• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.572-578
• /
• 2010

This paper discusses a transformerless shunt static compensator (STATCOM) based on a modular multilevel converter (MMC). It introduces a new time-discrete appropriate current control algorithm and a phase-shifted carrier modulation strategy for fast compensation of the reactive power and harmonics, and also for the balancing of the three-phase source side currents. Analytical formulas are derived to demonstrate the accurate mechanism of the stored energy balancing inside the MMC. Various simulated waveforms verify that the MMC based STATCOM is capable of reactive power compensation, harmonic cancellation, and simultaneous load balancing, while controlling and balancing all of the DC mean voltages even during the transient states.

• Journal of international Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.246-253
• /
• 2013

The Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) with full bridge cells is available for utility interactive inverter in high voltage line. When it is interconnected with power line, it is possible to control the active power flow in order to supply or charge the power in the line. This research applied the MMC to grid connection system of distributed generator and a power flow control for the MMC is investigated. Theory of power flow between the MMC and the power line is described and control method of power flow and capacitor voltages on arm cells for the MMC are proposed. And effectiveness of the proposed control method is presented by simulation.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.298-306
• /
• 2018

This paper presents a harmonic analysis of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) using a double Fourier series (DFS) algorithm. First, the application of DFS for harmonic calculation in the MMC is made by considering the effect of arm inductor. The analytical results are then confirmed by comparing with the simulation results of using the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm. Finally, distribution of harmonics and total harmonic distortion (THD) in the MMC will be analyzed in three cases: harmonics versus number of levels of MMC, harmonics versus total switching frequency and harmonics versus modulation index. The simulation results are performed in the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation program in order to verify the analytical results obtained by Matlab programming.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
• /
• 2014.07a
• /
• pp.55-56
• /
• 2014

본 논문에서는 ${\Delta}$결선 또는 3상 4선식 Y결선으로 구성된 Modular Multilevel Converter(MMC)의 동기좌표계에서의 영상분 전류제어방법을 제안한다. 제안된 영상분 전류제어방법은 새로운 가상 2상 전류 생성방법을 사용하며, 기존의 가상 2상 전류 생성방법보다 과도상태 응답특성과 파라미터 오차에 대한 성능이 우수함을 시뮬레이션을 통해 검증하였다.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
• /
• 2016.11a
• /
• pp.143-144
• /
• 2016

The circulating current control within the phase legs is one of the main control objectives in a modular multilevel converter (MMC) under different operating conditions. This paper proposes a control strategy of circulating currents in the MMC under unbalanced voltage by using a proportional-resonant (PR) controller. Under the unbalanced voltage, the circulating currents in the MMC consists of three components such as positive-sequence, negative-sequence, and zero-sequence circulating currents. With the PR controller, all components of the circulating current will be directly controlled in the stationary reference frame without decomposing into positive- and negative-sequence components. Thus, the ripples in the circulating currents and the DC current are suppressed under the unbalanced voltage. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulation results based on PSCAD/EMTDC simulation program.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.419-428
• /
• 2013

The modular multilevel cascade converter (MMCC) is a new family of multilevel power converters with modular realization and a cascaded pattern for submodules. The MMCC family can be classified by basic configurations and submodule types. One member of this family, the Hexverter, is configured as Double-Delta Full-Bridge (DDFB). It is a novel multilevel AC/AC converter with direct power conversion and comparatively fewer required components. It is appropriate for connecting two three-phase systems with different frequencies and driving an AC motor directly from a utility grid. This paper presents the dq model of a Hexverter with both of its AC systems by state-space representation, which then simplifies the continuous time-varying model into a periodic discrete time-invariant one. Then a generalized multivariable optimal control strategy for regulating the Hexverter's independent currents is developed. The resulting control structure can be adapted to other MMCCs and is flexible enough to include other control criterion while guaranteeing the original controller performance. The modeling method and control design are verified by simulation results.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.1490-1499
• /
• 2017

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) is generally considered to be a promising topology for medium-voltage and high-voltage applications. However, in order to apply it to high-power applications, a huge number of switching devices is essential. The numerous switching devices lead to considerable switching losses, high cost and a larger heat sink for each of the switching device. In order to reduce the switching losses of a MMC, this paper analyzes the performance of the conventional discontinuous pulse-width modulation (DPWM) method and its efficiency. In addition, it proposes a modified novel DPWM method for advanced switching losses reduction. The novel DPWM scheme includes an additional rotation method for voltage-balancing and power distribution among sub modules (SMs). Simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness and performance of the proposed modulation method in terms of its switching losses reduction capability.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.103-110
• /
• 2017

The number of applications of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in power generation grids has increased in the last decade because of their ability to generate efficient and reliable power in a variety of low installation in domestic applications. Various PV converter topologies have therefore emerged, among which the modular multilevel converter (MMC) is very attractive due to its modularity and transformerless features. The modeling and control of the MMC has become an interesting issue due to the extremely large expansion of PV power plants at the residential scale and due to the power quality requirement of this application. This paper proposes a novel control method of MMC which is used to directly integrate the photovoltaic arrays with the power grid. Traditionally, a closed loop control has been used, although circulating current control and capacitors voltage balancing in each individual leg have remained unsolved problem. In this paper, the integration of model predictive control (MPC) and traditional closed loop control is proposed to control the MMC structure in a PV grid tied mode. Simulation results demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed control model.

• Journal of IKEEE
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.652-658
• /
• 2019

This paper proposes the selective voltage balancing scheme of a modular multilevel DC-DC converter for solid-state transformers. In general, the sub-module capacitor voltage can be controlled uniformly by individual feedback controllers, however computation time increases according to the number of modules. The voltage balance control scheme in this paper can reduce the computation time by selecting and controlling sub-module of maximum/minimum voltage momentarily. The performance of the proposed selective voltage balancing scheme is verified by simulation.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.456-466
• /
• 2018

This paper introduces the development of a de-icer based on a full-bridge modular multilevel converter (FMMC). The FMMC can generate a wide range of DC voltages owing to its modularity, scalability, and redundancy, which makes it suitable for ice-melting applications. First, operating principles and voltage ranges are analyzed when FMMC is applied as a mobile de-icer. Second, two new startup strategies, constant modulation index and constant power startup strategies, are proposed. Third, the main control strategies of the de-icer are proposed. Fourth, a novel rated-current zero-power test scheme is proposed to simplify test conditions. Finally, a 10 kV 1.5 kA mobile MMC de-icer is designed and built, and experiments are carried out to validate the proposed startup, control strategies, and rated-current zero-power test scheme.