• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.119-133
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• 2019

Although the dual modulation wave method can solve the low-frequency neutral point potential (NPP) fluctuation problem for three-level neutral point clamped converters, it also increases the switching frequency and limits the zero-sequence voltage. That makes it harmful when dealing with the NPP drift problem if the converter suffers from a long dead time or asymmetric loads. By introducing two degrees of freedom (2-DOF), an NPP control based on a search optimization method can demonstrate its ability to cope with the above mentioned two types of NPP problems. However, the amount of calculations for obtaining an optimal 2-DOF is so large that the method cannot be applied to certain industrial applications with an inexpensive digital signal processor. In this paper, a novel optimal 2-DOF-based NPP control is proposed. The relationships between the NPP and the 2-DOF are analyzed and a method for directly determining the optimal 2-DOF is also discussed. Using a direct calculation method, the amount of calculations is significantly reduced. In addition, the proposed method is able to maintain the strongest control ability for the two types of NPP problems. Finally, some experimental results are given to confirm the validity and feasibility of the proposed method.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.108-118
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• 2019

This paper proposes a DC-link voltage balance controller using the fourth-phase of a three-level neutral-point clamped (NPC) PWM converter with medium vector selection (MVS) PWM for common-mode voltage reduction. MVS PWM makes the voltage reference by synthesizing the voltage vectors that cannot generate common-mode voltage. This PWM method is effective for reducing the EMI noise emitted from converter systems. However, the DC-link voltage imbalance problem is caused by the use of limited voltage vectors. Therefore, in this paper, the effect of MVS PWM on the DC-link voltage of a three-level NPC converter is analyzed. Then a proportional-derivative (PD) controller for the DC-link voltage balance is designed from the DC-link modeling. In addition, feedforward compensation of the neutral point current is included in the proposed PD controller. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is verified by experimental results.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.369-372
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• 2017

This paper presents a control scheme for three-level NPC inverters using small DC-link capacitors. To reduce the inverter system volume, the film capacitor with small capacitance is a promising candidate for the DC-link. When small capacitors are applied in a three level inverter, however, the AC ripple component increases in the DC-link NPV (neutral point voltage). In addition, the three-phase input grid currents are distorted when the DC-link capacitors are fed by diode rectifier. In this paper, the additional circuit is applied to compensate for small capacitor systems defect, and the offset voltage injection method is presented for the stabilization in NPV. These two proposed processes evidently ensure the quality improvement of the input grid currents and output load currents. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified by experimental results.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.989-999
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• 2019

This paper proposes a fault-tolerant control strategy with finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) based on hierarchical optimization for five-level H-bridge neutral-point-clamped (5L-HNPC) inverter-fed induction motor drives. Fault-tolerant operation is analyzed, and the fault-tolerant control algorithm is improved. Adopting FCS-MPC based on hierarchical optimization, where the voltage is used as the controlled objective, called model predictive voltage control (MPVC), the postfault controller is simplified as a two layer control. The first layer is the voltage jump limit, and the second layer is the voltage following control, which adopts the optimal control strategy to ensure the current following performance and uniqueness of the optimal solution. Finally, simulation and experimental results verify that 5L-HNPC inverter-fed induction motor drives have strong fault tolerant capability and that the FCS-MPVC based on hierarchical optimization is feasible.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.504-517
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• 2015

This paper presents a novel switching voltage model and an offset-based pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme for multilevel inverters with unbalanced DC sources. The switching voltage model under a DC voltage imbalance will be formulated in general form for multilevel neutral-point-clamped topologies. Analysis of the reference switching voltages from active and non-active switching voltage components in abc coordinates can enable voltage implementation for an unbalanced DC-source condition. Offset voltage is introduced as an indispensable variable in the switching voltage model for multilevel voltage-source inverters. The PWM performance is controlled through the design of two offset components in a subsequence. One main offset may refer to the common mode voltage, and the other offset restricts its effect on the quality of PWM control in related DC levels. The PWM quality can be improved as the switching loss is reduced in a discontinuous PWM mode by setting the local offset, which is related to the load currents. The validity of the proposed algorithm is verified by experimental results.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.368-379
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• 2017

