Fast Sorting Method for Balancing Capacitor Voltages in Modular Multilevel Converters

Siemaszko, Daniel

doi:10.1109/tpel.2014.2312101

Cited by 103 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…However, additional switching actions can be required [29]. One big challenge is the sufficiently fast sorting of the capacitor voltages for a high number of SMs [30], [31].…”

Section: Capacitor Voltage Balancingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal Analysis and Balancing for Modular Multilevel Converters in HVDC Applications

Hahn

Andresen

Buticchi

et al. 2018

IEEE Trans. Power Electron.

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Abstract-The modular multilevel converter (MMC) has become a very attractive solution for interfacing high voltages in hybrid networks. The MMC enables scalability to different power levels, full controllability provided by IGBTs and can achieve very high efficiencies by using a low switching frequency method as the nearest level modulation. However, the nearest level modulation requires a capacitor voltage balancing algorithm, which can result in unbalanced loading for the power semiconductors in the different submodules. Particularly at low power factor operation, which could occur in case of low-voltage ride through and of reactive power injection, the conventional algorithm is not effective anymore. This article provides thermal stress analysis of the MMC in operation and proposes a thermal balancing approach, which is embedded in the capacitor voltage balancing algorithm. The purpose of the thermal balancing is to achieve similar stress distribution among the different submodules to enhance the lifetime. The junction temperatures in the different submodules are studied for HVDC applications and the article proves experimentally, that the thermal balance within the submodules is significantly improved.

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“…However, additional switching actions can be required [29]. One big challenge is the sufficiently fast sorting of the capacitor voltages for a high number of SMs [30], [31].…”

Section: Capacitor Voltage Balancingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal Analysis and Balancing for Modular Multilevel Converters in HVDC Applications

Hahn

Andresen

Buticchi

et al. 2018

IEEE Trans. Power Electron.

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“…Estas medições são comumente transmitidas para um controlador central [8]- [12], o que pode aumentar a complexidade de comunicação entre os SMs e o controlador central na medida que o número de SMs aumenta.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

“…Estas estratégias baseiam-se em três conceitos distintos: (i) uso de diferentes estruturas de comunicação (com 2N tensões dos capacitores medidas por fase, onde N é o número de SMs por polo) [12]- [16]; (ii) redução do número de medidas das tensões dos capacitores [17], [18]; e (iii) eliminação das aquisições de tensão dos capacitores [19]- [25].…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Observador Por Modos Deslizantes Aplicado No Controle Das Tensões Equivalentes Dos Polos Em Conversores Multiníveis Modulares

Silva¹,

Vieira²,

Rech³

2017

Revista Eletrônica de Potência

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Resumo -Este artigo propõe um observador por modos deslizantes aplicado no controle das tensões equivalentes dos polos de conversores multiníveis modulares (MMC) em aplicações com elevado número de submódulos conectados em série, com o objetivo de reduzir a complexidade do sistema de comunicação. Esta técnica é utilizada no sistema de controle do MMC, possibilitando uma implementação mais simples, uma vez que não é necessário o envio das tensões de todos os capacitores para o processador central. O observador proposto possui um termo adicional que permite um melhor desempenho transitório, ao contrário de observadores por modos deslizantes já propostos. Adicionalmente, uma análise de estabilidade por Lyapunov é apresentada juntamente com a definição dos ganhos do observador. Resultados de simulação e experimentais são incluídos para demonstrar o adequado desempenho do observador com o sistema de controle do MMC sob diferentes condições de operação. Palavras-chave - SLIDING MODE OBSERVER APPLIED ON EQUIVALENT ARM VOLTAGE CONTROL IN MODULAR MULTILEVEL CONVERTERSAbstract -This paper proposes a sliding mode observer (SMO) for equivalent capacitor voltages control in modular multilevel converters (MMC) to reduce the communication complexity in applications with high number of series-connected submodules. This technique is used in the MMC control system and allows a simpler MMC implementation, since the individual capacitor voltages are not used in the central processor. The observer has an additional term that allows a better transient performance, unlike to the already proposed SMOs. In addition, the Lyapunov stability analysis of the SMO is presented with the design of the observer gains. Simulation and experimental results are included to demonstrate the suitable SMO performance with the MMC control system under different operating conditions.

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“…Because the capacitor voltage balancing should be the most basic yet critical functionality of the MMC, various balancing techniques of the capacitor voltage have been discussed in [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Reference [1] deals with two types of pulse width modulated MMC (PWM-MMC), focusing on their circuit configurations and voltage balancing control.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These methods have to be executed at the equivalent switching frequency of one arm, posing a heavy computational burden as the number of submodules becomes increasing to a real high voltage system. The balancing methods in [14][15][16] are based on a sorting method and individual measurement of submodule capacitor voltages, selecting the process based on the direction of the arm current for charging/discharging the selected submodule. It is obvious, however that the heavy computational intensity may hamper their applications to high voltage (or level) systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trade-Off Strategies in Designing Capacitor Voltage Balancing Schemes for Modular Multilevel Converter HVDC

Nam¹,

Kim²,

Kim³

et al. 2016

Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology

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-This paper focuses on the engineering trade-offs in designing capacitor voltage balancing schemes for modular multilevel converters (MMC) HVDC: regulation performance and switching loss. MMC is driven by the on/off switch operation of numerous submodules and the key design concern is balancing submodule capacitor voltages minimizing switching transition among submodules because it represents the voltage regulation performance and system loss. This paper first introduces the state-ofthe-art MMC-HVDC submodule capacitor voltage balancing methods reported in the literatures and discusses the trade-offs in designing these methods for HVDC application. This paper further proposes a submodule capacitor balancing scheme exploiting a control signal to flexibly interchange between the on-state and the off-state submodules. The proposed scheme enables desired performance-based voltage regulation and avoids unnecessary switching transitions among submodules, consequently reducing the switching loss. The flexibility and controllability particularly fit in high-level MMC HVDC applications where the aforementioned design trade-offs become more crucial. Simulation studies for MMC HVDC are performed to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed capacitor voltage balancing algorithm.

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Fast Sorting Method for Balancing Capacitor Voltages in Modular Multilevel Converters

Cited by 103 publications

References 21 publications

Thermal Analysis and Balancing for Modular Multilevel Converters in HVDC Applications

Thermal Analysis and Balancing for Modular Multilevel Converters in HVDC Applications

Observador Por Modos Deslizantes Aplicado No Controle Das Tensões Equivalentes Dos Polos Em Conversores Multiníveis Modulares

Trade-Off Strategies in Designing Capacitor Voltage Balancing Schemes for Modular Multilevel Converter HVDC

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