2,285 research outputs found
Multilevel Converters: An Enabling Technology for High-Power Applications
| Multilevel converters are considered today as the
state-of-the-art power-conversion systems for high-power and
power-quality demanding applications. This paper presents a
tutorial on this technology, covering the operating principle and
the different power circuit topologies, modulation methods,
technical issues and industry applications. Special attention is
given to established technology already found in industry with
more in-depth and self-contained information, while recent
advances and state-of-the-art contributions are addressed with
useful references. This paper serves as an introduction to the
subject for the not-familiarized reader, as well as an update or
reference for academics and practicing engineers working in
the field of industrial and power electronics.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología DPI2001-3089Ministerio de Eduación y Ciencia d TEC2006-0386
The Essential Role and the Continuous Evolution of Modulation Techniques for Voltage-Source Inverters in the Past, Present, and Future Power Electronics
The cost reduction of power-electronic devices, the increase in their reliability, efficiency, and power capability, and lower development times, together with more demanding application requirements, has driven the development of several new inverter topologies recently introduced in the industry, particularly medium-voltage converters. New more complex inverter topologies and new application fields come along with additional control challenges, such as voltage imbalances, power-quality issues, higher efficiency needs, and fault-tolerant operation, which necessarily requires the parallel development of modulation schemes. Therefore, recently, there have been significant advances in the field of modulation of dc/ac converters, which conceptually has been dominated during the last several decades almost exclusively by classic pulse-width modulation (PWM) methods. This paper aims to concentrate and discuss the latest developments on this exciting technology, to provide insight on where the state-of-the-art stands today, and analyze the trends and challenges driving its future
Conventional Space-Vector Modulation Techniques versus the Single-Phase Modulator for Multilevel Converters
Space-vector modulation is a well-suited technique
to be applied to multilevel converters and is an important
research focus in the last 25 years. Recently, a single-phase
multilevel modulator has been introduced showing its conceptual
simplicity and its very low computational cost. In this paper,
some of the most conventional multilevel space-vector modulation
techniques have been chosen to compare their results with those
obtained with single-phase multilevel modulators. The obtained
results demonstrate that the single-phase multilevel modulators
applied to each phase are equivalent with the chosen wellknown
multilevel space-vector modulation techniques. In this
way, single-phase multilevel modulators can be applied to a
converter with any number of levels and phases avoiding the
use of conceptually and mathematically complex space-vector
modulation strategies. Analytical calculations and experimental
results are shown validating the proposed concepts
A Control Method for Static VAR Compensator Based On Modular Multilevel Inverter
Multilevel inverters are promised to provide a better performance in high power applications such as static VAR compensators. The proposed modular inverter has advantages compared to the conventional technologies. A control system of static VAR compensator using new modular multilevel inverter is proposed in this paper. Modeling and dynamic performance of static VAR compensator based on the proposed multilevel inverter are described in this paper. The inverter switching devices are switched at the fundamental output frequency. How to control the dc capacitor voltage is described. Several simulated results are included to verify the proposed concept. Keywords: Multilevel, inverter, STATCO
An Advanced Three-Level Active Neutral-Point-Clamped Converter With Improved Fault-Tolerant Capabilities
A resilient fault-tolerant silicon carbide (SiC) three-level power converter topology is introduced based on the traditional active neutral-point-clamped converter. This novel converter topology incorporates a redundant leg to provide fault tolerance during switch open-circuit faults and short-circuit faults. Additionally, the topology is capable of maintaining full output voltage and maximum modulation index in the presence of switch open and short-circuit faults. Moreover, the redundant leg can be employed to share load current with other phase legs to balance thermal stress among semiconductor switches during normal operation. A 25-kW prototype of the novel topology was designed and constructed utilizing 1.2-kV SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors. Experimental results confirm the anticipated theoretical capabilities of this new three-level converter topology
Multilevel Converter Topologies for Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Power Systems
Renewable energy technologies have been growing in their installed capacity
rapidly over the past few years. This growth in solar, wind and other technologies is
fueled by state incentives, renewable energy mandates, increased fossil fuel prices and
environmental consciousness. Utility scale systems form a substantial portion of
electricity capacity addition in modern times. This sets the stage for research activity to
explore new efficient, compact and alternative power electronic topologies to integrate
sources like photovoltaics (PV) to the utility grid, some of which are multilevel
topologies.
Multilevel topologies allow for use of lower voltage semiconductor devices than
two-level converters. They also produce lower distortion output voltage waveforms. This
dissertation proposes a cascaded multilevel converter with medium frequency AC link
which reduces the size of DC bus capacitor and also eliminates power imbalance
between the three phases. A control strategy which modulates the output voltage
magnitude and phase angle of the inverter cells is proposed. This improves differential
power processing amongst cells while keeping the voltage and current ratings of the
devices low.
A battery energy storage system for the multilevel PV converter has also been
proposed. Renewable technologies such as PV and wind suffer from varying degrees of
intermittency, depending on the geographical location. With increased installation of
these sources, management of intermittency is critical to the stability of the grid. The
proposed battery system is rated at 10% of the plant it is designed to support. Energy is stored and extracted by means of a bidirectional DC-DC converter connected to the PV DC bus. Different battery chemistries available for this application are also discussed.
In this dissertation, the analyses of common mode voltages and currents in various PV topologies are detailed. The grid integration of PV power employs a combination of pulse width modulation (PWM) DC-DC converters and inverters. Due to their fast switching nature a common mode voltage is generated with respect to the ground, inducing a circulating current through the ground capacitance. Common mode voltages lead to increased voltage stress, electromagnetic interference and malfunctioning of ground fault protection systems. Common mode voltages and currents present in high and low power PV systems are analyzed and mitigation strategies such as common mode filter and transformer shielding are proposed to minimize them
Power Quality Improvement Wind Energy System Using Cascaded Multilevel Inverter
In this paper, a wind energy conversion system based on a cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter (CHBMLI) topology has been proposed to be used for the grid interface of large split winding alternators (SWAs). A new method has been suggested for the generation of reference currents for the voltage source inverter (VSI) depending upon the available wind power. The CHBMLI has been used as a VSI and operated in a current control mode order to achieve the objectives of real power injection and load compensation (power factor correction, load balancing, and harmonic compensation) based on the proposed reference generation scheme. In the field excitation control of SWA provides a single means vary the dc link voltages of all the CHBs simultaneously and proportionatel
The Age of Multilevel Converters Arrives
This work is devoted to review and analyze the most relevant characteristics of multilevel converters, to motivate possible solutions, and to show that we are in a decisive instant in which energy companies have to bet on these converters as a good solution compared with classic two-level converters. This article presents a brief overview of the actual applications of multilevel converters and provides an introduction of the modeling techniques and the most common modulation strategies. It also addresses the operational and technological issues
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