In this paper, a direct torque control algorithm with novel duty cycle-based modulation is proposed for permanent magnet synchronous motor drives fed by neutral-point clamped three-level inverters. Compared with the standard DTC, the proposed algorithm can suppress steady-state torque ripples as well as ensure neutral-point potential balance and smooth vector switching. A unified torque/flux evaluation table with multiple voltage vectors and precise control levels is established and used in this method. This table can be used to evaluate the effects of duty-cycle vectors on torque and flux directly, and the elements of the table are independent of the motor parameters. Consequently, a high number of appropriate voltage vectors and their corresponding duty cycles can be selected as candidate vectors to reduce torque ripples by looking up the table. Furthermore, small vectors are incorporated into the table to ensure the neutral-point potential balance with the numerous candidate vectors. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm are verified by both simulations and experiments.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2018.07a
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• pp.316-317
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• 2018

This paper propse the DC link capacitor voltage balancing control for three level neutral point clamped converter with harmonic component injection method. The injcetion voltage consists of harmonic component and DC link capacitor voltage difference. Theoretical analysis is provided to balance the DC link voltage, and it shows that harmonic component compensates the unbalanced condition between the capacitors. Both simulations and experiments are carried out to show that the voltage unbalance have been decreased by the proposed method.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.212-221
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• 2017

Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Generators (PMSGs) are used widely in Wind Power Generation Systems (WPGSs), and the Vienna rectifier was recently proposed to be used as the generator-side converter to rectify the AC output voltage in PMSG-based WPGS. Compared to conventional six-switch two-level PWM (2L-PWM) converters, the Vienna rectifier has several advantages, such as higher efficiency, improved total harmonic distortion, etc. The motivation behind this paper is to verify the performance of direct-driven PMSG wind turbine system based-Vienna rectifier by using a simulated direct-driven PMSG WPGS. In addition, for the purpose of reducing the reactive power loss of PMSGs, this paper proposes an induced voltage sensing scheme which can make the stator current maintain accurate synchronization with the induced voltage. Meanwhile, considering the Neutral-Point Voltage (NPV) variation in the DC-side of the Vienna rectifier, a NPV balancing control strategy is added to the control system. In addition, both the effectiveness of the proposed method and the performance of the direct-driven PMSG based-Vienna rectifier are verified by simulation and experimental results.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2013.07a
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• pp.244-245
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• 2013

This paper proposes a control algorithm for permanent magnet synchronous generator with a back-to-back three-level neutral-point clamped voltage source converter in a medium-voltage offshore wind power system under unbalanced grid conditions. The proposed control algorithm particularly compensates for the unbalanced grid voltage at the point of common coupling in a collector bus of offshore wind power system. This control algorithm has been formulated based on the symmetrical components in positive and negative rotating synchronous reference frames under generalized unbalanced operating conditions. Instantaneous active and reactive power are described in terms of symmetrical components of measured grid input voltages and currents. Negative sequential component of ac input current is injected to the point of common coupling in the proposed control strategy. The amplitude of negative sequential component is calculated to minimize the negative sequential component of grid voltage under the limitation of current capability in a voltage source converter. The proposed control algorithm makes it possible to provide a balanced voltage at the point of common coupling resulting in the generated power of high quality from offshore wind power system under unbalanced network conditions.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.447-452
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• 1995

In this paper a simple method of a position control for brushless DC motor is presented. For precise position control, a high performance torque controller is needed and a novel current control method is proposed. The current controller detects the uncommutating mode current for every 60.deg. (elec. angle) and controls it with PI controller. The current control loop includes the feedforward of back EMF and the feedforward of the neutral voltage between the neutral point of the inverter and the neutral point of the machine. In the position control, the acceleration pattern is calculated from the position reference. Then the speed trajectory is calculated from the acceleration pattern. The experimental results are presented to verify the proposed methods.