A Review on Control Strategies and Topologies of Multi Level Converter System

In recent decades, high-performance and medium voltage energy management for academia and industry have been attracted by multi-level converter topologies. In addition, the multi-level principle is used without decreasing the inverter power output to synthesise the harmonic distortion on the output waveform. For the reduction of harmonic distortion in the output waveform, the multi-level principle is used. The following topologies are presented: diode clamped inverters (neutral point clamped), condenser clamped (flying condenser), multi-level cascading (dc source, etc.) and the most effective modulation methods built for this converter category: multi-level, selective harmonic removal and space m vectors. A series of different topologies are given in this paper. Multi-level inverters have been gaining popularity in research teams and in the production of industrial applications for high and medium voltage applications for 20 years. Moreover, compared to a conventional converter, multi-level inverters can generate switched waveforms with reduced harmonic slopes. Recently, multi-level inverters have increased interest in their ability to generate high-quality wave forms at lower frequencies; the multi-level topology used in dynamic restaurant voltages reduces the harmonic distortion of the inverter output waveform without inverter output losses. By integrating control techniques for multi-level inverters, this paper discusses the most common topologies, making their implementations flexible in some power applications in many industrial areas

Open-circuit fault resilient ability multi level inverter with reduced switch count for off grid applications

In a multi-level inverter (MLI), the switching component number effect on volume and reliability is a major concern in on-grid and off-grid applications. The recent trend in MLI, reduced component number of power switches, and capacitors in multi-level inverter topologies have been driven for power conversion. The concept of fault tolerance is not considered in many such configurations; due to this the reliability of the MLI is very low. So now it is a major research concern, to develop a strong fault resilient ability power electronic converter. In this work, a novel configuration of a multilevel inverter with a lower switch count is proposed and analyzed with fault tolerance operation for improvement of reliability. Generally, the fault-tolerant operation is analyzed in only any one of the switches in MLI. But the proposed topology is concerned with multiple switch fault tolerance. Further, the phase disposition pulse width modulation (PDPWM) control scheme is utilized for the operation of the proposed inverter topology. The proposed inverter topology is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink environment under normal and faulty condition; the results are obtained and validated

Sizing Power Components of an Electrically Driven Tail Cone Thruster and a Range Extender

The aeronautics industry has been challenged on many fronts to increase efficiency, reduce emissions, and decrease dependency on carbon-based fuels. This paper provides an overview of the turboelectric and hybrid electric technologies being developed under NASA's Advanced Air Transportation Technology (AATT) Project and discusses how these technologies can impact vehicle design. The discussion includes an overview of key hybrid electric studies and technology investments, the approach to making informed investment decisions based on key performance parameters and mission studies, and the power system architectures for two candidate aircraft. Finally, the power components for a single-aisle turboelectric aircraft with an electrically driven tail cone thruster and for a hybrid-electric nine-passenger aircraft with a range extender are parametrically sized, and the sensitivity of these components to key parameters is presented

Analysis of the Harmonic Performance of Power Converters and Electrical Drives

Power converters have progressively become the most efficient and attractive solution in recent decades in many industrial sectors, ranging from electric mobility, aerospace applications to attain better electric aircraft concepts, vast renewable energy resource integration in the transmission and distribution grid, the design of smart and efficient energy management systems, the usage of energy storage systems, and the achievement of smart grid paradigm development, among others.In order to achieve efficient solutions in this wide energy scenario, over the past few decades, considerable attention has been paid by the academia and industry in order to develop new methods to achieve power systems with maximum harmonic performance aiming for two main targets. On the one hand, the high-performance harmonic performance of power systems would lead to improvements in their power density, size and weight. This becomes critical in applications such as aerospace or electric mobility, where the power converters are on-board systems. On the other hand, current standards are becoming more and more strict in order to reduce the EMI and EMC noise, as well as meeting minimum power quality requirements (i.e., grid code standards for grid-tied power systems)

Design, Optimization and Implementation of a High Frequency Link Multilevel Cascaded Inverter

This thesis presents a new concept of cascaded MLI (CMLI) device reduction by utilizing low and high frequency transformer link. Two CMLI topologies, symmetric and asymmetric are proposed. Compared with counterpart CMLI topologies available in the literatures, the proposed two inverter topologies in this thesis have the advantages of utilizing least number of electronic components without compromising overall performance particularly when a high number of levels is required in the output voltage waveform

Advanced single permanent magnet axipolar ironless stator ac motor for electric passenger vehicles

A program was conducted to design and develop an advanced-concept motor specifically created for propulsion of electric vehicles with increased range, reduced energy consumption, and reduced life-cycle costs in comparison with conventional systems. The motor developed is a brushless, dc, rare-earth cobalt, permanent magnet, axial air gap inductor machine that uses an ironless stator. Air cooling is inherent provided by the centrifugal-fan action of the rotor poles. An extensive design phase was conducted, which included analysis of the system performance versus the SAE J227a(D) driving cycle. A proof-of-principle model was developed and tested, and a functional model was developed and tested. Full generator-level testing was conducted on the functional model, recording electromagnetic, thermal, aerodynamic, and acoustic noise data. The machine demonstrated 20.3 kW output at 1466 rad/s and 160 dc. The novel ironless stator demonstated the capability to continuously operate at peak current. The projected system performance based on the use of a transistor inverter is 23.6 kW output power at 1466 rad/s and 83.3 percent efficiency. Design areas of concern regarding electric vehicle applications include the inherently high windage loss and rotor inertia

