Control and Experimental Validation of the Series Bridge Modular Multilevel Converter for HVDC Applications

Diez, Carlos Martinez; Costabeber, Alessandro; Tardelli, Francesco; Trainer, D.R.; Clare, John

doi:10.1109/tpel.2019.2929862

Cited by 22 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The possibility of developing a modular multilevel solar PV converter based on the MMC topology was first discussed in [69]. According to several articles, the MMC converter has exceptional performance in high-power applications such as multi-terminal HVDC systems [70,71], motor drives [72,73], offshore wind farms [74,75], and static synchronous compensators (STATCOM) [76,77]. However, MMC topology has not shown the same success in the field of solar PV systems.…”

Section: Modular-multilevel Converters (Mmc)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modular Multilevel Converters for Large-Scale Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems: A Review

Alotaibi

Darwish

2021

Energies

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The use of photovoltaic (PV) systems as the energy source of electrical distributed generators (DG) is gaining popularity, due to the progress of power electronics devices and technologies. Large-scale solar PV power plants are becoming the preferable solution to meet the fast growth of electrical energy demand, as they can be installed in less than one year, as compared to around four years in the case of conventional power plants. Modular multilevel inverters (MMIs) are the best solution to connect these large-scale PV plants to the medium-voltage (MV) grid, due to their numerous merits, such as providing better power quality, having higher efficiency, providing better reliability, and their scalability. However, MMIs are still progressing and need some improvement before they can be implemented safely in the industrial, medium, and high voltage networks. The main purpose of this paper is to review the present MMIs topologies when used in PV applications. The review aims to present a comprehensive study of the various recent submodule circuits associated with MMI topologies. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control schemes for PV inverters will be explored extensively. Then, the different control strategies of PV MMIs will be presented and compared to give a holistic overview of the submodules balancing techniques, ranges, and capabilities under balanced and unbalanced grid conditions. In addition, the paper will discuss the future of PV MMIs systems in electricity networks.

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Section: Modular-multilevel Converters (Mmc)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modular Multilevel Converters for Large-Scale Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems: A Review

Alotaibi

Darwish

2021

Energies

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“…To reduce the number of submodules, various topologies with a series connection of converter phases have also been introduced. Among them, the most prominent are the Parallel Hybrid Modular Multilevel Converter (PH-MMC) [17]- [18] and the Series Bridge Converter (SBC) [19]- [20]. Due to the coupling between AC-and DC-side voltages in the PH-MMC resulting in a fixed modulation index, the control of the AC output voltage is achieved by adding third harmonic components in the reference voltages [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Switched Mid-Point Modular Multilevel Converter for HVDC Applications

Hassan

Watson

Tardelli

et al. 2023

IEEE Trans. Power Delivery

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The modular multilevel converter (MMC) has emerged as the industry standard for voltage source converters (VSC) based high voltage direct-current (HVDC) applications since its benefits of scalability, modularity, high efficiency and better output quality outweigh its drawback of large energy storage. However, with a growing number of offshore HVDC installations, the volume and footprint of the converter, which are largely influenced by its energy storage, are becoming increasingly critical. This has led to a rising interest in alternative converter topologies that reduce the energy storage while maintaining the benefits of the MMC. This paper introduces a switched mid-point modular multilevel converter (SMPC), that is able to generate the desired AC-side waveforms with significantly less energy storage (around 50%) than the MMC. The DC-side is free from any distortion that requires additional filtering. Reduced energy storage and the associated reduction in volume is achieved at the expense of requiring more switches and slightly lower efficiency when compared to the MMC. Like many other MMC-style circuits, except when operating at a 'sweet-spot', active control of the energy balance is needed, for which a technique based on second harmonic injection is proposed. The converter operation and the proposed control scheme are verified by simulations for a medium-voltage setup and experimentally on a low-voltage labscale prototype.

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“…Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) represent a popular topology of voltage source converters in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems [1][2][3][4][5][6]. MMC-HVDC systems typically involve a large number of submodules (SMs).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semi‐hot redundant control method for modular multilevel converter‐based high‐voltage direct current systems under submodules fault

Yang

Jia

Zou

et al. 2023

IET Power Electronics

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A modular multilevel converter‐based high voltage direct current (MMC‐HVDC) system involves a large number of cascading submodules (SMs). The failure of SMs may critically degrade the system performance. Therefore, several redundant SMs can be incorporated and reasonably controlled to ensure the system reliable and continuous operation even if certain SMs fail. This paper proposes a semi‐hot redundant method for MMC‐HVDC systems. In the proposed strategy, when the system operates normally, the redundant SMs are controlled in a lower voltage range. These SMs do not require frequent charging and discharging, which decreases the switching loss. When ordinary SMs fail, the faulty SMs are bypassed and the corresponding number of redundant SMs can be promptly recharged to the rated voltage to replace the faulty SMs. The semi‐hot reserved SMs can shorten the transient process of faulty SMs replacement, and in this process, the absence of faulty SMs does not considerably influence the system. Thus, the original control and modulation strategies of the system do not need to be modified when several SMs fail. The performance of the proposed method is compared with those of the existing methods, and its validity is demonstrated through a small‐scale experimental prototype.

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Control and Experimental Validation of the Series Bridge Modular Multilevel Converter for HVDC Applications

Cited by 22 publications

References 22 publications

Modular Multilevel Converters for Large-Scale Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems: A Review

Modular Multilevel Converters for Large-Scale Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems: A Review

A Switched Mid-Point Modular Multilevel Converter for HVDC Applications

Semi‐hot redundant control method for modular multilevel converter‐based high‐voltage direct current systems under submodules fault

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