Search Results (10)

Traditional multilevel inverter topologies, such FC, NPC, and CHB, have a few significant disadvantages. They need a great number of parts, which raises the complexity, expense, and switching losses. Furthermore, their intricate control schemes make voltage balancing and synchronization challenging. Lastly, under some circumstances, they experience severe harmonic distortion, necessitating the inclusion of expensive filters to enhance signal quality. This paper proposes a novel multilevel converter topology that uses the phase-disposition PWM (PD-PWM) technique to control a 19-level output. This new configuration maintains performance comparable to the CHB-MLI reference while using fewer switches, simplifying control, and reducing costs. Our approach is based on extensive simulations conducted in the MATLAB Simulink environment, with results compared to the CHB-MLI. A low-pass filter is added to improve the output voltage quality, reducing the THD% to 1.33%. This strategy offers several advantages, including simpler control, lower costs, increased reliability, and higher-quality output. The system was replicated using MATLAB Simulink and validated through hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. The HIL method ensures real-world testing without causing damage to the hardware. The integrated system includes sensors and necessary hardware for a comprehensive energy management solution. Full article

Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) represent the forefront of power converter technology, with wide-ranging applications across diverse industries. Over recent decades, substantial research and development efforts have been dedicated to enhancing MMCs’ performance. A significant challenge in power conversion processes is the presence of total harmonic distortion (THD) in output waveforms, which can have adverse effects on electrical equipment. In response, extensive studies have been conducted to address THD-related challenges by refining the control and operation of MMCs. This study investigates the effect of the amplitude modulation index (Ma) on the total harmonic distortion (THD) in nine-level MMC output waves. For this, a standard three-phase and nine-level MMC model was built and simulated in MATLAB/ Simulink environment, and the Ma value was shifted between 0.1 and 1.5. The output current and voltage waves were analyzed, and the optimal limits for the Ma values yielding the lowest THD values were determined. The simulation outcomes reveal a crucial Ma range between 0.6 and 1.2, where THD is significantly minimized. Ma values below 0.6 introduce significant harmonic distortion in the voltage waves, while values surpassing 1.2 lead to appreciable harmonic distortion in the current wave. This study contributes valuable insights for engineers and researchers and aids in the refinement of MMC control strategies and the mitigation of THD-related challenges in power systems. Full article

Multilevel inverters (MLIs) have recently attracted more attention in medium-voltage and high-power applications as they can provide an effective interface with photovoltaic (PV) systems. Conventional MLIs are used to generate higher voltage levels, which improve power quality and reduce the requirement for passive filters. However, recent research has focused on designing new MLI topologies using reduced switch counts and less voltage stress. This study, as such, proposes a new nine-level symmetric MLI for PV systems with a minimum number of switches. This decrease in the number of switches reduces the voltage stress across the switches and the number of driving circuits, which lowers the complexity of the control circuit and, as a result, lowers the cost and size of the system. This article compares the proposed MLI with other topologies based on the DC sources, switches count, gate driver circuits (N_gd), total standing voltage per unit (TSV_PU), cost function (CF), and components count per level (CC/L). The proposed topology is integrated with the PV system. MATLAB software is used to evaluate the performance of MLI at step change in irradiance and under variable load conditions. The total harmonic distortion (THD) of the proposed topology is reduced with the implementation of phase disposition pulse width modulation (PD-PWM). In addition, PD-PWM is compared with phase opposition disposition pulse width modulation (POD-PWM) and alternative phase opposition disposition pulse width (APOD-PWM) modulation techniques. The simulation results reveal the improved performance of the proposed topology at variable irradiance and under varying load conditions. The comparison results reveal minimum (TSV_PU), CC/L, CF, and switch count compared to existing topologies. Hence, the proposed topology of MLI is cost-effective and superior in all aspects compared to other topologies. In summary, it offers overall improved performance, and thus, it is feasible for the PV system. Full article

The hybrid modular multilevel converter (MMC) consisting of half-bridge submodules (HBSMs) and full-bridge submodules (FBSMs) is a promising solution for overhead lines high-voltage direct current systems (HVDC) due to the advantages of direct current short circuit fault ride-through (DC-FRT) capability. This paper proposes an improved phase-disposition pulse width modulation (PDPWM) method for the hybrid modular multilevel converter. The number of carriers can be reduced from 3N (N is the number of submodules in each arm) to 6. The theoretical harmonic analysis of the improved PDPWM method for hybrid MMC is performed by using double Fourier integral analysis. The influence of three carrier displacement angles between HBSMs and FBSMs in the upper and lower arms on harmonic characteristics is investigated. The output voltage harmonics minimization PDPWM scheme and circulating current harmonics cancellation PDPWM scheme can be achieved by selecting the optimum carrier displacement angles, respectively. The proposed method for hybrid MMC is verified by the simulation and experimental results. Full article

This paper suggested a single-phase cross-connected half-bridges multilevel inverter (cchb-mli) topology for static synchronous compensator (statcom) applications. The proposed mli structure consists of cross-connected multilevel cells connected in series with a more optimized number of devices to synthesize a higher number of voltage steps. Each cell in the structure consists of a set of switches and a dc-capacitor. Typically, when several dc-capacitors are used in an inverter, the dc voltages fluctuation occurs due to tolerance between passive element and asymmetric switch losses. A dual-loop control technique has been proposed with level-shifted pulse width modulation pwm to overcome these issues. The proposed methodology balances the dc-voltages using a proportional-integral controller by adjusting the switch duty cycle. The control method helps offset the issue of aggravated fluctuation while preserving the delivered reactive power distributed equally among the dc-capacitors at the same time. A thorough comparison is made between the proposed inverter concerning the number of components and efficiency to demonstrate the effectiveness of previous topologies. Moreover, a simulation model built in simulink and experimental results take from laboratory prototype to confirm the effectiveness of proposed structure and its control technique. Full article

