Recently the researches on modular multi-level converter (MMC) are being highlighted because high quality and efficient power transmission have become key issues in high voltage direct current (HVDC) systems. This paper proposes an improved pre-charging method for the sub-module (SM) capacitor of MMC-based HVDC systems, which operates in the nearest level control (NLC) modulation and does not need additional circuits or pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques. The feasibility of the proposed method was verified through computer simulations for a scaled 3-phase 10kVA MMC with 12 SMs per each arm. Hardware experiments with a scaled prototype have also been performed in the lab to confirm the simulation results.

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-In remote islands PV (Photo Voltaic) panel with BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) supplies electric power to the customers in parallel operation with EG (Engine Generator) to save fuel consumption and to mitigate environmental load. BESS operates in voltage control mode when it supplies power to the load alone, while it operates in current control mode when it supplies power to the load in parallel with EG. This paper proposes a smooth mode change scheme from current control to voltage control of BESS by adding proper initial value to the integral part of voltage control, and a smooth mode change scheme from voltage control to current control by tracking the EG output voltage to the BESS output voltage using PLL (Phase-Locked Loop). The feasibility of proposed schemes was verified through computer simulations with PSCAD/EMTDC, and the feasibility of actual hardware system was verified by experiments with scaled prototype. It was confirmed that the proposed schemes offer a seamless operation in the stand-alone power system in remote islands.

-Recently the researches on Modular Multi-level Converter (MMC) are being highlighted because high quality and efficient power transmission are key issues in the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission system. This paper proposes an improved pre-charging method for the sub-module capacitors in MMC that operates in Nearest Level Control (NLC) modulation. The proposed method does not require additional circuits or Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques. The feasibility of proposed method was verified through computer simulations for a scaled 3-phase 10kVA MMC with 12 submodules per each arm. Hardware experiments with a scaled prototype were performed in the lab to confirm the simulation results.