Journal of Power Electronics

The Korean Institute of Power Electronics (전력전자학회)
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A Novel Modulation Method for Three-Level Inverter Neutral Point Potential Oscillation Elimination

  • Yao, Yuan (New Energy Research Center of Electric Power College, South China University of Technology) ;
  • Kang, Longyun (New Energy Research Center of Electric Power College, South China University of Technology) ;
  • Zhang, Zhi (Department of Electrical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology)
  • Received : 2017.01.14
  • Accepted : 2017.11.10
  • Published : 2018.03.20
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Abstract

A novel algorithm is proposed to regulate the neutral point potential in neutral point clamped three-level inverters. Oscillations of the neutral point potential and an unbalanced dc-link voltage cause distortions of the output voltage. Large capacitors, which make the application costly and bulky, are needed to eliminate oscillations. Thus, the algorithm proposed in this paper utilizes the finite-control-set model predictive control and the multistage medium vector to solve these issues. The proposed strategy consists of a two-step prediction and a cost function to evaluate the selected multistage medium vector. Unlike the virtual vector method, the multistage medium vector is a mixture of the virtual vector and the original vector. In addition, its amplitude is variable. The neutral point current generated by it can be used to adjust the neutral point potential. When compared with the virtual vector method, the multistage medium vector contributes to decreasing the regulation time when the modulation index is high. The vectors are rearranged to cope with the variable switching frequency of the model predictive control. Simulation and experimental results verify the validity of the proposed strategy.

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References

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