Advances in Rotating Electric Machines

It is difficult to imagine a modern society without rotating electric machines. Their use has been increasing not only in the traditional fields of application but also in more contemporary fields, including renewable energy conversion systems, electric aircraft, aerospace, electric vehicles, unmanned propulsion systems, robotics, etc. This has contributed to advances in the materials, design methodologies, modeling tools, and manufacturing processes of current electric machines, which are characterized by high compactness, low weight, high power density, high torque density, and high reliability. On the other hand, the growing use of electric machines and drives in more critical applications has pushed forward the research in the area of condition monitoring and fault tolerance, leading to the development of more reliable diagnostic techniques and more fault-tolerant machines. This book presents and disseminates the most recent advances related to the theory, design, modeling, application, control, and condition monitoring of all types of rotating electric machines

High frequency inverter-transformer-cycloconverter system for DC to AC (3-phase) power conversion

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This thesis is concerned with a 3-phase multistage high frequency link DC to AC power conversion with a novel inverter-cycloconverter circuitry. The conversion system is composed of a high frequency PWM inverter, step-up high frequency transformer and cycloconverter with bidirectional switching devices. In first stage the DC voltage of the power source , say a submarine battery, is inverted to a system of 3-phase sinusoidally modulated I kHz alternative wave forms. For this purpose a suggested optimized PWM technique for 3-phase inverter operation is adopted, in which harmonic components up to 17 th ( 17 kHz) are eliminated from the inverter output voltages. In the second stage, for DC input isolation from AC output and also for a voltage transformation ( here stepping-up )a high frequency ( size reduced ) transformer is employed. Generalized high frequency operation, influence and side effects of the transformer on overall system design & performance is investigated. In the final stage the 1 kHz -to- 50 Hz conversion process is accomplished by a 3-phase cycloconverter. The proposed "nonlinear modulation strategy" for cycloconverter output voltage and associated harmonic analysis is demonstrated, in which the harmonic components up to 38th (1.9 kHz ) are eliminated from the conversion system output voltage. To assess the suggested functioning principles for the inverter & cycloconverter , the prototype conversion system was developed. Some design criteria and switching device selection are presented, together with different voltage & current wave forms of the prototype system under resistive & inductive load (induction motor) and their respective spectra

Gate-Turn-Off thyristor commutation of DC machines : The development of a rotating DC machine with static commutation of armature coil current using Gate-Turn-Off thyristor devices.

The thesis Is concerned with the development of a separately excited DC machine In which gate turn-off thyristor devices with their associated firing and protective circuits are used to provide the static commutation of armature coil current. The developed machine has Its armature winding with 24 tapping points located on the stator and Interconnected In "Lop" configuration. The Initiation of the conduction periods of armature switching devices Is defined by a digital control logic circuit. In conjunction with an Incremental rotary encoder which provides the necessary feedback Information relating to shaft speed and shaft angular position. This Is arranged such that, under normal running conditions of the machine, the axis of the radial field of the armature winding maintains the normal space-quadrature relationship with that of the main field winding, giving the optimal torque angle of 000. Provision Is made, however, within the digital control circuit for controlled departure of the armature switch tapping points from the quadrature axis positions, and the effect of this, In Improving commutation Is Investigated. The effect of Interpoles Is also explored. On the basis of the analysis carried out, a proposal Is made for the future development of the machine employing a reduced number of armature switching devices without the need for Interpole windings.Electricity Directorate, Ministry of Works, Power and Water, Manama, Bahrain

Advanced power converters for railway traction systems

This thesis presents a new traction drive suitable for fuel-cell powered light rail vehicles based on a multilevel cascade converter with full-bridge cells. The converter provides dc-ac power conversion in a single stage, while compensating for the variation of fuel cell terminal voltage with load power. The proposed converter can replace the conventional combination of dc-dc converter, as it benefits from having a multilevel ac voltage waveform and much smaller power inductors, compared to conventional solutions. The converter numerical and analytical models are derived showing that the converter can be modelled as a cascaded boost converter and 3-phase inverter. The design methodology for the energy storage capacitors and power inductors is presented, showing that inductance is reduced at a quadratic rate with the addition of more sub-modules, while total converter capacitance remains constant. A simulation of a full-scale traction drive in a fuel cell tram demonstrates that the proposed converter is a viable solution for light rail applications. The concept of a boost modular cascaded converter is fully validated through a bespoke laboratory prototype driving a small induction machine. The experimental inverter achieves operation from standstill, with full motor torque, to field weakening with constant power, boosting a 50V dc supply to 200V peak line-to-line voltage