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

Asymmetric multilevel topology for photovoltaic energy injection to microgrids

The massive penetration of renewable energy sources in the utility grid has emerged as the solution to obtain clean energy in modern electric systems, which are gradually replacing their generators that produce CO2 emissions to achieve a sustainable growing. Power electronics is quite relevant in the deep penetration of renewable energy, because the use of such equipment is mandatory to integrate these new resources with the existing facilities. In order to reach higher power ranges, multilevel topologies are the state-of-the-art solution, due to the limited rating of the actual semiconductor devices. Furthermore, latest trends show that asymmetric multilevel configurations are an attractive technology to connect directly the power converters to the grid. This paper analyze the photovoltaic energy injection to microgrids using a hybrid approach that mixes the existing topologies: string, multistring and central inverter to implement an asymmetric structure that generate highly sinusoidal resulting waveforms. This document includes a simple analysis of the proposed configuration and highlights the advantages of using an asymmetric converter, supported with stationary and dynamic simulated results

Design and control of a multicell interleaved converter for a hybrid photovoltaic-wind generation system

The solution for the generating energy derived from non-polluting sources configures a worldwide problem, which is undetermined, complex, and gradual; and certainly, passes through the diversification of the energetic matrix. Diversification means not only having different sources converted into useful energy, like the electricity, but also decentralizing the energy generation in order to fit with higher adequacy the demand, which is decentralized too. Distributed Generation proposes this sort of development but in order to increase its penetration several technical barriers must be overpassed. One of them is related to the conversion systems, which must be more flexible, modular, efficient and compatible with the different energy sources, since they are very specific for a certain area. The present study drives its efforts towards this direction, i.e. having a system with several inputs for combining different renewable energy sources into a single and efficient power converter for the grid connection. It focuses on the design and control of an 11.7 kW hybrid renewable generation system, which contains two parallel circuits of photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine. A multicell converter divided in two stages accomplishes the convertion: Generation Side Converter (GSC) and Mains Side Converter (MSC). Two boost converters responsible for the photovoltaic generation and a rectifier and a third boost, for the wind constitue the GSC. It allows the conversion to the fixed output DC voltage, controlling individually and performing the maximum power point tracking in each input. On the other side, the single-phase 4- cell MSC accomplishes the connection to the grid through an LCL filter. This filter uses an Intercell Transformer (ICT) in the first inductor for reducing the individual ripple generated by the swicthing. The MSC controls the DC-link voltage and, by doing that, it allows the power flow from the generation elements to the network

New Modulation Technique to Mitigate Common Mode Voltage Effects in Star-Connected Five-Phase AC Drives

Star-connected multiphase AC drives are being considered for electromovility applications such as electromechanical actuators (EMA), where high power density and fault tolerance is demanded. As for three-phase systems, common-mode voltage (CMV) is an issue for multiphase drives. CMV leads to shaft voltages between rotor and stator windings, generating bearing currents which accelerate bearing degradation and produce high electromagnetic interferences (EMI). CMV effects can be mitigated by using appropriate modulation techniques. Thus, this work proposes a new Hybrid PWM algorithm that effectively reduces CMV in five-phase AC electric drives, improving their reliability. All the mathematical background required to understand the proposal, i.e., vector transformations, vector sequences and calculation of analytical expressions for duty cycle determination are detailed. Additionally, practical details that simplify the implementation of the proposal in an FPGA are also included. This technique, HAZSL5M5-PWM, extends the linear range of the AZSL5M5-PWM modulation, providing a full linear range. Simulation results obtained in an accurate multiphase EMA model are provided, showing the validity of the proposed modulation approach.This work has been supported in part by the Government of the Basque Country within the fund for research groups of the Basque University system IT978-16 and in part by the Government of the Basque Country within the research program ELKARTEK as the project ENSOL (KK-2018/00040)

Improving energy capture and power quality of power electronic connected generation

