• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.356-365
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• 2006

This paper presents an improved three-phase PFC power rectifier with a three-phase diode rectifier cascaded four-switch boost converter. Its operating principle contains the operating principle of two conventional three-phase PFC power rectifiers: one switch boost converter type and a two switch boost converter type. The operating characteristics of the four switch boost converter type three-phase PFC power rectifier are evaluated from a practical point of view, being compared with one switch boost converter type and two switch boost converter topologies.

• Journal of international Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2012

In this paper, a three-phase high-voltage converter (HVC), in which the main structure of each phase is composed of a cascaded PWM rectifier (CPR) and cascaded inverter (CI), is studied. A high-voltage grid is the input of the HVC. In order to ensure proper operation of the HVC, the control method should achieve output voltage sharing (OVS) among the rectifiers in the CPR, OVS among the inverters in the CI, and high power factor. Master-slave direct-current control (MDCC) is used to control the CPR. The ability of the control system to prevent interference is strong when using MDCC. The CI is controlled by three-loop control, which is composed of an outer common-output-voltage loop, inner current loops and voltage sharing loops. Simulation results show low total harmonic distortion (THD) in the HVC input currents and good OVS in both the CPR and CI.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.173-181
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• 2016

In this paper, a new technique for harmonic optimization in cascaded H-bridge 7-level inverters is proposed. The suggested strategy is based on minimizing an objective function which simultaneously optimizes the converter utilization and Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). The Switch Utilization Ratio (SUR) is formulized for both the phase and line-line voltages of a 7-level inverter and is considered in the final objective functions. Based upon the SUR formula, utilization ratio enhancement will reduce the value of feeding DC links, which improves the efficiency and lifetime of the circuit components due to lower voltage stresses and losses. In order to achieve more effective solution in different modulation indices, it is assumed that the DC sources can be altered. Experimental validation is presented based on a three-phase 7-level inverter prototype.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.946-956
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• 2014

Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB) converters can be directly connected to medium-voltage grids without using transformers and they possess the advantages of large capacity and low harmonics. They are significant tools for providing grid connections in large-capacity renewable energy systems. However, the reliability of a grid-connected CHB converter can be seriously influenced by the number of power switching devices that exist in the structure. This paper proposes a fault-tolerant control strategy based on double zero-sequence voltage injection and DC voltage optimization to improve the reliability of star-connected CHB converters after one or more power units have been bypassed. By injecting double zero-sequence voltages into each phase cluster, the DC voltages of the healthy units can be rapidly balanced after the faulty units are bypassed. In addition, optimizing the DC voltage increases the number of faulty units that can be tolerated and improves the reliability of the converter. Simulations and experimental results are shown for a seven-level three-phase CHB converter to validate the efficiency and feasibility of this strategy.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.56-69
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• 2018

In this paper, an improved Space Vector Modulation (SVM) based fault tolerant operation on a nine-level Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB) inverter with an additional backup circuit is proposed. Any type of fault in a power converter may result in a power interruption and productivity loss. Three different faults on H-bridge modules in all three phases based on the SVM approach are investigated with diagrams. Any fault in an inverter phase creates an unbalanced output voltage, which can lead to instability in the system. An additional auxiliary unit is connected in series to the three phase cascaded H-bridge circuit. With the help of this and the redundant switching states in SVM, the CHB inverter produces a balanced output with low harmonic distortion. This ensures high DC bus utilization under numerous fault conditions in three phases, which improves the system reliability. Simulation results are presented on three phase nine-level inverter with the automatic fault detection algorithm in the MATLAB/SIMULINK software tool, and experimental results are presented with DSP on five-level inverter to validate the practicality of the proposed SVM fault tolerance strategy on a CHB inverter with an auxiliary circuit.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.522-532
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• 2017

