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New Optimization Algorithms, Control Schemes and Modulation Techniques for Modular Power Converters

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F3: Power Electronics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 June 2026 | Viewed by 2419

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Electronic Engineering Department, Universidad de Sevilla, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: modulation techniques; multilevel converters; model-based predictive control of power converters and drives; renewable energy sources; power device lifetime extension
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Guest Editor
Energy Center, Universidad Catolica de la Santisima Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile
Interests: multilevel converters; HVDC transmission systems; hybrid energy storage systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
DCE&S Group, Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
Interests: DC distribution systems (low and medium voltage); electric vehicle charging infrastructure; high-efficiency DC–DC conversion and high-power converters
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on advancements in optimization algorithms, control schemes, and modulation techniques tailored for modular power converters. Modular power converters, including serial power converters, parallel power converters, and other multi-stage configurations, play a critical role in renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and industrial applications. Their modular architecture provides scalability, fault tolerance, and improved efficiency, making them ideal for modern power systems. However, optimizing their performance remains challenging due to complex system interactions, nonlinear dynamics, and increasing power quality demands.

The proposed Special Issue aims to showcase innovative research addressing these challenges through:

  1. Optimization Algorithms: Novel methods to improve efficiency, reduce power losses, and optimize energy flow in modular topologies such as serial, parallel, and multi-stage power converters.
  2. Control Schemes: Advanced control strategies for enhancing stability, robustness, and dynamic performance across modular systems.
  3. Modulation Techniques: Cutting-edge approaches to reduce harmonic distortion, improve switching efficiency, and achieve high power quality in modular converter designs.

This Special Issue welcomes a broad range of contributions, including theoretical developments, simulation-based studies, and experimental validations. Submissions may focus on emerging trends such as artificial intelligence and machine learning for modular converter control, real-time modulation strategies, fault-tolerant schemes for modular systems, and optimization techniques for large-scale deployments. By addressing the unique challenges of serial, parallel, and multi-stage modular power converters, this Special Issue aims to present state-of-the-art solutions that advance modular converter technologies and facilitate their practical implementation in various applications.

Dr. Abraham Marquez
Dr. Ricardo Lizana Fuentes
Dr. Sebastian Rivera
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. Energies 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 2600 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.

Keywords

  • harmonic optimization
  • control algorithm
  • reliability

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2828 KB  
Article
A Dual-Source Converter for Optimal Cell Utilisation in Electric Vehicle Applications
by Ashraf Bani Ahmad, Mohammad Alathamneh, Haneen Ghanayem, R. M. Nelms, Omer Ali and Chanuri Charin
Energies 2025, 18(22), 5895; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225895 - 9 Nov 2025
Viewed by 657
Abstract
Electric vehicles (EVs) are experiencing rapid global adoption driven by environmental concerns and fuel security. This article presents a new dual-source converter based on a hybrid modular multilevel configuration (DCHMMC) designed for optimal cell utilisation in EV battery systems. Contrary to conventional converters [...] Read more.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are experiencing rapid global adoption driven by environmental concerns and fuel security. This article presents a new dual-source converter based on a hybrid modular multilevel configuration (DCHMMC) designed for optimal cell utilisation in EV battery systems. Contrary to conventional converters that can either charge or discharge the cells using a single source, thereby leaving several cells/modules (Ms) idle during each time step, the proposed converter enables the integration of two sources that can utilise the cells simultaneously. This dual source feature minimises idle cells/Ms, enhances energy efficiency, and supports flexible bidirectional power flow. The proposed converter operates in three distinct modes. The first involves dual-source charging for fast charging and improved vehicle availability. The second involves one source charging while the other discharges for dynamic operation. Finally, the last involves dual-source discharging for maximum power delivery and support vehicle-to-grid (V2G) operation. The simulation results demonstrated smooth multilevel sinusoidal output voltages (Vout_a and Vout_b), each with a peak of 350 V, generated simultaneously using 132 cells (six cells per M, 22 Ms). The total harmonic distortion (THD) values for Vout_a and Vout_b were 0.42% and 2.25%, respectively, confirming the high-quality performance. Furthermore, only 0–36 cells and 0–6 Ms were idle during operation, showing improved cell utilisation. Full article
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19 pages, 2775 KB  
Article
Cooperative Optimization Analysis of Variable-Speed and Fixed-Speed Pumped-Storage Units Under Large Disturbances in the Power System
by Weidong Chen and Jianyuan Xu
Energies 2025, 18(10), 2441; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18102441 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 1211
Abstract
Aimed at the large disturbance of a power system caused by frequent new energy clusters going off-grid, we propose a cooperative optimization strategy of variable-speed and constant-speed pumped-storage units to address power oscillation due to significant power shortages following the clusters going off-grid. [...] Read more.
Aimed at the large disturbance of a power system caused by frequent new energy clusters going off-grid, we propose a cooperative optimization strategy of variable-speed and constant-speed pumped-storage units to address power oscillation due to significant power shortages following the clusters going off-grid. From a multi-time-scale perspective, we first investigate the fast power support control strategy of variable-speed pumped-storage (VSPS) units during new energy cluster off-grid scenarios. Using a consensus algorithm, the VSPS acts as the primary unit, while the constant-speed unit provides long-term power support. We present a rapid power control method for VSPS to prioritize frequency stability in mainland grids with high new energy penetration. This ensures stable power support for large-scale new energy clusters under large disturbances across multiple time scales. Simulation analysis on a high proportion of new energy power networks with new energy clusters confirms the effectiveness of our proposed method. Full article
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