Ricard Picas

Circulating Current Injection Methods Based on Instantaneous Information for the Modular Multilevel Converter

This paper studies different circulating current references for the modular multilevel converter. The circulating current references are obtained from the instantaneous values of the output current and modulation signal of the phase leg. Therefore, the determination of the amplitude and phase of the output current is not needed, which is a significant improvement compared to other methods such as those based on injecting specific harmonics in the circulating currents. Among the different methods studied in this paper, a new method is introduced, which is able to reduce the capacitor voltage ripples compared to the other methods. A closed-loop control is also proposed which is able to track the circulating current references. With the discussed methods, the average values of the capacitor voltages are maintained at their reference while the voltage ripples are kept low. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed and discussed methods.

Minimization of the capacitor voltage fluctuations of a modular multilevel converter by circulating current control

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) is one of the most potential converter topologies for medium/high power/voltage applications. One of the main technical challenges of an MMC is to eliminate/minimize the circulating currents within the legs. Circulating currents, if not properly controlled, increase the amplitude of capacitor voltage variations, rating values of the converter components and converter losses. This paper proposes a closed-loop circulating current control strategy for an MMC to specifically minimize the amplitude of capacitor voltage variations. The proposed strategy is based on adding an offset signal to the modulating signal of each arm. To minimize the amplitude of the capacitor voltage oscillations, an optimal circulating current component is determined and used as a reference signal for the current control of each MMC leg. Performance of the proposed control strategy is evaluated based on simulation studies in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The reported study results demonstrate effectiveness of the proposed strategy to reduce the amplitude of the capacitor voltage oscillations.

A Modified Voltage Balancing Algorithm for the Modular Multilevel Converter: Evaluation for Staircase and Phase-Disposition PWM

This paper introduces a low complexity implementation of the voltage balancing algorithm aiming to reduce the switching frequency of the power devices in modular multilevel converters (MMCs). The proposed algorithm features a relatively simple implementation without any conditional execution requirements and is easily expandable regardless of the number of submodules (SMs). Two modulation techniques are evaluated, namely the staircase modulation and the phase-disposition pulse width modulation (PD-PWM) under the conventional and the proposed algorithm. Using a circulating current controller in an MMC with 12 SMs per arm, PD-PWM yields better results compared to the staircase modulation technique. The test condition for this comparison is such that the power devices operate at a similar switching frequency and produce similar amplitudes to the capacitor voltage ripples in both modulation techniques. The results are verified through extensive simulations and experiments on a low power phase-leg MMC laboratory prototype.

Closed-Loop Discontinuous Modulation Technique for Capacitor Voltage Ripples and Switching Losses Reduction in Modular Multilevel Converters

In this paper, a new discontinuous modulation technique is presented for the operation of the modular multilevel converter (MMC). The modulation technique is based on adding a zero sequence to the original modulation signals so that the MMC arms are clamped to the upper or lower terminals of the dc-link bus. The clamping intervals are controlled according to the absolute value of the output current to minimize the switching losses of the MMC. A significant reduction in the capacitor voltage ripples is achieved, especially when operating with low modulation indices. Furthermore, a circulating current control strategy suitable for this modulation technique is also proposed. Simulation and experimental results under various operating points are reported along with evaluation and comparison results against a conventional carrier-based pulse width modulation method.

Improving capacitor voltage ripples and power losses of modular multilevel converters through discontinuous modulation

The voltage ripple of the capacitors of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) increases when the converter output frequency decreases. This occurs in motor drive applications at low motor speeds, where the output frequency is reduced proportionally to the converter modulation index. In this paper, a discontinuous modulation technique for reducing the amplitude of the capacitor voltage ripples and the switching losses, especially at low modulation indices, is presented. The technique is based on adding a zero-sequence to the original modulation signals, clamping the MMC arms to the upper or lower rails of the fictitious dc-link bus. A current control strategy suitable for this modulation strategy is also proposed. Simulation results under various operating points are reported along with evaluation and comparison results against the conventional carrier-based pulse-width space-vector modulation.

