Voltage-Oriented Control (VOC) for Clean PWM Rectifiers in Power Distribution Grids

The increasing demand for efficient and clean power distribution has made power quality a critical concern in modern electrical systems. Among the main challenges affecting power quality, harmonic pollution caused by nonlinear loads—particularly static converters such as rectifiers—plays a significant role in distorting voltage waveforms and degrading system performance. Traditional diode-based rectifiers, despite their simplicity and low cost, suffer from unidirectional power flow, poor power factor, and high current harmonic distortion. To address these limitations, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) rectifiers have emerged as a superior alternative, offering bidirectional power transfer, near-unity power factor, and reduced harmonic distortion. However, their performance heavily depends on the control strategy employed. This paper investigates Voltage-Oriented Control (VOC), a high-performance control technique that ensures precise current regulation and enhanced dynamic response. The study evaluates the effectiveness of VOC in minimizing harmonic pollution and improving power quality in electrical distribution networks. Through simulation and analysis, the proposed control strategy demonstrates significant improvements in reducing total harmonic distortion (THD) and maintaining stable DC bus voltage. The results highlight VOC as a robust solution for enhancing the efficiency and reliability of PWM rectifiers in modern power systems.