Power Electronics and Multilevel Converters

Dear Colleagues,

Power electronics technology, at the core of modern energy conversion and management, is profoundly reshaping sectors such as energy, transportation, industry, and information. Multilevel converters, as an advanced power conversion architecture, have become the preferred solution for critical systems including medium/high-voltage DC transmission, grid integration of renewable energy generation, high-end industrial motor drives, electric vehicle charging, and data center power supplies, owing to their outstanding advantages such as superior output power quality, lower switching losses, and reduced electromagnetic interference in high-voltage, high-power scenarios. Currently, the rapid development of wide-bandgap semiconductor devices, the deep integration of digital control technologies, and the ever-increasing demands for system-level energy efficiency and reliability are jointly driving the evolution of power electronics and multilevel converter technologies towards higher power density, higher efficiency, greater intelligence, and enhanced robustness.

To showcase the latest research progress, core challenges, and cutting-edge breakthroughs in this field, and to foster academic exchange and industry-academia-research collaboration, this Special Issue hereby announces an open call for papers to scholars and engineering professionals worldwide. This Special Issue aims to explore the full spectrum of key technologies for multilevel converters—from underlying devices, topological innovations, and control strategies to system integration and applications—with a focused emphasis on their innovative solutions for future energy and power systems. The scope of submissions includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

1. Novel Multilevel Topologies and Modulation Techniques

1. Derivative and optimized designs of innovative topologies such as Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC), Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB), Flying Capacitor, Diode-Clamped, and their hybrid combinations.
2. Efficient modulation strategies (e.g., Nearest Level Modulation, Carrier Disposition PWM, Space Vector Modulation) and their improved algorithms for multilevel converters, focusing on loss reduction, voltage balancing, and harmonic suppression.
3. Design and performance enhancement of multilevel converters based on wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN).

2. Advanced Modeling, Control, and Stability Analysis

1. High-precision modeling, simulation, and digital twin technologies for multilevel converters.
2. Advanced control strategies, including Model Predictive Control, Model-Free Control, and applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data-driven control techniques in voltage balancing, circulating current suppression, and fault ride-through.
3. System-level stability analysis and oscillation suppression strategies, particularly addressing interactive stability issues under weak grid conditions or with complex loads.

3. Reliability, Fault Diagnosis, and Fault-Tolerant Operation

1. Lifetime modeling, condition monitoring, and health management of key power devices (e.g., IGBTs, capacitors).
2. Online fault diagnosis, localization, and intelligent early warning technologies for multilevel converters.
3. Fault-tolerant topology design and fault-tolerant control strategies to ensure uninterrupted system operation under partial failures.

4. System Integration, Applications, and Emerging Interdisciplinary Fields

1. Integration design and optimization of multilevel converters in large-scale systems such as High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission, Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS), Solid-State Transformers (SST), and medium-voltage variable frequency drives.
2. Application challenges and solutions in emerging scenarios such as renewable energy (PV, wind) based hydrogen production, electrochemical energy storage systems, ultra-fast electric vehicle charging, and aerospace/shipboard electric propulsion.
3. Integration of multilevel converters with Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart grids.

5. Experimental Verification, Case Studies, and Standardization

1. Development of experimental platforms and validation of measurement results for innovative topologies, control methods, or diagnostic methods.
2. Successful industrial application cases, field operation data, and experience summaries.
3. Discussions on design specifications, testing standards, and performance evaluation systems related to multilevel converters.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Xinwei Wei
Dr. Zhen Zhu
Dr. Ziheng Xiao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Electronics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• power electronics
• multilevel converters
• fault diagnosis
• fault-tolerant control
• topology
• modulation strategy
• system reliability