Performance Evaluation of an Active Neutral-Point-Clamped Multilevel Converter for Active Filtering in G2V-V2G and V2H Applications

Abstract

This paper presents the performance evaluation of a proposed single-phase bidirectional active neutral-point-clamped (ANPC) five-level converter (5LC) for active filtering in grid-to-vehicle (G2V), vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) applications. In the system, the 5LC is series-connected with an electric vehicle battery charger based on a dual active half-bridge DC-DC converter (DAHBC). A cascaded strategy with a proportional-resonant compensator controls the 5LC whereas the DAHBC is controlled by a single phase-shift technique. A performance comparison is carried out for the proposed topology versus three NPC/ANPC 5L converters found in literature with similar topologies. The simulation results obtained in MATLAB-SimPowerSystems along with the experimental results obtained from a laboratory prototype validate the following: a) the first two literature topologies have the highest efficiencies, but they are incapable of balancing the voltage of the split-capacitors what increases the total harmonic distortion of both the grid current in the G2V/V2G modes and the 5LC output voltage in the V2H mode while producing a sluggish transient response, b) the 3rd literature topology like the proposed one properly balance the capacitors voltage and achieve a faster dynamics, but at the expense of an efficiency reduction, and c) unlike the former topology that continuously applies a natural but wasting unfedback voltage balancing strategy, the proposed one that includes a closed-loop control allows achieving an ANPC 5LC with a superior performance featured by a higher efficiency, a reduced switches stress, a flatter power losses distribution and a better power quality improving under the three modes of operation.

A Comparative Study of Cutting-Edge Bi-Directional Power Converters and Intelligent Control Methodologies for Advanced Electric Mobility

“…It has several benefits compared to other converters, such as fewer components, higher efficiency, and simpler circuit design [57]. The system uses a cascaded approach and proportionalresonant compensator to regulate a new active neutral-point clamped (ANPC) five-level converter [60].…”

“…The proposed setup adopts a cascaded method that incorporates a proportional-resonant compensator for the 5-level converter (5LC) and a single-phase shift approach for the dual active half-bridge converter (DAHBC). The comparative analysis demonstrated the superiority of the proposed topology over existing topologies in terms of higher efficiency, diminished switch stress, balanced power losses, and enhanced power quality across the operation modes [60]. A dual-phase shift (DPS) involves adding two distinct phase changes to the input voltage to enhance output voltage control.…”

A critical review on contemporary power electronics interface topologies to vehicle‐to‐grid technology: Prospects, challenges, and directions

“…This DAB‐based converter can offer BPT and galvanic isolation between the sources [71]. A DAHB‐based BDC [72], as shown in Figure 16b, contains only half of the bidirectional switches used in the DAB and is smaller in size and lower in cost than the DAB. The merits of DAHB are the absence of a steady‐state DC magnetizing current element in the HFT due to the presence of capacitor half‐bridges, lower voltage stress, and a higher dynamic response compared to DAB; however, the DAHB has narrower resonance capabilities due to its soft‐switching strategy, zero voltage, and limited power regulation.…”

New combined control strategy of on-board bidirectional battery chargers for electric vehicles

“…It contained two more switching devices than typical ANPC topologies, which improved the balance of the split DC-link voltages. Suggested a bidirectional single-phase ANPC 5LC for use in filtering active in G2V, V2G, and V2H apps [10]. Suggested a multi-level active rectifier with self-balanced capacitors and five voltage levels [11].…”