This paper proposes a distributed control alternative for modular power converters. The focus is on the use of singlephase power units with embedded control capabilities, namely intelligent Power Electronics Building Block (iPEBB) for power conversion in hybrid DC/AC microgrids. The distributed control is achieved by the use of a versatile controller inside each iPEBB, so that they can operate independently by controlling their own voltage(s)/current(s). For the management of the entire system, a central controller is integrated into the control scheme. The central controller is in charge of the application-level control of the modular power converter, so that it determines the role of each iPEBB and commands the references to achieve the control goals. As a demonstration of the proposed approach, the control of a 4-wire 4-leg STATCOM using 4 independent power units is shown in this paper. For the implementation of the iPEBB control system, two different approaches are evaluated: Proportional-Resonant (PR) and Repetitive Control (RC) alternatives. Analysis is done using direct discrete design. Different simulations as well as experimental results are performed in order to validate the proposed system. The study considers communication delays between the central controller and the iPEBB as well as internal reconstruction of the reference from the central controller command.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.