STATCOM Switching Technique Based on a Finite-State Machine^†

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The topic of the article is very current and has significant practical benefits.

Organized, well-edited work. 

Although the higher THD level shown in Figure 12 is significantly worse compared to the other controls, it still remains in the acceptable range.

The following text can be read in the article. It would be worthwhile to deal with the asymmetry between the phases in more detail. What exactly can cause this significant difference? Would it be possible to make the phases more symmetrical by modifying the control?

"The results obtained for VRMS and THD are shown in Figures 10 and 11, respectively, for each phase of the load output voltage (R, S, T). The distortion depends on the phase, as indicated in Figure 11. The phases are affected by the non-lineal performance of the switching technique in a non-equivalent way."

 

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This manuscript proposed a space vector modulation for three-phase two-level voltage source converters applied as STATTOM. This topic is interesting and relevant. 

1. The paper is based on simulation results. 

2. The figures must be improved. 

3. The mathematical analysis was well developed. 

4. Missing a comparison with other modulation strategies. I suggest a simple carried-based modulation and a  different space vector modulation, to compare with the proposal. 

5. I suggest including in the modulations comparisons, at least, the following criteria: THD, efficiency, and number of switching per ac voltage cycle.

6. Include results related to the processing time, and implementing different modulations in the same DSP or microcontroller.

7. To publish the paper, experimental results are mandatory, once the paper content is based on specific features, like the used processor, etc. 

8.      The authors cited the following advantages: "switching technique can be easily implemented in low-cost microprocessors with reduced memory and computational resources". To conclude it the experimental results are mandatory. 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

In this paper, authors proposed a simple method to generate PWM signals for a STATCOM. However, this paper is very similar to Ref [17], authors past conference paper. As their mentioned in the Introduction:

“In [17], we identified the states and transitions to describe a FSM (Finite-State Machine) for the switching control of a VSC. The main advantage provided by this control technique is its capability to be implemented in low-cost microprocessors. This promotes the reduction of costs in low-power renewable installations, such as those oriented for self-consumption. The simplification also helps reducing the complexity of monitoring the converters. In addition to the simplification that this method provides, the proposal is able to maintain similar harmonic distortion than conventional methods such as PWM and SVM. The present paper extends our previous work, with the analysis of the filter and a comprehensive analysis of the performance provided by the proposed switching technique. ”

It is clear that, the idea and the main topic of the paper is the same with Ref. 17. This paper only extends the analysis of the filter, actually it is not really related to the switching signals generation, and comprehensive analysis of the performance of the proposed method. From point of the reviewer, this contribution is not enough to accept a journal paper. Authors should provide more valuable contributions such experimental validation of the method etc.

In addition, the similarity index of the paper is too high (32%, ithenticate), and similarity ratio to the Ref. 17 is 20% which extremely high.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper was really improved from de first version. Experimental results were included and additional explanations helped to improve the paper. However, extensive grammar revision and editing must be provided. 

Best regards 

 

 

Author Response

As recommended by the reviewer, we have revised the complete text to correct some typos and improve editing.

Reviewer 3 Report

Authors added experimental validation of the proposed method, and this has increased the contribution of the paper. It is now offering something new than Ref.[17].

However, according to Ithenticate similarity report, the similarity between this paper and Ref.[17] is 16%, and it is too high. Authors should decrease it to a reasonable level (such 6%).

Author Response

Thank you for appreciating the contribution of this work.

To cope with the similary index, we have followed the recommendation provided by the editorial. Specifically, we have included a mark on the title to make it clear that this paper is an extension of another published in IEEE.