• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.1317-1326
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• 2017

The cascaded H-bridge (CHB) multilevel converter is a promising topology for large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems. The output voltage over-modulation derived by the inter-module active power imbalance is one of the key issues for CHB PV systems. This paper proposed a dynamic power distribution strategy to eliminate the over-modulation in a CHB PV system by suitably redistributing the reactive power among the inverter modules of the CHB PV system. The proposed strategy can effectively extend the operating region of the CHB PV system with a simple control algorithm and easy implementation. Simulation and experimental results carried out on a seven-level CHB grid-connected PV system are shown to validate the proposed strategy.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.1329-1337
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• 2015

By placing distributed generation power sources beside a big nonlinear load, these sources can be used as a power quality enhancer, while injecting some active power to the network. In this paper, a new scheme to use the distributed generation power source in both operation modes is presented. In this scheme, a fuzzy controller is added to adjust the optimal set point of inverter between compensating mode and maximum active power injection mode, which works based on the harmonic content of the nonlinear load. As the high order current harmonics can be easily rejected using passive filters, the DG is used to compensate the low order harmonics of the load current. Multilevel transformerless cascade inverters are preferred in such utilization, as they have more flexibility in current/voltage waveform. The proposed scheme is simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK to evaluate the circuit performance. Then, a 1kw single phase prototype of the circuit is used for experimental evaluation of the paper. Both simulative and experimental results prove that such a circuit can inject a well-controlled current with desired harmonics and THD, while having a smaller switching frequency and better efficiency, related to previous 3-phase inverter schemes in the literature.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.222-231
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• 2017

In this paper, a new architecture for a cost-effective power conditioning systems (PCS) using a single-sourced asymmetric cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter (MLI) for photovoltaic (PV) applications is proposed. The asymmetric MLI topology has a reduced number of parts compared to the symmetrical type for the same number of voltage level. However, the modulation index threshold related to the drop in the number of levels of the inverter output is higher than that of the symmetrical MLI. This problem results in a modulation index limitation which is relatively higher than that of the symmetrical MLI. Hence, an extra voltage pre-regulator becomes a necessary component in the PCS under a wide operating bias variation. In addition to pre-stage voltage regulation for the constant MLI dc-links, another auxiliary pre-regulator should provide isolation and voltage balance among the multiple H-bridge cells in the asymmetrical MLI as well as the symmetrical ones. The proposed PCS uses a single-ended DC-DC converter topology with a coupled inductor and charge-pump circuit to satisfy all of the aforementioned requirements. Since the proposed integrated-type voltage pre-regulator circuit uses only a single MOSFET switch and a single magnetic component, the size and cost of the PCS is an optimal trade-off. In addition, the voltage balance between the separate H-bridge cells is automatically maintained by the number of turns in the coupled inductor transformer regardless of the duty cycle, which eliminates the need for an extra voltage regulator for the auxiliary H-bridge in MLIs. The voltage balance is also maintained under the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). Thus, the PCS is also operational during light load conditions. The proposed architecture can apply the module-integrated converter (MIC) concept to perform distributed MPPT. The proposed architecture is analyzed and verified for a 7-level asymmetric MLI, using simulation results and a hardware implementation.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.670-684
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• 2015

The hybrid cascaded multilevel inverter (HCMLI) is a popular converter topology that is being increasingly used in high power medium voltage drives. The intricacy of the control technique for a HCMLI increases with the number of levels and due to fluctuating dc voltages. This paper presents a novel offline quadrant search based space vector modulation technique to synthesize a sinusoidal output from a dispersed pattern of voltage vectors due to different voltages in the auxiliary unit. Such an investigation has never been reported in the literature and it is being attempted for the first time. The method suggested distributes the voltage vectors for a reduced total harmonic distortion at minimal computation. In addition, the proposed algorithm determines the maximum modulation index in the linear modulation range in order to synthesize a sinusoidal output for both normal and abnormal vector patterns. It is better suited for a wide range of practical applications. It is particularly well suited for renewable source fed inverters which utilize large capacitor banks to maintain the dc link, which are prone to such slow fluctuations. The proposed quadrant search space vector modulation technique is simulated using MATLAB/SIMULINK and implemented using a Nexys-2 Spartan-3E FPGA for a developed prototype.

• 전력전자학회:학술대회논문집
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• 전력전자학회 2012년도 전력전자학술대회 논문집
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• pp.59-60
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• 2012

Cascaded H-bridge 멀티레벨인버터의 스위칭 패턴을 기본파 생성을 위한 저주파 동작과 파형 개선 목적의 고주파 PWM 스위칭 패턴으로 구분하여 스위칭 손실을 감소시킬 수 있지만 입력단의 DC 독립전압원은 각 H-bridge 모듈이 담당하는 출력전압의 레벨에 따라 용량의 차이가 발생한다. 이는 각 H-Bridge 모듈 스위치의 전류 스트레스 차이를 의미하며, 이로 인해 H-bridge 모듈별 수명 차이를 발생시킨다. 본 논문에서는 용량 창이에 따른 모듈 특성 개선과 인버터 수명 문제를 해결하기 위하여 기존의 다중 반송파 정현 펄스폭 변조방식에 스와핑 스위칭 방법을 적용하여 Cascaded H-bridge 멀티레벨인버터에 적용함으로써 스위칭 손실 개선과 함께 각 H-bridge 별 담당 부하 전력을 동일하게 하여 동일 전류 정격 스위치의 사용을 가능하게 한다. 제안된 스와핑 스위칭 패턴을 PD, POD, APOD방식으로 구현하고 이론적 분석과 시뮬레이션을 통해 타당성을 검증한다.

