Three-Phase Reduced Switch Topologies for AC-DC Front-End and Single-Stage Converters

Conventional three-phase ac-dc converters have two converter stages. They have a front-end converter that converts the input ac voltage into an intermediate dc bus voltage and a second, back-end converter that converts this dc bus voltage into the desired isolated dc output voltage. The front-end converter also performs power factor correction (PFC) and shapes the three-phase input currents so that they are nearly sinusoidal and in phase with the three-phase input voltages. This allows the ac power source to be used in the most efficient manner. The front-end ac-dc converter is typically implemented with six switches while the back-end dc-dc converter is typically implemented with a four switch dc-dc full-bridge topology. Power electronic researchers have been motivated to try to reduce the number of switches that are used in the conventional two-stage approach in order to reduce cost and simplify the overall ac-dc converter. There are two general approaches to doing this: This first approach is to reduce the number of switches in the front-end ac-dc converter. The second approach is to combine the ac-dc converter and the dc-dc converter in a single converter so that the overall ac-dc converter can be implemented in a single converter stage that can simultaneously perform ac-dc power conversion with PFC and dc-dc power conversion. The main focus of this thesis is on new power converter topologies that convert a three-phase ac input voltage into an isolated dc output voltage with a reduced number of switches. In the thesis, a new family of reduced switch front-end converter topologies is proposed, an example converter from this new family is selected for further study and a modified version of this topology is studied as well. In addition to these front-end converters, two new three-phase ac-dc single-stage converters are proposed and their properties and characteristics are compared. For each new converter that is investigated in detail, its modes of operation are explained, its steady-state characteristics are determined by mathematical analysis, and the results of the analysis are used to develop a design procedure that can be used to select key components. The design procedure of each new converter is demonstrated with an example that was used in the implementation of an experimental prototype that confirmed the feasibility of the converter. The thesis concludes by presenting that have been reached as a result of the work that was performed, stating its main contributions to the power electronics literature and suggesting future research that can be done based on the thesis work

Bidirectional Multilevel Converter for Grid-Tie Renewable Energy and Storage with Reduced Leakage Current

This thesis discusses a transformerless multilevel converter (MLC) applied to a domestic level renewable energy system consisting of PV panels and EV batteries in their 2nd life applications. MLCs enable the use of conventional switching devices due to reduced voltage stress. Being able to produce a multilevel output voltage waveform, MLCs require less filtering and therefore may produce better quality waveform when compared to a standard 2-level voltage source converter (VSC). In this study, various modulation techniques for MLCs are implemented and the performance of the converter analysed regarding regulations and standards. The system is designed to have two-stage power conversion, including a DC-DC boost converter for adjusting each stage battery voltage, and maximum power point operation of the PV panels in each module. This provides a stable input voltage for the DC-AC converter stage. The cascaded H-bridge converter (CHB) is selected for the DC-AC conversion due to its isolated DC source requirement. This topology enables the separation of the total DC link voltage into different modules, increasing the accessibility of EV batteries in their 2nd life application. The base system is designed to be coupled without a transformer to the single-phase UK utility grid. A systematic approach is adapted for examining the MLC system. The design procedure starts with system parameter definition and component selection. This is then validated using simulation analysis and hardware implementation to demonstrate the practicability of the system for the planned application. The control algorithm is implemented in a National Instruments (NI) CompactRIO FPGA that can transform graphical programming into VHDL code. To accelerate the implementation and optimisation process, a co-simulation environment is used between NI LabVIEW and NI Multisim software. This ensures the optimisation of control code before compilation and enables testing without having analogue circuitry. Converters without galvanic isolation may exhibit ground leakage currents when coupled with grounded PV panels. This thesis analyses the common-mode and differential-mode voltages that CHB modules generate, and their effect on ground leakage current. The mathematical analysis suggests that leakage current may be supressed solely on changing the modulation method in a CHB converter. A novel leakage reduction pulse width modulation (LRPWM) technique is proposed, which successfully diminishes the ground leakage current to within the limit allowed by VDE-0126-1-1 (withdrawn, accessed in 2018) or IEC 62109-2 standard. The experimental results show that LRPWM has superior performance when compared to conventional MLC modulation technique

Desenvolvimento dos conversores de potência para o sistema de alimentação de uma microrrede isolada baseada em energias renováveis