Reliable Modular Multilevel Converter Fault Detection With Redundant Voltage Sensor

This paper presents a fault-tolerant configuration for the modular multilevel converter (MMC). The procedure is able to detect faults in voltage sensors and semiconductor switching devices, and it can reconfigure the system so that it can keep on operating. Both switch and sensor faults can be detected by comparing the output voltage of a set of submodules (SMs), which is measured by a so-called supervisory sensor, with two calculated reference voltages. Faults in the supervisory sensors are also considered. Sensor faults are overcome by using a measuring technique based on estimates that are periodically updated with the voltage measurements of the supervisory sensors. Additional SMs are included in the arms so that the MMC can bypass a faulty SM and continue operating without affecting the output voltage of the phase-leg. Experimental results obtained from a low-power MMC prototype are presented in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.

Control of Circulating Currents in Modular Multilevel Converters Through Redundant Voltage Levels

Among the main control targets in a modular multilevel converter (MMC) is the control of the circulating currents within the phase legs of the topology. This paper presents a controller for the circulating current of the MMC that utilizes the available redundancies of the multilevel waveform in 2N+1 modulated MMCs in order to regulate the circulating current to its reference. The main advantages of the approach are the elimination of control loops that generate the reference voltages for the control of the circulating current, simple implementation and very fast dynamic performance. The controller is implemented at the modulation stage and its operation is independent of the circulating current reference. An extension of the controller to track large deviations in the circulating current is also demonstrated. The simplicity and effectiveness of the proposed controller is illustrated through detailed simulations and experimental results from a single-phase laboratory prototype.

New Measuring Technique for Reducing the Number of Voltage Sensors in Modular Multilevel Converters

This paper presents a new technique for measuring the capacitor voltages in a modular multilevel converter using a reduced number of voltage sensors. With this technique, the minimum number of voltage sensors per arm is two. Each sensor measures the output voltage of a set of submodules (SMs) connected in series and acquires a new measurement when there is only one SM activated within the set. The acquired value corresponds to the capacitor voltage of the activated SM minus the voltage drops produced in the switches. A simple mathematical model is used to estimate all the SM capacitor voltages, and it is then updated whenever there is a new measurement available. An algorithm that enforces the periodic update of the voltage measurements is also presented. The proposed measuring technique highly reduces the number of voltage sensors; hence reducing the complexity and costs of the signal conditioning and data acquisition stages. Simulation and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed technique.

Discontinuous modulation of modular multilevel converters without the need for extra submodules

In this paper, a new approach to the discontinuous modulation technique for the operation of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) is presented. Discontinuous modulation is based on adding a zero-sequence to the original modulation signals so that each MMC arm is clamped to the upper or lower terminals of the dc-link bus during some intervals. In combination with a circulating current control, the original discontinuous modulation can reduce the capacitor voltage ripple amplitudes and the switching power losses. However, additional submodules (SMs) are required to control the circulating current. This new approach presents a clamping algorithm that eliminates the requirement of additional SMs. As a result, the conduction losses are reduced while the capacitor voltage ripples are maintained low. Simulation and experimental results on a silicon-carbide-based MMC are reported and compared against the original discontinuous modulation and a conventional carrier-based pulse-width modulation.

Submodule power losses balancing algorithms for the modular multilevel converter

Tolerance and component aging can cause significant differences in the capacitance values of the submodules (SMs) in a modular multilevel converter (MMC). Depending on the modulation technique, capacitance mismatches may produce uneven switching transitions of the SMs, hence imbalances in the power losses that can lead to reliability problems. In this paper, a new algorithm that helps to achieve evenly distributed switching and conduction losses within the converter SMs is presented. The proposed algorithm is based on a modification of the common voltage balancing algorithms, balancing a weighted function of voltage and losses. Even distribution of power losses is achieved at the cost of slightly increasing the capacitor voltage ripples. The effectiveness of the strategy has been demonstrated by simulation results of a high-power grid-connected MMC.