Power electronic converter is a significant intermediate media for electric renewable energy systems when integrated into the utility grid. Renewable energy systems such as wind, solar and wave energy systems usually operate with irregular natural energy sources. Advanced energy conversion interfaces are therefore highly desirable for stable power supply, good system reliability and high energy extraction efficiency. This thesis investigates the power generation and conversion systems, with the concentrations on the long-term operation cost, full-power-range efficiency and power quality of power electronic converters, for wind, solar and wave energy applications. The story starts with a hybrid wind-solar energy system design targeting at improving energy yield and system reliability. Wind energy and solar energy, as two complementary energy resources, are combined in a single energy system that features improved energy supply stability and reduced energy storage requirement. Special adaptive energy extraction maximisation algorithms are developed for energy generators in order to increase the energy extraction efficiency. The overall energy cogeneration system can offer high productivity and robustness under varying weather conditions. In the second part of this thesis, a bidirectional DC-AC converter based on the well-established Silicon (Si) based two-level circuit and the emerging Silicon Carbide (SiC) based three-level circuit is investigated, with the motivation to enhance the full-power-range efficiency in renewable energy generation and conversion systems. The SiC based circuit is advantageous especially under low-power conditions due to its low switching losses. The costs of power electronics, especially the power semiconductor devices, are taken into account. The Si based circuit provides a more cost-effective option and lower conduction losses under high-power conditions to further improve the overall energy conversion efficiency. All these benefits are integrated in a single converter called hybrid level-matching (HLM) converter, which is comprised of parallel-connected SiC and Si based circuits. A model predictive control (MPC) algorithm is developed to assist the switching state selection for minimised power losses across the full power range. The proposed HLM converter shows similar power control quality and better full-power-range efficiency compared to its conventional counterparts. The operation of the HLM converter under the proposed MPC controller is experimentally verified by a lab-scale demonstrator. The final part of this thesis focuses on the control of an existing flying capacitor based multilevel converter known as stacked multicell converter (SMC). Considered as a superior DC-AC converter candidate in renewable energy standalone load applications, SMC can be controlled under different capacitor voltage ratios to increase the output voltage resolution. This is studied to explore the potential to improve power control quality within the same SMC circuit by applying different capacitor voltage set-points. The capacitor voltage balancing and the basic three-phase current control are achieved by means of a space vector based MPC algorithm. A method to reduce the computational burden by shrinking the space vector candidate size is proposed. The trade-off between capacitor voltage balancing and current reference tracking poses a major challenge to the SMC in its flexibility in capacitor voltage ratio choice. This is investigated in detail to verify the feasibility to reduce load harmonic distortion by modifying the traditional capacitor voltage ratio in a SMC with three stacked cells

MODELING AND CONTROL OF DIRECT-CONVERSION HYBRID SWITCHED-CAPACITOR DC-DC CONVERTERS

Efficient power delivery is increasingly important in modern computing, communications, consumer and other electronic systems, due to the high power demand and thermal concerns accompanied by performance advancements and tight packaging. In pursuit of high efficiency, small physical volume, and flexible regulation, hybrid switched-capacitor topologies have emerged as promising candidates for such applications. By incorporating both capacitors and inductors as energy storage elements, hybrid topologies achieve high power density while still maintaining soft charging and efficient regulation characteristics. However, challenges exist in the hybrid approach. In terms of reliability, each flying capacitor should be maintained at a nominal `balanced\u27 voltage for robust operation (especially during transients and startup), complicating the control system design. In terms of implementation, switching devices in hybrid converters often need complex gate driving circuits which add cost, area, and power consumption. This dissertation explores techniques that help to mitigate the aforementioned challenges. A discrete-time state space model is derived by treating the hybrid converter as two subsystems, the switched-capacitor stage and the output filter stage. This model is then used to design an estimator that extracts all flying capacitor voltages from the measurement of a single node. The controllability and observability of the switched-capacitor stage reveal the fundamental cause of imbalance at certain conversion ratios. A new switching sequence, the modified phase-shifted pulse width modulation, is developed to enable natural balance in originally imbalanced scenarios. Based on the model, a novel control algorithm, constant switch stress control, is proposed to achieve both output voltage regulation and active balance with fast dynamics. Finally, the design technique and test result of an integrated hybrid switched-capacitor converter are reported. A proposed gate driving strategy eliminates the need for external driving supplies and reduces the bootstrap capacitor area. On-chip mixed signal control ensures fast balancing dynamics and makes hard startup tolerable. This prototype achieves 96.9\% peak efficiency at 5V:1.2V conversion and a startup time of 12$\mu s$, which is over 100 times faster than the closest prior art. With the modeling, control, and design techniques introduced in this dissertation, the application of hybrid switched-capacitor converters may be extended to scenarios that were previously challenging for them, allowing enhanced performance compared to using traditional topologies. For problems that may require future attention, this dissertation also points to possible directions for further improvements