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Module implementation and modulation strategy for sensorless balancing in modular multilevel converters

Publication ,  Journal Article
Li, Z; Lizana, R; Sha, S; Yu, Z; Peterchev, AV; Goetz, SM
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
September 1, 2019

Modules with series and parallel connectivity add new features and operation modes to modular multilevel converters (MMCs). Compared to full-and half-bridges, the series/parallel modules allow sensorless module balancing and reduce conduction loss with the same semiconductor area. However, in high-voltage applications with limited switching rates, the sensorless operation of the series/parallel modules suffers from large charge-balancing currents. This paper introduces a series/parallel module variant with a small port inductor. The port inductor suppresses the charge-balancing current despite low switching rates. We also propose a carrier-based modulation framework and show the importance of the carrier assignment in terms of efficiency and balancing. The proposed module and the modulation method are verified on a lab setup with module switching rates down to 200 Hz. The module voltages are kept within a narrow band with the charge-balancing currents below 5% of the arm current. The experimental results show practicality and advantages of the new series/parallel modules in high-voltage MMC applications.

Duke Scholars

Published In

IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics

DOI

ISSN

0885-8993

Publication Date

September 1, 2019

Volume

34

Issue

9

Start / End Page

8405 / 8416

Related Subject Headings

  • Electrical & Electronic Engineering
  • 4009 Electronics, sensors and digital hardware
  • 4008 Electrical engineering
  • 0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering
 

Citation

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Li, Z., Lizana, R., Sha, S., Yu, Z., Peterchev, A. V., & Goetz, S. M. (2019). Module implementation and modulation strategy for sensorless balancing in modular multilevel converters. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 34(9), 8405–8416. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2018.2886147
Li, Z., R. Lizana, S. Sha, Z. Yu, A. V. Peterchev, and S. M. Goetz. “Module implementation and modulation strategy for sensorless balancing in modular multilevel converters.” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics 34, no. 9 (September 1, 2019): 8405–16. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2018.2886147.
Li Z, Lizana R, Sha S, Yu Z, Peterchev AV, Goetz SM. Module implementation and modulation strategy for sensorless balancing in modular multilevel converters. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics. 2019 Sep 1;34(9):8405–16.
Li, Z., et al. “Module implementation and modulation strategy for sensorless balancing in modular multilevel converters.” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 34, no. 9, Sept. 2019, pp. 8405–16. Scopus, doi:10.1109/TPEL.2018.2886147.
Li Z, Lizana R, Sha S, Yu Z, Peterchev AV, Goetz SM. Module implementation and modulation strategy for sensorless balancing in modular multilevel converters. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics. 2019 Sep 1;34(9):8405–8416.

Published In

IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics

DOI

ISSN

0885-8993

Publication Date

September 1, 2019

Volume

34

Issue

9

Start / End Page

8405 / 8416

Related Subject Headings

  • Electrical & Electronic Engineering
  • 4009 Electronics, sensors and digital hardware
  • 4008 Electrical engineering
  • 0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering