1,191 research outputs found
A hybrid multilevel converter for medium and high voltage applications
This paper investigates the suitability of the hybrid multilevel converter for medium and high voltage application. The converter operation, modulation, and capacitor voltage balancing method are described in detail. The ability of the hybrid multilevel converter to operate with different modulation indices and load power factors is investigated. It has been established that the hybrid multilevel converter is capable of operating independent of load power factor. Operation with variable modulation index increases voltage stresses on the converter switches and does not alter the fundamental voltage magnitude as in all known voltage source converter topologies. The viability of the hybrid multilevel converter for medium and high voltage applications is confirmed by simulations
Comparison between two VSC-HVDC transmission systems technologies : modular and neutral point clamped multilevel converter
The paper presents a detail comparison between two voltage source converter high voltage dc transmission systems, the first is based on neutral point-clamped (also known as HVDC-Light) and the second is based on innovative modular multilevel converter (known as HVDC-Plus). The comparison focuses on the reliability issues of both technologies such as fault ride-through capability and control flexibility. To address these issues, neutral point-clamped and three-level modular converters are considered in both stations of the dc transmission system, and several operating conditions are considered, including, symmetrical and asymmetrical faults. Computer simulation in Matlab-Simulink environment has been used to confirm the validity of the results
Comparison between flying capacitor and modular multilevel inverter
The paper describes the operational principle of flying capacitor and modular multilevel inverters. The detailed discussions of dc link capacitors voltage balancing methods for both inverters are given in order to enable fair comparison. The causes of dc link capacitors voltage imbalance in flying capacitor multilevel inverter with more than three levels are highlighted. Computer simulation is used to compare the performance of both inverters under several operating conditions
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 TecnologĂa DPI2001-3089Ministerio de EduaciĂłn y Ciencia d TEC2006-0386
Modified half-bridge modular multilevel converter for HVDC systems with DC fault ride-through capability
One of the main challenges of voltage source converter based HVDC systems is DC faults. In this paper, two different modified half-bridge modular multilevel converter topologies are proposed. The proposed converters offer a fault tolerant against the most severe pole-to-pole DC faults. The converter comprises three switches or two switches and 4 diodes in each cell, which can result in less cost and losses compared to the full-bridge modular multilevel converter. Converter structure and controls are presented including the converter modulation and capacitors balancing. MATLAB/SIMULINK simulations are carried out to verify converter operation in normal and faulty conditions
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
Modular multilevel converter with modified half-bridge submodule and arm filter for dc transmission systems with DC fault blocking capability
Although a modular multilevel converter (MMC) is universally accepted as a suitable converter topology for the high voltage dc transmission systems, its dc fault ride performance requires substantial improvement in order to be used in critical infrastructures such as transnational multi-terminal dc (MTDC) networks. Therefore, this paper proposes a modified submodule circuit for modular multilevel converter that offers an improved dc fault ride through performance with reduced semiconductor losses and enhanced control flexibility compared to that achievable with full-bridge submodules. The use of the proposed submodules allows MMC to retain its modularity; with semiconductor loss similar to that of the mixed submodules MMC, but higher than that of the half-bridge submodules. Besides dc fault blocking, the proposed submodule offers the possibility of controlling ac current in-feed during pole-to-pole dc short circuit fault, and this makes such submodule increasingly attractive and useful for continued operation of MTDC networks during dc faults. The aforesaid attributes are validated using simulations performed in MATLAB/SIMULINK, and substantiated experimentally using the proposed submodule topology on a 4-level small-scale MMC prototype
A survey on capacitor voltage control in neutral-point-clamped multilevel converters
Neutral-point-clamped multilevel converters are currently a suitable solution for a wide range of applications. It is well known that the capacitor voltage balance is a major issue for this topology. In this paper, a brief summary of the basic topologies, modulations, and features of neutral-point-clamped multilevel converters is presented, prior to a detailed description and analysis of the capacitor voltage balance behavior. Then, the most relevant methods to manage the capacitor voltage balance are presented and discussed, including operation in the overmodulation region, at low frequency-modulation indexes, with different numbers of AC phases, and with different numbers of levels. Both open- and closed-loop methods are discussed. Some methods based on adding external circuitry are also presented and analyzed. Although the focus of the paper is mainly DCâAC conversion, the techniques for capacitor voltage balance in DCâDC conversion are discussed as well. Finally, the paper concludes with some application examples benefiting from the presented techniques.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Feed-forward Space Vector Modulation for Single-Phase Multilevel Cascade Converters with any DC voltage ratio
Modulation techniques for multilevel converters
can create distorted output voltages and currents if the DC link
voltages are unbalanced. This situation can be avoided if the
instantaneous DC voltage error is not taken into account in the
modulation process. This paper proposes a feed-forward space
vector modulation method for a single-phase multilevel cascade
converter. Using this modulation technique, the modulated output
voltage of the power converter always generates the reference
determined by the controller even in worst case voltage unbalance
conditions. In addition the possibility of optimizing the DC
voltage ratio between the H-bridges of the power converter is
introduced. Experimental results from a 5kVA prototype are
presented in order to validate the proposed modulation technique
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