MULTILEVEL CONVERTERS – CONFIGURATION OF CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS

Abstract

This chapter starts with three‐level neutral‐point‐clamped and neutral‐point‐piloted inverters, and three‐level and four‐level flying capacitor inverters, followed by the modular multilevel cascade converter family. It provides an intensive discussion on circuits and systems of the following two grid‐tied applications. The first is a three‐phase transformerless static synchronous compensator based on one family member for industrial and utility distribution systems and the other is a back‐to‐back system based on another family member for an asynchronous inter‐tie between two transmission power systems. The chapter also provides a general description of a single‐star bridge‐cell (SSBC)‐based static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) characterized by phase‐shifted‐carrier pulse width modulation (PWM), with a focus on capacitor‐voltage balancing. It presents a downscaled SSBC‐based STATCOM with phase‐shifted‐carrier PWM. The chapter also presents a three‐phase downscaled back‐to‐back system without DC‐link capacitor between the two identical 17‐level double‐star chopper‐cell converters.