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia Eletrónica e de ComputadoresA energia elétrica tem um papel extremamente importante no desenvolvimento de uma região, bem como na melhoria da qualidade de vida do ser humano. É assim fundamental eletrificar regiões isoladas e com elevadas taxas de subdesenvolvimento. A eletrificação da grande maioria destas regiões isoladas, passa pela produção local de energia recorrendo a fontes de energia renovável, quer por razões logísticas quer ambientais. Nesta dissertação são apresentados e descritos, os sistemas de eletrónica de potência que permitem implementar uma microrrede isolada com produção a partir de fontes renováveis e capacidade de armazenamento local de energia. O foco principal deste trabalho é o desenvolvimento e validação do sistema responsável pela implementação de uma microrrede isolada monofásica com tensão alternada sinusoidal de 230 V/50 Hz. O desenvolvimento do sistema responsável pela produção e armazenamento de energia encontra-se descrito numa dissertação com o tema complementar, realizada pelo colega de laboratório João Silva. Para a realização da presente dissertação foi necessário o estudo, dimensionamento e implementação do conversor CC-CA de três estágios. Este conversor pode ser dividido num conversor CC-CC em ponte completa isolado de alta frequência do tipo buck e num conversor CC-CA em ponte completa. Para ambos os conversores foi desenvolvido um controlador digital, sendo utilizado um controlador Proporcional Integral no conversor CC-CC e um controlador Preditivo no conversor CC-CA monofásico. Depois de desenvolvido o protótipo do sistema de alimentação da mirorrede isolada, foram realizados alguns ensaios laboratoriais de modo a validar a solução apresentada. Os ensaios realizados, permitiram analisar o comportamento do sistema para três tipos de carga diferentes: carga linear puramente resistiva; carga linear predominantemente indutiva; e carga não linear do tipo retificador com filtro capacitivo. Por último, foram ainda realizados alguns ensaios ao sistema desenvolvido na presente dissertação, interligado com o sistema complementar desenvolvido pelo colega João Silva. Perante os resultados obtidos, foi possível comprovar o conceito e validar o funcionamento do sistema de alimentação da microrrede isolada.Electric power plays an essential role in the development of an isolated rural region, as well as in improving the overall human well-being. Therefore, the electrification of isolated and underdeveloped zones is a matter of extreme importance. Due to either logistic or environmental reasons, in most of these isolated regions, the required electrification involves the local energy production through renewable energy sources. In this dissertation, the power electronics system that allows the implementation of an islanded microgrid with local production and storage of energy is presented and described in detail. The main focus of this work is the development and validation of the power electronics system to implement a single-phase islanded microgrid with 230 V/50 Hz sinusoidal voltage. The electronic system responsible for energy production and storage is being developed within the dissertation work of the classmate João Silva. In order to complete this dissertation, it was required to study, sizing and implement a three-stage DC-AC converter. This converter is composed of a high-frequency isolated buck type full-bridge DC-DC converter and of a single-phase full-bridge DC-AC converter. A digital controller was developed for both converters, namely a Proportional Integral in the case of the DC-DC converter and a Predictive Deadbeat in the case of the DC-AC converter. After the development of the islanded microgrid power system prototype, some laboratorial tests were carried out to analyze the response of the presented solution. The elaborated tests allowed the analysis of the converters toward three different loads: a purely resistive linear load; a predominantly inductive linear load; and a rectifier with capacitive filter nonlinear load. Finally, a few tests were done on the system developed in the presented dissertation combined with the complementary system developed by João Silva. Concerning the final results, it was possible to prove the concept and to validate the operation of the islanded microgrid power system

Dual Channel Control with DC Fault Ride Through for MMC-based, Isolated DC/DC Converter

This study is sponsored by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant no EP/K006428/1, 2013.D. Jovcic and H. Zhang are with the School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, U.K. ([email protected], [email protected]).Peer reviewedPostprin

Direct usage of photovoltaic solar panels to supply a freezer motor with variable DC input voltage

