Abstract-Flying capacitor converters (FCCs), as most multilevel converter topologies, require a balancing mechanism of the capacitor voltages. FCCs have the valuable property of natural voltage balancing when a special modulation technique is used. The classic methods, like Phase-Shifted Pulse Width Modulation (PS-PWM), result in very slow balancing for some duty ratio ranges. Previous work showed that for a single-leg five-level FCC one time constant is infinite for a zero desired output voltage. In this paper, a modified PS-PWM scheme for a single-leg fivelevel FCC is presented which results in faster balancing over the total duty ratio range. The modified PS-PWM scheme is studied, resulting in an averaged voltage balancing model. This model is verified using simulations and experiments. The modified PS-PWM scheme solves the slow balancing problems of the normal PS-PWM method for odd-level FCCs, while maintaining the passive control property, and it provides a self-precharge capability.

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PurposeFlying‐capacitor multilevel converters (FCC) need a passive or active regulation of the capacitor voltages. Recently the trend is towards active control, often implemented separately from the current control. The advantages of a true multi‐variable control sparked the interest to apply Model Based Predictive Control (MBPC) for FCC. In this paper an objective analysis method to evaluate the effects of several design choices is presented. The effects of the weight factor selection, model simplification, and prediction horizon expansion for MBPC of a 3‐level FCC are analyzed in a systematical way.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is mainly based on the mean square error (MSE) of current and capacitor voltage. The results are analysed for different lengths of the prediction horizon and for a wide range of weight factor values. Similarly the effect of a model simplification, neglecting the neutral point voltage, is studied when implementing MBPC for FCCs while considering the computational aspects. Validation of the simulation results is done by experiments on an FPGA‐based setup.FindingsIncluding the effect of the neutral point voltage considerably increases the current control quality and a much wider range of good values for the weight factor exists. As this good range is not critically dependent on the current amplitude it is possible to select one weight factor value for all operating points. Furthermore, it is concluded that increasing the prediction horizon increases the computational load without improving the control quality.Research limitations/implicationsThe effects of increasing the prediction horizon when including other controlled variables is to be investigated, as well as the robustness to modeling errors. The MSE analysis methodology is very suitable for this further research.Practical implicationsFor practitioners of MBPC in power electronics the paper proves that by means of simulations and the MSE one value for weight factor can be chosen for all operating points. The paper clearly shows that a practical implementation is feasible and demonstrates that neglecting the neutral point voltage is not good practice.Originality/valueThe MSE‐based analysis is shown to be a systematical and unbiased methodology to evaluate the effects of design choices. The results from this analysis can be directly applied in practical setups.