267 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
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
Multilevel Multiphase Feedforward Space-Vector Modulation Technique
Multiphase converters have been applied to an increasing number of industrial applications in recent years. On the other hand, multilevel converters have become a mature technology mainly in medium- and high-power applications. One of the problems of multilevel converters is the dc voltage unbalance of the dc bus. Depending on the loading conditions and the number of levels of the converter, oscillations appear in the dc voltages of the dc link. This paper presents a feedforward modulation technique for multilevel multiphase converters that reduces the distortion under balanced or unbalanced dc conditions. The proposed modulation method can be applied to any multilevel-converter topology with any number of levels and phases. Experimental results are shown in order to validate the proposed feedforward modulation technique.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación DPI2009-07004Ministerio de Eduación y Ciencia TEC2007-6187
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 DC–AC conversion, the techniques for capacitor voltage balance in DC–DC conversion are discussed as well. Finally, the paper concludes with some application examples benefiting from the presented techniques.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Comparative Analysis of Multilevel Converters for Medium-Voltage Applications
The electric energy demand has been steadily growing during the last century, and all forecasts indicate that it will keep growing in the following years. Within this frame, and due to all the problems that this demand increase generate in the environment, it is necessary improving the current techniques of electric energy conversion and transmission in order to increase the whole system efficiency. On the other hand, it is also necessary increasing the renewable energy resources exploitation through more efficient generation systems.
According to these lines, the power electronics systems that have been installed in the last decades allowed to obtain better efficiency from the renewable natural resources like the wind or the solar power. These systems have also notably improved the quality of the power supplied, reducing the losses through what are known as power quality applications.
Power converters are currently essential in any power electronics system. Within them, the multilevel converters specially suppose a breakthrough compared with the classical two level converters, as they allow obtaining voltage and current signals with lower harmonic content, what means fewer losses in high power medium voltage applications.
In this Thesis a comparative study of some multilevel converter topologies normally used in high power medium voltage applications is done. The objective is analyzing in detail each topology and comparing it with the rest following different criteria, with the aim to know the advantages and drawbacks of each one and to realize which one is more suitable for each application
Pulsewidth modulations for the comprehensive capacitor voltage balance of n-level three-leg diode-clamped converters
In the previous literature, the introduction of the virtual-space-vector (VV) concept for the three-level, three-leg neutral-point-clamped converter has led to the definition of pulsewidth modulation (PWM) strategies, guaranteeing a dc-link capacitor voltage balance in every switching cycle under any type of load, with the only requirement being that the addition of the three phase currents equals zero. This paper presents the definition of the VVs for the general case of an n-level converter, suggests
guidelines for designing VV PWM strategies, and provides the expressions of the leg duty-ratio waveforms corresponding to this
family of PWMs for an easy implementation.Modulations defined upon these vectors enable the use of diode-clamped topologies with passive front-ends. The performance of these converters operated
with the proposed PWMs is compared to the performance of alternative designs through analysis, simulation, and experiments.Postprint (published version
Contributions to Modulation and Control Algorithms for Multilevel Converters
Las actuales tendencias de la red eléctrica han lanzado a la industria a la búsqueda de sistemas de generación, distribución y consumo de energía eléctrica más eficientes. Generación distribuida, reducción de componentes pasivos, líneas DC de alta tensión son, entre otras, las posibles líneas de investigación que están actualmente siendo consideradas como el futuro de la red eléctrica. Sin embargo, nada de esto sería posible si no fuera por los avances alcanzados en el campo de la electrónica de potencia.
El trabajo aquí presentado comienza con una breve introducción a la electrónica de potencia, concretamente a los convertidores de potencia conectados a red, sus estrategias de control más comunes y enfoques ante redes desbalanceadas. A continuación, las contribuciones del autor sobre el control y modulación de una topología particular de convertidores, conocidos como convertidores multinivel, se presentan como el principal contenido de este trabajo. Este tipo de convertidores mejoran la eficiencia y ciertas prestaciones, en comparación con convertidores más tradicionales, a costa de una mayor complejidad en el control al incrementar la cantidad de los componentes hardware.
A pesar de que existen numerosas topologías de convertidores multinivel y algunas de ellas son brevemente expuestas en este trabajo, la mayoría de las aportaciones están enfocadas para convertidores del tipo diode-clamped converter. Adicionalmente, se incluye una aportación para convertidores del tipo multinivel modular, y otra para convertidores en cascada.
Se espera que el contenido de la introducción de este trabajo, junto a las contribuciones particulares para convertidores multinivel sirva de inspiración para futuros investigadores del campo
Advanced control of grid-connected multilevel power electronic rectifiers
Multilevel power electronic converters have been gaining attention due to their ability to supply high amounts of power and to handle high voltage levels. In this dissertation, grid connected AC-DC rectifier application is investigated with different topologies and control scheme.
At first, neutral point clamped (NPC) rectifier is employed to transfer power from the grid to the load. The NPC rectifier has two capacitors in order to build multilevel output voltage. However, it causes voltage unbalancing problem. Therefore, the new method has been proposed to regulate each capacitor voltage at the same voltage level. Experimental results show that it is effective to balance capacitor voltages of the NPC and it can improve total harmonic distortion (THD) of the grid current as a result.
Furthermore, 7 voltage levels can be achieved by using hybrid multilevel rectifier which consists of an NPC and cascaded H-bridges (CHB). Because the hybrid multilevel rectifier has total 8 capacitors which are completely discharged at first, large inrush currents from the grid might cause hazards. Therefore, the paper develops a pre-charge routine for building it up to steady state operation in which unity power factor control (PFC) and load voltage control are achieved.
Finally, multiple reference frame theory (MRF) is used to improve THD of the grid currents when the hybrid multilevel rectifier is connected with distorted grid voltage source. After calculating 5th harmonic of the grid current in real time, the voltage reference for the hybrid multilevel rectifier will be compensated in a feedback loop. Experimental results show validity in improving THD of the grid currents. --Abstract, page iv
A Generalized Predictive Controlled T-type power inverter with a deterministic dc-link capacitor voltage balancing approach
The thesis consists of implementing a Generalized Predictive Control (GPC)
strategy for controlling the output voltage of the T-type converter with output LC
filter, whose control signals are modulated by a fast three-dimensional Space Vector
Modulation (SVM). The GPC strategy used for the T-type converter involves
developing a system of dynamic equations from the output LC filter and load, which
is transformed to a Controlled Auto-Regressive and Moving-Average (CARIMA)
model in order to obtain a sequence of control signals, so that a cost function is
optimized and the reference is tracked.
The core of the thesis addresses the main problem of dc-link capacitor balancing.
This is done by modeling the converter and deploying a mathematical analysis of the
capacitor voltage difference dynamics, by singular perturbation approach. This
analysis results in an explicit sinusoidal disturbance. Now, classical control theory is
applied by using a Luenberger Observer (LO) in order to estimate the disturbance and
encounter it, thereby keeping the dc-link capacitor voltage balanced in the due flow of
the modulation and output voltage control. By this method, the output voltage across
the filter capacitor is controlled, the dc-link capacitor voltage is balanced and the lowfrequency
voltage ripples present in the dc-link of the T-type converter are reduced to
an acceptable level.Máster en Electrónica, Tratamiento de Señal y Comunicacione
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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