
D- Duty cycle which represents the
T s   K p 
Ki
fraction of operating period. When the (6)
IGBT boosting switch is opened or OFF, s
the inductor current flows from source to
load. Considering zero voltage drops T(s)- gain of PI, Rin-input resistance to PI,
across the diode and the capacitors large C3 and R4 are feedback components of PI.
enough for its voltage to remain constant,
Rin  1
R  R2  * R3 (7)
at interval of DT  t  T , then the change R1  R2   R3
in inductor current during OFF-period is
written as: Comparing equations 5 and 6, there exists:
 Vrec  Vob 1  D  T 
iLOFF =   (3) R
K p  4 and Ki 
1
(8)
 L  Rin sC3 Rin

Under steady-state conditions, the inductor In order to compute, Kp and Ki, the
current remains the same. This means that following
the overall change in current (the sum of R1  10k , R2  20k , C3 and R3  10k,
the changes) is zero. Therefore, summing were the parameters used. Then,
equation 2 and 3; and equating them zero, substituting them in equations 7 and 8,
then, that the output voltage of the boost
give Kp and Ki equal 10.00 and 0.097.
converter; Vob (boosted voltage) is written
as:
GENERATION OF FIRING SIGNALS
Vrec
Vob  (4) FOR THE INVERTER SWITCHES
1 D The firing signals are generated by
comparing the two identical modulating
ANALYSIS OF PROPORTIONAL- sine waves of 50Hz but out of phase by
PLUS-INTEGRAL CONTROLLER 180o to each other at frequency of 1.07kHz
It is a controller that calculates an error to produce pulse- width modulated signals.
voltage or current between a measured The 1.07kHz was used in order to mitigate
processed variable and a desired reference the third harmonics in the inverter system.
value (set point) [16−18]. The PI The topology is shown in Fig. 2. In the
Controller algorithm is made of same figure, pulse- width modulated
proportional and integral terms. The signals generated are negated using logical
integral term accelerates the system action Not-gates to obtain their corresponding
based on the rate of sum of the voltage complementary pulses.Their output signal
error compensation by shifting the band- are shown Fig. 7
width of the signals whereas the action that

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Volume 5 Issue 3

Figure 2: The topology for the generating of firing signals.

Modulation Index This signal is passed through RC circuit.

The modulation index of a modulation The signal is filtered for better signal
method portrays by how much the quality but is now 180° out of phase. An
modulated variable of a carrier varies in op amp within the RC circuit then inverts
the region of its unmodulated level [15]. the signals and sends it to where it is
The modulation index of the sinusoidal compared with the negative reference DC
pulse-width modulation (SPWM) can be signal volatage(-Vref) as shown in Fig. 3.
stated as: The error voltage is then sent to the
Vm proportional-integral compensator which
ma  (4) appropriately modifies and integrates the
Vcr
voltage signals; and then takes them to the
Where, ma- modulation index, Vm- comparator labeled 2 where, they are
amplitude level voltage of sine wave compared with the carriers’ signals of high
signal, Vcr- amplitude level voltage of switching frequency of 1.07kHz. The
carrier wave signal. From the Fig. 6, the output of the comparator is then moved to
Vm of sine wave signal is 7.4V and the Vr the IGBTdriver circuit and boost
of carrier wave signal is 8.6V. Then switch.This produces pulse signals. During
substituting them appropriately in voltage oscillations,the proportional term,
equation.4, the modulation index of the determines the value of the error voltage, Ve
proposed system of Fig. 1 becomes 0.86. and then signals the driving circuit to turn ON
Practically, from the Fig. 12, the Vm = the boost switch for voltage stabilization.
7.4V and Vr = 8.6V which also yields ma When the boost switch starts operating, the P
of 0.86. term determines the error voltage to be
compensated in geometrical progression. If
STABILIZATION STAGE USING the speed at which the compensation of the
PROPORTIONAL-INTEGRAL lost voltage is not enough, the integral part
CONTROLLER (term) will adjust the band width of the pulses
The control circuit unit consists of voltage to quicken up the rate of stabilizing the
sensor, operational amplifiers and IGBT voltage. The continuous process in case of
driver. When voltage fluctuation occurs in either voltage decrease or increase will
the PS system, the change in the output regulate and stabilize the output at rms of
voltage of the inverter is sensed 220V.The control circuit is shown as follow
instantaneously by the voltage sensor and in Fig. 3.
is rectified by diode D3 in the control unit.

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 Journal of Power Electronics and Devices
Volume 5 Issue 3

Figure 3: Outline ofoutput control circuit unit.

