Model Predictive Controlled Active NPC Inverter for Voltage Stress Balancing among the Semiconductor Power Switches

© Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd. This paper presents a model predictive controlled three-level three-phase active neutral-point-clamped (ANPC) inverter for distributing the voltage stress among the semiconductor power switches as well as balancing the neutral-point voltage. The model predictive control (MPC) concept uses the discrete variables and effectively operates the ANPC inverter by avoiding any linear controller or modulation techniques. A 4.0 kW three-level three-phase ANPC inverter is developed in the MATLAB/Simulink environment to verify the effectiveness of the proposed MPC scheme. The results confirm that the proposed model predictive controlled ANPC inverter equally distributes the voltage across all the semiconductor power switches and provides lowest THD (0.99%) compared with the traditional NPC inverter. Moreover, the neutral-point voltage balancing is accurately maintained by the proposed MPC algorithm. Furthermore, this MPC concept shows the robustness capability against the parameter uncertainties of the system which is also analyzed by MATLAB/Simulink

Energy storage systems and power conversion electronics for e-transportation and smart grid

The special issue “Energy Storage Systems and Power Conversion Electronics for E-Transportation and Smart Grid” on MDPI Energies presents 20 accepted papers, with authors from North and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa, related to the emerging trends in energy storage and power conversion electronic circuits and systems, with a specific focus on transportation electrification and on the evolution of the electric grid to a smart grid. An extensive exploitation of renewable energy sources is foreseen for smart grid as well as a close integration with the energy storage and recharging systems of the electrified transportation era. Innovations at both algorithmic and hardware (i.e., power converters, electric drives, electronic control units (ECU), energy storage modules and charging stations) levels are proposed

Addressing Instability Issues in Microgrids Caused By Constant Power Loads Using Energy Storage Systems

Renewable energy sources, the most reasonable fuel-shift taken over the naturally limited conventional fuels, necessarily deal with the self-functional microgrid system rather than the traditional grid distribution system. The study shows that the microgrid system, a comparatively low-powered system, experiences the challenge of instability due to the constant power load (CPL) from many electronic devices such as inverter-based systems. In this dissertation, as a methodical approach to mitigate the instability complication, AC microgrid stability is thoroughly investigated for each and every considerable parameter of the system. Furthermore, a specific loading limit is depicted by evaluating the stability margin from the small signal analysis of the microgrid scheme. After demonstrating all cases regarding the instability problem, the storage-based virtual impedance power compensation method is introduced to restore the system stability and literally extend the loading limit of the microgrid system. Here, a PID controller is implemented to maintain the constant terminal voltage of CPL via current injection method from storage. Since the system is highly nonlinear by nature, advanced nonlinear control techniques, such as Sliding Mode Control and Lyapunov Redesign Control technique, are implemented to control the entire nonlinear system. Robustness, noise rejection, and frequency variation are scrutinized rigorously in a virtual platform such as Matlab/Simulink with appreciable aftermaths. After that, a comparative analysis is presented between SMC and LRC controller robustness by varying CPL power. From this analysis, it is evident that Lyapunov redesign controller performs better than the previous one in retaining microgrid stability for dense CPL-loaded conditions. Finally, to ensure a robust storage system, Hybrid Energy Storage System is introduced and its advantages are discussed as extended research work

Power Converters in Power Electronics

In recent years, power converters have played an important role in power electronics technology for different applications, such as renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, pulsed power generation, and biomedical sciences. Power converters, in the realm of power electronics, are becoming essential for generating electrical power energy in various ways. This Special Issue focuses on the development of novel power converter topologies in power electronics. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to: Z-source converters; multilevel power converter topologies; switched-capacitor-based power converters; power converters for battery management systems; power converters in wireless power transfer techniques; the reliability of power conversion systems; and modulation techniques for advanced power converters

A review of compensation topologies and control techniques of bidirectional wireless power transfer systems for electric vehicle applications

Owing to the constantly rising energy demand, Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-equipped vehicles are being replaced by Electric Vehicles (EVs). The other advantage of using EVs is that the batteries can be utilised as an energy storage device to increase the penetration of renewable energy sources. Integrating EVs with the grid is one of the recent advancements in EVs using Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology. A bidirectional technique enables power transfer between the grid and the EV batteries. Moreover, the Bidirectional Wireless Power Transfer (BWPT) method can support consumers in automating the power transfer process without human intervention. However, an effective BWPT requires a proper vehicle and grid coordination with reasonable control and compensation networks. Various compensation techniques have been proposed in the literature, both on the transmitter and receiver sides. Selecting suitable compensation techniques is a critical task affecting the various design parameters. In this study, the basic compensation topologies of the Series-Series (SS), Series-Parallel (SP), Parallel-Parallel (PP), Parallel-Series (SP), and hybrid compensation topology design requirements are investigated. In addition, the typical control techniques for bidirectional converters, such as Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID), sliding mode, fuzzy logic control, model predictive, and digital control, are discussed. In addition, different switching modulation schemes, including Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) control, PWM + Phase Shift control, Single-Phase Shift, Dual-Phase Shift, and Triple-Phase Shift methods, are discussed. The characteristics and control strategies of each are presented, concerning the typical applications. Based on the review analysis, the low-power (Level 1/Level 2) charging applications demand a simple SS compensation topology with a PID controller and a Single-Phase Shift switching method. However, for the medium- or high-power applications (Level 3/Level 4), the dual-side LCC compensation with an advanced controller and a Dual-Side Phase-Shift switching pattern is recommended.Web of Science1520art. no. 781

Robust control strategies for hybrid solid oxide fuel cell systems

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems are electrochemical energy conversion devices characterized by the use of solid oxide as the electrolyte. They operate at high temperatures (between 800± ¡ 1000±C). Mitigating fuel starvation and improving load-following capability of SOFCs are conflicting control objectives. In this thesis, this issue is addressed using a hybrid SOFC ultra-capacitor configuration. The fuel cell is controlled by incorporating a steady-state property of fuel utilization into an input-shaping framework. Two comprehensive control strategies are developed. The first is a Lyapunov-based nonlinear control and the second is a standard H-infinity robust control. Both strategies additionally control the state of charge (SOC) of the ultra-capacitor that provides transient power compensation. A hardware-in-the-loop test-stand is developed where the proposed control strategies are verified. An investigation to improve the hybrid fuel cell system by incorporating a lithium-ion battery as an additional power source is conducted. Combining both battery and ultra-capacitor with a fuel cell is potentially a winning combination especially for high power applications. A novel SOC estimation method for lithium-ion battery is investigated. Based on the combined ultra-capacitor battery hybrid system, a lyapunov-Based nonlinear control strategy is designed