A modular multilevel converter (MMC) is an advanced voltage source converter applicable to a wide range of medium and high-voltage applications. It has competitive advantages such as quality output performance, high modularity, simple scalability, and low voltage and current rating demand for the power switches. Remarkable studies have been carried out regarding its topology, control, and operation. The main purpose of this review is to present the current state of the art of the MMC technology and to offer a better understanding of its operation and control for stationary applications. In this study, the MMC configuration is presented regarding its conventional and advanced submodule (SM) and overall topologies. The mathematical modeling, output voltage, and current control under different grid conditions, submodule balancing control, circulating current control, and modulation methods are discussed to provide the state of the MMC technology. The challenges linked to the MMC are associated with submodule balancing control, circulating current control, control complexity, and transient performance. Advanced nonlinear and predictable control strategies are expected to improve the MMC control and performance in comparison with conventional control methods. Finally, the power losses associated with the advanced wide bandgap (WBG) power devices (such as SiC, GaN) are explored by using different modulation schemes and switching frequencies. The results indicate that although the phase-shifted carrier-based pulse width modulation (PSC-PWM) has higher power losses, it outputs a better quality voltage with lower total harmonic distortion (THD) in comparison with phase-disposition pulse width modulation (PD-PWM) and sampled average modulation pulse width modulation (SAM-PWM). In addition, WBG switches such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) devices have lower power losses and higher efficiency, especially at high switching frequency in the MMC applications. Full article

CHB is a suitable type of topology for synchronous rectifier application which has two or more independent DC loads. Focusing on the individual DC-link capacitor voltage balancing problems caused by asymmetric parameters of independent DC loads, this paper developed a new dual modulation signals based phase disposition pulse width modulation (PD-PWM) strategy using dynamic carrier bias allocation method. Its main idea is to allocate the bias of the carrier wave dynamically according to the balance situation of the system. Compared with the traditional modulation strategies, this method is more easily to be realized and has much stronger dynamic regulation ability. This modulation strategy is widely applicable to various types of CHB structures. A detailed analysis of the DC-link capacitor charge-discharge profile is performed, and an operation condition based dynamic bias allocation method is described using the cascaded H-bridge rectifier (CHBR) structure of five sub-modules as an example. A simulation model and an experiment platform are developed, and the feasibility and effectiveness of the modulation strategy are verified by simulation and experiment results. Full article

Each arm of modular multilevel converter (MMC) consists of a large number of sub-module (SM) units. However, it also increases the probability of SM failure during the long-term system operation. Focusing on the fault-tolerant operation issue for the MMC under SM faults, the traditional zero-sequence voltage injection fault-tolerant control algorithm is analyzed detailed and its disadvantages are concluded. Based on this, a novel fault-tolerant control strategy based on phase disposition pulse-width modulation (PD-PWM) is proposed in this paper, which has three main benefits: (i) it has carrier and modulation wave dual correction mechanism, which control ability is more higher and flexible; (ii) it only needs to inject zero-sequence voltage in half a cycle of the modulation wave, which simplifies the complexity of traditional zero-sequence voltage injection control algorithms and much easier for implement; (iii) furthermore, the zero-sequence voltage can even be avoided injecting under the symmetrical fault conditions. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is verified with the simulation and experiment studies under different fault conditions. Full article

Over the last decades, plants devoted to the generation of green energy significantly increased their number, together with the demand of same electrical energy, also stored in battery systems. This fact produced the growth of energy conversion systems with advanced performances with respect to the traditional ones. In this circumstance, multilevel converters play a significant role for their great advantages in performances, flexibility, fault-tolerability, employment of renewable energy sources and storage systems and finally yet importantly reduced filter requirements. In this context, this paper faces the performance of a cascaded H-bridge 5 level inverter in terms of harmonic distortion generated and injected into the grid. Through an accurate analysis that takes into account the pulse width modulation (PWM) multicarrier modulation techniques (phase disposition PD, phase opposition disposition POD, alternative phase opposition disposition APOD, phase shifted PS) and related reference signals (sinusoidal reference; third harmonic injection THI reference, switching frequency optimal SFO reference), a framework of distorting harmonics is presented by comparing twelve cases. The results obtained from the simulations are reproduced and validated in a prototype system of five level cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter. A deep discussion of control and filtering system is provided to justify the choice of the best modulation technique to adopt. Full article

A multiphase motor has several major advantages, such as high reliability, fault tolerance, and high power density. It is a critical issue to develop a reliable and efficient multiphase motor drive system. In this paper, a transformerless voltage source converter-based drive system for a medium-voltage (MV) multiphase motor is proposed. This drive converter employs cascaded H-bridge rectifiers loaded by H-bridge inverters as the interface between the grid and multiphase motor. The cascaded H-bridge rectifier technique makes the drive system able to be directly connected to the MV grid without the phase-shifting transformer because it can offset the voltage level gap between the MV grid and the semiconductor devices, provide near-sinusoidal AC terminal voltages without filters, and draw sinusoidal line current from the grid. Based on a digital signal processor (DSP), a complete improved Phase Disposition Pulse Width Modulation (PD-PWM) method is developed to ensure the individual DC-link capacitor voltage balancing for enhancing the controllability and limiting the voltage and power stress on the H-bridge cells. A downscaled prototype is designed and developed based on a nine-phase motor. The experimental results verify the excellent performances of the proposed drive system and control strategy in steady-state and variant-frequency startup operations. Full article