Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Jaime W. Zapata, Gianluca Postiglione, Daniele Falchi, Giovanni Borghetti, Thierry A. Meynard, Guillaume Gateau
Summary: This article introduces a new transformerless multilevel converter topology, which consists of two Macro cells in series that can be extended to increase the number of output levels, along with one external selector cell. The converter topology allows the use of the same devices in different voltage applications and features zero-crossing among other benefits.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Gustavo F. Gontijo, Tamas Kerekes, Dezso Sera, Mattia Ricco, Laszlo Mathe, Remus Teodorescu
Summary: This article proposes a new converter solution with a modular multilevel structure for driving modern/future high-power medium-voltage wind turbines. The proposed converter topology has improved reliability at high voltage levels and can synthesize high-power-quality staircase-shape voltages, leading to low requirements for harmonic and dv/dt filters. In addition, it has reduced capacitance and inductance requirements compared to other well-established modular multilevel converter topologies, resulting in a lighter and more compact solution. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed topology.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Milan Utvic, Philippe Bontemps, Drazen Dujic
Summary: Modular multilevel matrix converter is a converter used for medium-voltage ac-ac power conversion. This paper extends the direct arm energy control concept to the modular multilevel matrix converter, presenting an intuitive and simple control approach with the ability to control the arm energies to arbitrary values, and ensuring stable operation under all conditions.
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Xiaonan Gao, Wei Tian, Yuebin Pang, Ralph Kennel
Summary: In this article, a model-predictive control method for modular multilevel converters (MMCs) operating in a wide frequency range is proposed. A novel cost function is designed to achieve output current control and voltage balancing control for both low- and high-frequency operations. Compared with traditional methods, this proposed method can easily achieve a tradeoff between modulation range and amplitude of injected common-mode voltage under different operating conditions, and the control structure is more straightforward. Experimental results verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Zain Hassan, Alan J. Watson, Francesco Tardelli, Jon Clare
Summary: The modular multilevel converter (MMC) has become the industry standard for high voltage direct current (HVDC) applications due to its scalability, modularity, high efficiency, and better output quality. A switched mid-point modular multilevel converter (SMPC) is introduced in this paper as an alternative topology to reduce energy storage while maintaining the benefits of the MMC. The SMPC achieves significant energy storage reduction (around 50%) compared to the MMC, and the DC-side does not require additional filtering for distortion. However, it requires more switches and slightly lower efficiency.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Bishwajyoti Purkayastha, Tanmoy Bhattacharya
Summary: This article introduces a traction converter configuration using a modular multilevel converter for electric locomotives and proposes a control technique to reduce the peak to peak ripple voltage. The system is simulated in MATLAB Simulink and experimentally verified in a laboratory prototype.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Jayesh Kumar Motwani, Boran Fan, Yu Rong, Dushan Boroyevich, Dong Dong, Rolando Burgos
Summary: Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) are popular for high/medium-voltage applications, but their adoption is limited by large capacitor requirements. A new switching-cycle-balancing control has been proposed to significantly reduce the required capacitor capacity, allowing for MMC dc-dc operation. However, the effectiveness of the capacitor voltage balancing is affected by nonideal factors, making a closed-loop balancing scheme critical. This letter tackles the challenge of closed-loop balancing control and develops an effective scheme, validated using a custom-built 10-kV SiC mosfet-based MMC under 18-kV dc-link voltage.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Mohamed Tamasas Elrais, Md Safayatullah, Issa Batarseh
Summary: This article introduces a generalized gallium nitride (GaN)-based modular multiport multilevel flying capacitor architecture, which fits various applications by using the attractive flying capacitor multilevel (FCML) design and the full-bridge unfolding circuit. Two example prototypes, a three-port and a four-port, have verified this architecture's potential. The experimental results show high efficiency, power density, and compact size, making it a promising design approach for various applications.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shaoze Zhou, Binbin Li, Dianguo Xu, Gen Li
Summary: The modular multilevel converter (MMC) is a promising topology for medium-voltage drive applications. A hybrid MMC (HMMC) with a thyristor instead of IGBT as the DC-link switch is proposed to address the challenge of large cell capacitor voltage ripple. A new control scheme is proposed to ensure the safe operation of the thyristor and improve the reliability of HMMC. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme for starting up a motor from standby mode to rated speed with full torque.
CSEE JOURNAL OF POWER AND ENERGY SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Jingwei Meng, Qiang Song, Qianhao Sun, Shukai Xu, Biao Zhao, Zhanqing Yu, Rong Zeng
Summary: This article examines the linear modulation problem of modular multilevel converter (MMC), considering the complicated effects of capacitor voltage ripples (CVRs) and circulating current suppression control (CCSC). It proposes a set of equations to determine the exact reference wave, taking into account the CVR effect and CCSC, and accurately assess linear modulation. The article also analyzes how the CVR effect and CCSC influence the linear modulation range, parameter design, and operating characteristics through case studies. The proposed theory and method are verified through simulation and experimental results.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hector R. Robles-Campos, Fernando Mancilla-David
Summary: Modular multilevel converters, especially the Hexverter, are crucial in medium-to-high-power applications for connecting three-phase AC systems operating at different frequencies. This study focuses on the Hexverter system and evaluates its performance under different modulation techniques.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Cristian Pineda, Javier Pereda, Felix Rojas, Gabriel Droguett, Claudio Burgos-Mellado, Alan J. Watson
Summary: This study introduces a novel zero-current switching modulation technique for high-step-ratio MMC DC-DC converters, which generates trapezoidal or triangular current by minimizing the root-mean-square current to operate the converter over a wide range of output voltage and power. The proposed optimization uses a simple control scheme to regulate output voltage and voltage balance among the floating cell capacitors, and has been validated through theoretical analysis and a laboratory-scaled prototype, demonstrating effectiveness and excellent dynamical response.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Tarek Younis, Paolo Mattavelli, Igino Toigo, Michele Corradin
Summary: This article discusses a modified MMC topology designed for low-voltage systems to reduce the high capacitance requirement. The design and optimization process of this structure, along with the investigation of various parameters and a control scheme for voltage and current regulation, are presented in this study. The outcomes are verified through simulation and experiments.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Pablo Bravo, Javier Pereda, Michael M. C. Merlin, Sebastian Neira, Timothy C. Green, Felix Rojas
Summary: This paper presents a customized and simple control method for the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter (M3C) used in AC substations, and compares it to the back-to-back Modular Multilevel Converter (B2B-MMC). Simulation results demonstrate the performance and advantages of M3C in different operating conditions, while experimental results validate its performance under less ideal conditions.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Chengkai Liu, Fujin Deng, Qingsong Wang, Yanbo Wang, Frede Blaabjerg, Zheng Wang
Summary: A double half-bridge submodule-based MMC design is proposed in this letter, requiring only half the number of sensors to estimate capacitor voltages compared to traditional half-bridge submodule-based MMC designs, which proves to be more cost-effective. Simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS
(2021)