This paper presents a novel integrated structure for a cascaded distribution static compensator (D-STATCOM) and distribution transformer for medium-voltage reactive power compensation. The cascaded multilevel converter is connected to a system via a group of special designed taps on the primary windings of the Dyn11 connection distribution transformer. The three-phase winding taps are symmetrically arranged and the connection point voltage can be decreased to half of the line-to-line voltage at most. Thus, the voltage stress for the D-STATCOM is reduced and a compromise between the voltage rating and the current rating can be achieved. The spare capacity of the distribution transformer can also be fully used. The working mechanism is explained in detail and a modified control strategy is proposed for reactive power compensation. Finally, both simulation and scaled-down prototype experimental results are provided to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed connection structure and control strategy.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.315-324
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• 2021

A solid state transformer (SST) that can interface an MVAC of three-phase 13.2 kV and a 1.5 kV DC distribution. SST consists of an AC/DC converter and a DC/DC converter with a high-frequency isolation transformer (HFIT). The AC/DC converter consists of cascaded NPC full-bridge to cope with the MVAC. The DC/DC converter applies a quad active bridge (QAB) topology to reduce the number of the HFIT. Topology analysis and controller design for this specific structure are discussed. In addition, the insulation of HFIT used in DC/DC converters is considered. The discussion is validated using a 300 kVA three-phase SST prototype.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1528-1538
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• 2018

In this paper, configuration of $1-{\phi}$ seven-level boost DC-link cascade based reversing voltage multilevel inverter (BDCLCRV MLI) is proposed for uninterrupted power supply (UPS) applications. It consists of three level boost converter, level generation unit and full bridge circuit for polarity generation. When compared with conventional boost cascaded H-bridge MLI configurations, the proposed system results in reduction of DC sources, reduced power switches and gate drive requirements. Inverter switching is accomplished by providing appropriate switching angles that is generated by any optimization switching angle techniques. Here, round modulation control (RMC) method is taken as the optimization method and switching angles are derived and the same is compared with various switching angles methods i.e., equal-phase (EP) method, and half-equal-phase (HEP) method which results in improved quality of obtained AC power with lowest total harmonic distortion (THD). Reduction in DC sources and switch count makes the system more cost effective. A simulation and prototype model of $1-{\phi}$ seven-level BDCLCRV MLI system is developed and its performance is analyzed for various operating conditions.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1166-1177
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• 2014

A new type of topology with medium-frequency-transformer (MFT) isolation for medium voltage wind power generation systems is proposed in this paper. This type of converter is a high density power conversion system, with high performance features suitable for next generation wind power systems in either on-shore or off-shore applications. The proposed topology employs single-phase cascaded multi-level AC-AC converters on the grid side and three phase matrix converters on the generator side, which are interfaced by medium frequency transformers. This avoids DC-Link electrolytic capacitors and/or resonant L-C components in the power flow path thereby improving the power density and system reliability. Several configurations are given to fit different applications. The modulation and control strategy has been detailed. As two important part of the whole system, a novel single phase AC-AC converter topology with its reliable six-step switching technique and a novel symmetrical 11-segment modulation strategy for two stage matrix converter (TSMC) is proposed at the special situation of medium frequency chopping. The validity of the proposed concept has been verified by simulation results and experiment waveforms from a scaled down laboratory prototype.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.448-455
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• 2015

A model predictive control (MPC) method without individual PWM has been recently researched to simplify and improve the control flexibility of a multilevel inverter. However, the input power of each H-bridge cell and the switching frequency of switching devices are unbalanced because of the use of a restricted switching state in the MPC method. This paper proposes a control method for balancing the switching patterns and cell power supplied from each isolated dc source of a cascaded H-bridge inverter. The supplied dc power from isolated dc sources of each H-bridge cells is balanced with the proposed cell balancing method. In addition, the switching frequency of each switching device of the CHB inverter becomes equal. A simulation and experimental results are presented with nine-level and five-level three-phase CHB inverter to validate the proposed balancing method.