In this paper, a single-phase photovoltaic (PV) inverter fed by a boost converter to supply a freezer motor with variable DC input is investigated. The proposed circuit has two stages. Firstly, the DC output of the PV panel that varies between 150 and 300 V will be applied to the boost converter. The boost converter will boost the input voltage to a fixed 300 V DC. Next, this voltage is supplied to the single-phase full-bridge inverter to obtain 230 V AC. In the end, The output of the inverter will feed a freezer motor. The PV panels can be stand-alone or grid-connected. The grid-connected PV is divided into two categories, such as with a transformer and without a transformer, a transformer type has galvanic isolation resulting in increasing the security and also provides no further DC current toward the grid, but it is expensive, heavy and bulky. The transformerless type holds high efficiency and it is cheaper, but it suffers from leakage current between PV and the grid. This paper proposes a stand-alone direct use of PV to supply a freezer; therefore, no grid connection will result in no leakage current between the PV and Grid. The proposed circuit has some features such as no filtering circuit at the output of the inverter, no battery in the system, DC-link instead of AC link that reduces no-loads, having a higher efficiency, and holding enough energy in the DC-link capacitor to get the motor started. The circuit uses no transformers, thus, it is cheaper and has a smaller size. In addition, the system does not require a complex pulse width modulation (PWM) technique, because the motor can operate with a pulsed waveform. The control strategy uses the PWM signal with the desired timing. With this type of square wave, the harmonics (5th and 7th) of the voltage are reduced. The experimental and simulation results are presented to verify the feasibility of the proposed strategy

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

Hybrid and modular multilevel converter designs for isolated HVDC–DC converters

Efficient medium and high-voltage dc-dc conversion is critical for future dc grids. This paper proposes a hybrid multilevel dc-ac converter structure that is used as the kernel of dc-dc conversion systems. Operation of the proposed dc-ac converter is suited to trapezoidal ac-voltage waveforms. Quantitative and qualitative analyses show that said trapezoidal operation reduces converter footprint, active and passive components' size, and on-state losses relative to conventional modular multilevel converters. The proposed converter is scalable to high voltages with controllable ac-voltage slope; implying tolerable dv/dt stresses on the converter transformer. Structural variations of the proposed converter with enhanced modularity and improved efficiency will be presented and discussed with regards to application in front-to-front isolated dc-dc conversion stages, and in light of said trapezoidal operation. Numerical results provide deeper insight of the presented converter designs with emphasis on system design aspects. Results obtained from a proof-of-concept 1-kW experimental test rig confirm the validity of simulation results, theoretical analyses, and simplified design equations presented in this paper. - 2013 IEEE.Scopu

Generic closed loop controller for power regulation in dual active bridge DC-DC converter with current stress minimization

This paper presents a comprehensive and generalized analysis of the bidirectional dual active bridge (DAB) DC/DC converter using triple phase shift (TPS) control to enable closed loop power regulation while minimizing current stress. The key new achievements are: a generic analysis in terms of possible conversion ratios/converter voltage gains (i.e. Buck/Boost/Unity), per unit based equations regardless of DAB ratings, and a new simple closed loop controller implementable in real time to meet desired power transfer regulation at minimum current stress. Per unit based analytical expressions are derived for converter AC RMS current as well as power transferred. An offline particle swarm optimization (PSO) method is used to obtain an extensive set of TPS ratios for minimizing the RMS current in the entire bidirectional power range of - 1 to 1 per unit. The extensive set of results achieved from PSO presents a generic data pool which is carefully analyzed to derive simple useful relations. Such relations enabled a generic closed loop controller design that can be implemented in real time avoiding the extensive computational capacity that iterative optimization techniques require. A detailed Simulink DAB switching model is used to validate precision of the proposed closed loop controller under various operating conditions. An experimental prototype also substantiates the results achieved

The road to fully integrated DC-DC conversion via the switched-capacitor approach

This paper provides a perspective on progress toward realization of efficient, fully integrated dc-dc conversion and regulation functionality in CMOS platforms. In providing a comparative assessment between the inductor-based and switched-capacitor approaches, the presentation reviews the salient features in effectiveness in utilization of switch technology and in use and implementation of passives. The analytical conclusions point toward the strong advantages of the switched-capacitor (SC) approach with respect to both switch utilization and much higher energy densities of capacitors versus inductors. The analysis is substantiated with a review of recently developed and published integrated dc-dc converters of both the inductor-based and SC types. © 2012 IEEE

Ancillary Services in Hybrid AC/DC Low Voltage Distribution Networks

In the last decade, distribution systems are experiencing a drastic transformation with the advent of new technologies. In fact, distribution networks are no longer passive systems, considering the current integration rates of new agents such as distributed generation, electrical vehicles and energy storage, which are greatly influencing the way these systems are operated. In addition, the intrinsic DC nature of these components, interfaced to the AC system through power electronics converters, is unlocking the possibility for new distribution topologies based on AC/DC networks. This paper analyzes the evolution of AC distribution systems, the advantages of AC/DC hybrid arrangements and the active role that the new distributed agents may play in the upcoming decarbonized paradigm by providing different ancillary services.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad ENE2017-84813-RUnión Europea (Programa Horizonte 2020) 76409