Soft-switching modular multilevel converters for efficient grid integration of renewable sources

The Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) concept is a modern energy conversion structure that stands out for a number of interesting features that opens wide application chances in Power Systems, for example for efficient grid integration of renewable sources. In these high-voltage, high-power application fields, a high efficiency is mandatory. In this regard, an interesting and promising development opportunity could be to make soft-switching the elementary converters of the submodules (cells), half H-bridges or full H-bridges, obtaining at the same time the advantage of increasing the switching frequency. The ARCP or the AQRDCL soft-switching topologies appear adequate for this purpose. This paper is dedicated to examining these development possibilities

Speed Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control of a PMSM fed by Matrix Converter

This paper presents a new speed Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) algorithm which has been applied to a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) driven by a Matrix Converter (MC). This method replaces the classical cascaded control scheme with a single control law that controls the motor currents and speed. Additionally, unlike classical MC modulation methods, the method allows direct control of the MC input currents. The performance of the proposed work has been verified by simulation studies and experimental results

Sensorless finite-control set model predictive control for IPMSM drives

This paper investigates the feasibility of a sensorless field oriented control (FOC) combined with a finite control set model predictive current control (FCS-MPC) for an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM). The use of a FCS-MPC makes the implementation of most of the existing sensorless techniques difficult due to the lack of a modulator. The proposed sensorless algorithm exploits the saliency of the motor and the intrinsic higher current ripple of the FCS-MPC to extract position and speed information using a model-based approach. This method does not require the injection of additional voltage vectors or the periodic interruption of the control algorithm and consequently it has no impact on the performance of the current control. The proposed algorithm has been tested in simulation and validated on an experimental set-up, showing promising results

Sensorless Control with Switching Frequency Square Wave Voltage Injection for SPMSM with Low Rotor Magnetic Anisotropy

High-frequency signal injection sensorless algorithms are widely studied and used for rotor angle estimation in PMSM at low speed or standstill. One of the main drawbacks of such methods is the acoustic noise connected to the voltage injection. In order to minimize this problem, it is advisable to increase the frequency of the injected signal. Thus, many studies focus on square-wave injection at the switching frequency, which is the maximum theoretical frequency. Since these methods exploit the rotor magnetic anisotropy, it is relatively easy to use them in interior PMSMs, where the rotor anisotropy is high. On the contrary, it is hard to exploit them in surface PMSMs, which have an almost symmetric rotor, although a low rotor magnetic anisotropy is still present. In this paper, a sensorless algorithm with switching frequency squarewave injection is developed for surface PMSMs. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio, current oversampling is exploited. The benefits of such a technique are demonstrated with experimental results on a 2 Nm SPMSM

State-Space Approach for SPMSM Sensorless Passive Algorithm Tuning

Sensorless algorithms for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM) have achieved increasing interest in the technical literature over the last few years. They can be divided into active methods and passive methods: the first inject high-frequency signals exploiting rotor anisotropy, whereas the second are based on observers. Recently, a sensorless control based on a rotor flux observer has been presented in the technical literature, which gives very accurate results in terms of rotor position estimation and robustness. In this paper, the aforementioned observer is considered and a procedure for choosing stabilizing gains of the observer is proposed. The contribution of the paper is three-fold: the mathematical modelling of the rotor flux observer, the methodology for the definition of the observer gains, and the presentation of the experimental results

Electrical-Loss Analysis of Power-Split Hybrid Electric Vehicles

The growing development of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) has seen the spread of architectures with transmission based on planetary gear train, realized thanks to two electric machines. This architecture, by continuously regulating the transmission ratio, allows the internal combustion engine (ICE) to work in optimal conditions. On the one hand, the average ICE efficiency is increased thanks to better loading situations, while, on the other hand, electrical losses are introduced due to the power circulation between the two electrical machines mentioned above. The aim of this study is then to accurately evaluate electrical losses and the average ICE efficiency in various operating conditions and over different road missions. The models used in this study are presented for both the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) architecture and the Discontinuously Variable Transmission (DVT) architecture. In addition, efficiency maps of the main components are shown. Finally, the simulation results are presented to point out strengths and weaknesses of the CVT architecture

IGBT-SiC dual fed ground power unit

This paper presents the design and control of a three-phase ground power supply unit for aircraft servicing. A new mixed technology converter composed by a three-phase Silicon Carbide (SiC) full bridge unit and a three-phase full bridge IGBT unit connected across the same dc link is used instead of the conventional full bridge configuration. In order to satisfy the stringent requirements of the output voltage quality particular attention is given to the controller. The common dc link topology of the converter allows circulation of Zero Sequence Current (ZSC), therefore also a 0 axis regulator is necessary. The state space model of the system considering the LC output filter is presented and used in order to synthetize the controller parameters using the Optimal Control theory

Surface Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors’ Passive Sensorless Control: A Review

Sensorless control of permanent magnet synchronous motors is nowadays used in many industrial, home and traction applications, as it allows the presence of a position sensor to be avoided with benefits for the cost and reliability of the drive. An estimation of the rotor position is required to perform the field-oriented control (FOC), which is the most common control scheme used for this type of motor. Many algorithms have been developed for this purpose, which use different techniques to derive the rotor angle from the stator voltages and currents. Among them, the so-called passive methods have gained increasing interest as they do not introduce additional losses and current distortion associated instead with algorithms based on the injection of high-frequency signals. The aim of this paper is to present a review of the main passive sensorless methods proposed in the technical literature over the last few years, analyzing their main features and principles of operation. An experimental comparison among the most promising passive sensorless algorithms is then reported, focusing on their performance in the low-speed operating region

Soliton ratchets

The mechanism underlying the soliton ratchet, both in absence and in presence of noise, is investigated. We show the existence of an asymmetric internal mode on the soliton profile which couples, trough the damping in the system, to the soliton translational mode. Effective soliton transport is achieved when the internal mode and the external force are phase locked. We use as working model a generalized double sine-Gordon equation. The phenomenon is expected to be valid for generic soliton systems.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Double input DC-DC converter for highly flexible and reliable Battery Storage Systems

Battery storage systems are fundamental in UPS applications. UPSs are exploited when high reliability is required. A DC-DC converter is typically used to interface the battery to the inverter to match the different voltage levels. In normal operation, the battery of the UPS is not used and it intervenes only during grid blackout. However, the battery is subjected to deterioration and UPS intervention could fail. In medium and high power UPS, more battery modules are connected in series. If one battery is damaged, all the series is affected. To prevent this issue, a new double-input DC-DC converter is presented in this paper. The two DC sources can be controlled separately, resulting in a system reliability improvement. In addition, the damaged battery is not bypassed; hence the overall system performance can be maximized, since the deteriorated battery can provide energy at a limited rate. Additionally, the proposed converter allows batteries based on different technologies to be mixed together, achieving the best performances from each technology