• 전력전자학회:학술대회논문집
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• 전력전자학회 2015년도 전력전자학술대회 논문집
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• pp.79-80
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• 2015

멀티레벨 인버터에 널리 사용되는 Phase Shifted PWM은 셀 간의 동일한 전력 분배가 가능하나 각 셀 carrier의 위상차이로 인해 무부하 운전시 특정 셀에 회생이 발생하고, 지령 전압과 실제 전압의 위상차가 발생하는 단점이 있다. Level Shifted PWM을 통해 이와 같은 단점을 보완할 수 있으나, 각 셀의 스위칭 패턴이 모두 달라 전력 분배가 동일하게 이루어 지지 않는 문제가 있다. 본 논문에서는 기존의 Level Shifted PWM 방법을 개선하여 각 셀의 스위칭 패턴을 순환시켜 셀 간 동일한 전력분배가 이루어지도록 하였고, 시뮬레이션을 통해 이를 검증하였다.

• 조명전기설비학회논문지
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• 제27권12호
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• pp.133-140
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• 2013

Cascaded H-Bridge multi-level inverters can be implemented through the series connection of single-phase modular power bridges. In recent years, multi-level inverters are becoming increasingly popular for high power applications due to its improved harmonic profile and increased power ratings. This paper presents a control method for balancing the dc-link voltage and ride-through enhancement, a modified pulse width-modulation Compensation algorithm of cascaded H-bridge multi-level inverters. During an under-voltage protection mechanism, causing the system to shut down within a few milliseconds after a power interruption in the main input sources. When a power interruption occurs finish, if the system is a large inertia restarting the load a long time is required. This paper suggests modifications in the control algorithm in order to improve the sag ride-through performance of ac inverter. The new proposed strategy recommends maintaining the DC-link voltage constant at the nominal value during a sag period, experimental results are presented.

• 전기학회논문지
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• 제67권7호
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• pp.846-853
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• 2018

In this paper, an improved model predictive control (MPC) method is proposed, which reduces the amount of calculations caused by the increased number of candidate voltage vectors with the increased voltage level in multi-level inverters. When the conventional MPC method is used for multi-level inverters, all candidate voltage vectors are considered to predict the next-step current value. However, in the case that the sampling time is short, increased voltage level makes it difficult to consider the all candidate voltage vectors. In this paper, the improved MPC method which can get a fast transient response is proposed with a small amount of the computation by adding new candidate voltage vectors that are set to find the optimal vector. As a result, the proposed method shows faster transient response than the method that considers the adjacent vectors and reduces the computational burden compared to the method that considers the whole voltage vector. the performance of the proposed method is verified through simulations and experiments.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.944-955
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• 2019

In this paper, the three-level T-type neutral-point-clamped indirect matrix converter topology and the relative space vector modulation methods are introduced to improve the voltage transfer ratio and output voltage performance. The presented converter topology is based on combinations of cascaded-rectifier and three-level T-type neutral-point-clamp inverter. It can overcome the limitation of voltage transfer ratio of the conventional matrix converter and the high voltage rating of power switches of conventional matrix converter. Two SVPWM strategies for proposed converter are described in this paper to achieve the advantages features such as: sinusoidal input/output currents and three-level output voltage waveforms. Results from Psim 9.0 software simulation are provided to confirm the theoretical analysis. Hence, a laboratory prototype was implemented, and the experimental results are shown to validate the simulation results and to verify the effectiveness of the proposed topology and modulation strategies.

• 전력전자학회:학술대회논문집
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• 전력전자학회 2016년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.9-10
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• 2016

최근 급속한 산업 발달로 인하여 기존의 수 MW급 대용량 인버터가 산업용 팬, 컴프레서, 고속 철도 시스템 등 여러 분야에 사용되면서 이와 관련된 대용량 인버터 연구가 활발히 진행 중이다. 이런 대용량 인버터는 고효율과 직병렬의 구성된 전력용반도체 소자를 동시다발적으로 제어되어야하기 때문에 멀티레벨 인버터의 구조가 가장 적합하다. Cascaded H-bridge 멀티레벨 인버터는 커패시터와 다이오드를 사용하지 않고 스위치만으로 구성하며, 필터를 따로 구성하지 않아도 정현파와 유사하게 전압을 출력할 수 있다. 이로 인해 고주파 감소 및 각 셀을 직렬로 연결하여 입력전압보다 높은 출력전압을 얻을 수 있다. 또한, 스위칭 방법에 따라 동일한 Cascaded H-bridge 멀티레벨인버터 토폴로지에서도 각 THD와 온도에 따른 손실이 달라질 수 있다. Cascaded H-bridge 멀티레벨 인버터에서 이용하는 스위칭 방식은 첫 번째로 유니폴라 방식을 기본으로 한 Phase-shift가 있다. 이는 180도 위상차를 갖는 2개의 레퍼런스 파형과 위상천이가 된 캐리어 파형의 비교로 PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) 을 수행한다. 두 번째 방식으로는 Level-shift가 있다. 이는 캐리어 파형을 IPD (In-Phase Disposition) 방식으로 수직적으로 대역폭이 연속적이게 나열하여 레퍼런스 파형과 비교하는 PWM방식이다. 본 논문에서는 Phase-shift와 Level-shift 방식에 따른 Cascaded H-bridge 인버터와 NPC (Neutral Point Clamped) 인버터를 결합한 토폴로지에서의 온도에 따른 손실을 분석하고, 시뮬레이션을 통하여 비교 분석하였다.