• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.702-713
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• 2019

Multilevel Inverters (MLIs) are widely used in medium voltage applications due to their various advantages. In addition, there are numerous types of MLIs for such applications. However, the diode-less 3-level (3L) T-type Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) MLI is the most advantageous due to its low conduction losses and high potential efficiency. The power circuit of a 3L T-type NPC is derived by the conventional two level inverter by a slight modification. In order to explore the MLI performance for various Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) schemes, this paper examines the operation of a 3L (five level line to line) T-type NPC MLI for various types of Multi-Carriers Pulse Width Modulation (MCPWM) schemes. These PWM schemes are compared in terms of their voltage profile, total harmonic distortion (THD) and conduction losses. In addition, a 3L T-type NPC MLI is also compared with the conventional NPC in terms of number of switches, clamping diodes, main diodes and capacitors. Moreover, the capacitor-balancing problem is also investigated using the Neutral Point Fluctuation (NPF) method with all of the MCPWM schemes. A 1kW 3L T-type NPC MLI is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink and implemented experimentally and its performance is tested with a 1HP induction motor. The results indicate that the 3L T-type NPC MLI has better performance than conventional NPC MLIs.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.369-373
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• 2001

Multilevel inverter has attracted great interest in high-voltage high-power field because of its less distorted output. In this paper, a direct torque control (DTC) technique based on a three-level neutral-point-clamped (NPC) inverter is presented. In order to solve the intrinsic neutral-point voltage-balancing problem and to obtain a high performance DTC, a special vector selection method is introduced and the concept of virtual vector is developed. By using the proposed PWM strategy, a MRAS speed sensor-less DTC drive can be achieved without sensing the neutral-point voltage, The strategy can be verified by simulation and experimental results.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.2168-2180
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• 2014

In this paper, a generalized power loss algorithm for multilevel neutral-point clamped (NPC) PWM inverters is presented, which is applicable to any level number of multilevel inverters. In the case of three-level inverters, the conduction loss depends on the MI (modulation index) and the PF (power factor), and the switching loss depends on a switching frequency, turn-on and turn-off energy. However, in the higher level of inverters than the three-level, the loss of semiconductor devices cannot be analyzed by conventional methods. The modulation depth should be considered in addition, to find the different conducting devices depending on the MI. In a case study, the power loss analysis for the three- and five-level NPC inverters has been performed with the proposed algorithm. The validity of the proposed algorithm is verified by simulation for the three-and five-level NPC inverters and experiment for three-level NPC inverter.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.285-293
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• 2012

Multilevel inverters have gained attention in high-power applications due to their numerous advantages in comparison with conventional two-level inverters. In this paper a simplified Space-Vector Modulation (SVM) algorithm for a three-level Neutral-Point Clamped (NPC) inverter is implemented on a Freescale$^{(R)}$ DSP56F8037. The algorithm is based on a simplification of the space-vector diagram for a three-level inverter so that it can be used with a two-level inverter. Once the simplification has been achieved, calculation of the dwell times and the switching sequences are carried out in the same way as for the two-level SVM method. Details of the hardware design are included. Experimental results are analyzed to validate the performance of the simplified algorithm.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.432-444
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• 2018

This paper presents a capacitor voltage balancing topology using a three-level boost converter (TLBC) for a neutral point clamped (NPC) three-level inverter fed surface permanent magnet synchronous motor drive (SPMSM). It enhanced the performance of the drive in terms of its voltage THD and torque pulsation. The main attracting feature of the proposed control is the boosting of the input voltage and at the same time the balancing of the capacitor voltages. This control also reduces the computational complexity. For the purpose of close loop vector control, a software based cost effective resolver to digital converter RDC-less estimation is implemented to calculate the speed and position. The proposed drive is simulated in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment and an experimental investigation using dSPACE DS1104 validates the proposed drive system at different operating condition.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2013.07a
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• pp.45-46
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• 2013

멀티레벨 고압인버터 토폴로지 중 저압 Power Cell를 이용하여 고압을 출력하는 Cascaded 방식이 산업계에서는 널리 사용되고 이다. 최근 제품화된 Cascaded 방식은 크게 두 가지 형태로 구분할 수 있다. 저압 Power Cell에 단상 H-Bridge를 이용한 Cascaded H-Bridge 멀티레벨 인버터와 단상 NPC(Neutral Point Clamped) 토폴로지를 적용한 Cascaded NPC 멀티레벨 인버터이다. 이 중 Cascaded NPC 멀티레벨 인버터의 경우 적은 수의 셀을 사용하여 CHB와 동일한 출력 레벨을 생성할 수 있으며, NPC 방식의 고압 인버터 고유의 장점을 모두 구현할 수 있다. 반대로 CHB Type과 NPC type의 단점인 복잡한 구조의 Phase Shift Transformer와 DC_Link 중성점 전압이 변동하는 단점 또한 나타나게 된다. 본 논문에서는 Cascaded NPC 멀티레벨 인버터의 이러한 단점을 극복하기 위한 새로운 방식의 Phase Shift Transformer와 NPC Power Cell의 중성점 전압 변동을 줄일 수 있는 기법에 대해 설명하고 이 기법에 대한 타당성을 모의시험을 통해 검증하였다.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2012.07a
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• pp.510-511
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• 2012

최근 전력변환 분야에서 고압 인버터의 요구가 증가함에 따라 국내외 Drive 업체에서 멀티레벨 인버터에 대한 관심이 커지고 있다. 특히, 현재 LS산전에서 양산되고 있는 Cascaded H-Bridge(이하 CHB) Type의 멀티레벨 인버터와 더불어 1981년 Nabae 교수에 의해 처음 제안된 3-Level Neutral Point Clamped(이하 NPC) Type의 멀티레벨 인버터는 최근 그 성능 및 신뢰성에 대한 검증이 많이 이루어 졌으며 경쟁사인 ABB/YASKAWA/TMEIC사(社) 등에서 실제 제품화가 되고 있다. 본 논문에서는 현재 LS산전에서 개발중인 3-Level NPC 인버터 기반의 5-Level NPC 인버터의 System 최적화를 위해 양산중인 CHB Type의 멀티레벨 인버터와 그 특성을 비교하여 해당 인버터 개발에 대한 타당성을 검증하였다.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1964-1980
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• 2016

This paper presents a new simplified harmonics extraction algorithm based on the synchronous reference frame (SRF) for an indirect current controlled (ICC) three-level neutral point diode clamped (NPC) inverter-based shunt active power filter (SAPF). The shunt APF is widely accepted as one of the most effective current harmonics mitigation tools due to its superior adaptability in dynamic state conditions. In its controller, the SRF algorithm which is derived based on the direct-quadrature (DQ) theory has played a significant role as a harmonics extraction algorithm due to its simple implementation features. However, it suffers from significant delays due to its dependency on a numerical filter and unnecessary computation workloads. Moreover, the algorithm is mostly implemented for the direct current controlled (DCC) based SAPF which operates based on a non-sinusoidal reference current. This degrades the mitigation performances since the DCC based operation does not possess exact information on the actual source current which suffers from switching ripples problems. Therefore, three major improvements are introduced which include the development of a mathematical based fundamental component identifier to replace the numerical filter, the removal of redundant features, and the generation of a sinusoidal reference current. The proposed algorithm is developed and evaluated in MATLAB / Simulink. A laboratory prototype utilizing a TMS320F28335 digital signal processor (DSP) is also implemented to validate effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Both simulation and experimental results are presented. They show significant improvements in terms of total harmonic distortion (THD) and dynamic response when compared to a conventional SRF algorithm.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2016.11a
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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.