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Voltage Estimation in Combination With Level-Adjusted Phase-Shifted-Carrier Modulation (LA-PSC) for Sensorless Balancing of Diode-Clamped Modular Multilevel Converters (MMCs)

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tashakor, N; Keshavarzi, D; Iraji, F; Banana, S; Goetz, S
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
April 1, 2023

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) is a popular solution in high-voltage applications with significant potential in others. However, its stable operation is at the expense of numerous sensors, high communication burden, and complicated balancing strategies, which reduce its cost-effectiveness. Hence, the introduction of a sensorless voltage-balancing strategy with a simple controller is an attractive objective. The diode-clamped MMC offers the simplest and yet a highly effective solution for creating a balancing path between two modules through a diode with a fraction of the rated current. To compensate the lack of bidirectional energy transfer, a modified modulation technique is necessary. Level-adjusted phase-shifted-carrier (LA-PSC) modulation introduces a small circulating current that ensures the correct balancing direction. Although the open-loop operation is possible, monitoring and protection functions may still necessitate the independent tracking of the modules' voltages. This article proposes a simple voltage-estimation method based on back-propagation without additional measurement. The algorithm further considers the balancing effect of the diode-clamped and the introduced circulating currents that reduces steady-state errors as well as fluctuations. Simulations and experiments verify the provided analysis and confirm that the proposed estimator can track the modules' voltages with <1% and <3% errors in balanced and imbalanced conditions, respectively.

Duke Scholars

Published In

IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics

DOI

EISSN

1941-0107

ISSN

0885-8993

Publication Date

April 1, 2023

Volume

38

Issue

4

Start / End Page

4267 / 4278

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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Tashakor, N., Keshavarzi, D., Iraji, F., Banana, S., & Goetz, S. (2023). Voltage Estimation in Combination With Level-Adjusted Phase-Shifted-Carrier Modulation (LA-PSC) for Sensorless Balancing of Diode-Clamped Modular Multilevel Converters (MMCs). IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 38(4), 4267–4278. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2022.3226421
Tashakor, N., D. Keshavarzi, F. Iraji, S. Banana, and S. Goetz. “Voltage Estimation in Combination With Level-Adjusted Phase-Shifted-Carrier Modulation (LA-PSC) for Sensorless Balancing of Diode-Clamped Modular Multilevel Converters (MMCs).” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics 38, no. 4 (April 1, 2023): 4267–78. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2022.3226421.
Tashakor N, Keshavarzi D, Iraji F, Banana S, Goetz S. Voltage Estimation in Combination With Level-Adjusted Phase-Shifted-Carrier Modulation (LA-PSC) for Sensorless Balancing of Diode-Clamped Modular Multilevel Converters (MMCs). IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics. 2023 Apr 1;38(4):4267–78.
Tashakor, N., et al. “Voltage Estimation in Combination With Level-Adjusted Phase-Shifted-Carrier Modulation (LA-PSC) for Sensorless Balancing of Diode-Clamped Modular Multilevel Converters (MMCs).” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 38, no. 4, Apr. 2023, pp. 4267–78. Scopus, doi:10.1109/TPEL.2022.3226421.
Tashakor N, Keshavarzi D, Iraji F, Banana S, Goetz S. Voltage Estimation in Combination With Level-Adjusted Phase-Shifted-Carrier Modulation (LA-PSC) for Sensorless Balancing of Diode-Clamped Modular Multilevel Converters (MMCs). IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics. 2023 Apr 1;38(4):4267–4278.

Published In

IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics

DOI

EISSN

1941-0107

ISSN

0885-8993

Publication Date

April 1, 2023

Volume

38

Issue

4

Start / End Page

4267 / 4278

Related Subject Headings

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