SIMULATION AND RESULTS environment and various results of

The proposed system in Figures 1, 2 and many stages are shown in Fig. 4 to 11.
3 are simulated in matlab/simulnk 2013

Figure 4: The rectified output of the full bridge rectifier.

The Fig. 4 displayed the output waveform 100Hz has a ripple factor of 0.4843 [2].
of the rectified voltage emanating from the This implies that the DC components in
full bridge rectifier. The operating full bridge rectifier are greater than AC
frequency of the rectified wave signal of components.

Figure 5: The graphical representation of the output voltage of boost inverter.

The waveform pattern of the boosted observed that the transient voltage signals
voltage values of the boost DC/DC appeared at 0≤ t ≤ 1.20 seconds after
converter is displayed in Fig. 5 and it is which, it is stabilized at average voltage

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 Journal of Power Electronics and Devices
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value of 450VDC. This stabilized situation rise in voltage is restored back to the
continued within the time intervals of 1.20 average voltage with the aid of the PI
≤ t ≤ 4seconds .After t=4seconds, there controller at time interval of 4 ≤ t ≤
exists sudden voltage rise of 954VDC.This 5.85seconds or after 1.85seconds

Figure 6: Comparison triangular wave.

Figure7: Triggering gate signals of the inverter and two reference sine waves.

The carreir signal of peak voltage of waveforms S1 to S4 are displayed in

8.6V and the modulating wave signal of Fig. 7. The S1 to S4 are applied in firing
amplitude value of 7.4V are shown in the power IGBTs shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 while their resultant pulse

Figure 8: The stabilization pattern of the filtered. Figure 9: The stabilization pattern of the
filtered voltage output of inverter/load. current output of inverter/load.

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The Fig. 8 illustrates the behavourial 5.85seconds ) after which, the PI

charateristics of the the proposed controller restored it back to 320VAC.
system(PS). When the PS is energized,
it experiences transient state at 0 ≤ t ≤ The Fig. 9 shows the nature of how the
1.20 seconds. After this duration, the PI inverter output current of the PS
controller stabilizes it at peak to peak operates. It is noticed that it mimics the
voltage of 320VAC from the inverter corresponding voltage waveform in
output. At t = 4 seconds, it is noticed Figure 8 based on transient, instability
that there is abrupt rise in voltage due to and steady states but different in
the variation of input AC voltage. It amplitudes. At transient state, the peak
could be caused by temporary fault current is 4.30A. In the steady state, the
conditions or load variations.This maximum output current is 2.45A and at
results in changes in the output voltage sudden rise in voltage, the
signals of the inverter. This instability corresponding rise in peak current is
lasted for only 1.85 seconds (4 ≤ t ≤ 6.51A.

Figure 10: The output voltage frequency spectral characteristics of PS under resistive load
of 40 ohms.

The output voltage-frequency spectral power loss in the proposed system.

characteristics of PS is illustrated in Fig.
10 and it can be noticed that, at EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
fundamental frequency of 50Hz and the The experimental tests were carried with
voltage amplitude of 320V, the total system configuration in Figure 17 to
harmoinic distortion, THD is 3.9680 %. produce the results in Figures 11−17.
This implies the extent of reduction rate of .

Figure 11: The comparison of triangular wave and reference signals.

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 Journal of Power Electronics and Devices
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Figure12: The comparative outcomes of triangular wave and reference signals.

The Figures 11 and 12 presented the of Figure 2 that are using for firing the
experimental outcomes of oscilator circuit power switches.

Figure 13: The steady state of filtered voltage output of the proposed system.
Figure 13 illustrates the output voltage waveform of the stabilizer.

Figure14: The unstable state of filtered voltage output of stablizer due to power instability.

The Figure 14 indicates the appearance of load/appliance connected to system

the AC voltage output waveform during without PI controller, draws more current
the period of voltage input fluctuations and which may lead to the distruction of it life
load variation. Under that condition, the span. But for our proposed system, the
49 Page 42-51 © MAT Journals 2019. All Rights Reserved
 Journal of Power Electronics and Devices
Volume 5 Issue 3

voltage fluctuation are solved and keep stabilized voltage after flactuation is
constant by operation of proportonal- shown in Figure 15 while the experimental
integral controller. The diagram of the power circuit is shown in Figure 16.

Figure 15: The stabilized state of filtered voltage Figure 16: The experimental prototype
output of in at rms of 220v by PI controller. of transformer-less voltage stabilizer.

CONCLUSION “Power Electronics”, 6th ed, S Kataria

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