Modular Multi-level Converter for Medium Voltage Applications with Mixed Sub-module Voltages within Each Arm

James Wylie; Paul D. Judge; Tim C. Green

doi:10.1109/ISGTEurope.2018.8571447

Modular Multi-level Converter for Medium Voltage Applications with Mixed Sub-module Voltages within Each Arm

James Wylie, Paul D. Judge, Tim C. Green

School of Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Modular Multi-level Converters (MMC) for medium voltage applications need to be compact and low-loss but also must have good waveform quality. This makes the choice of Sub-Module (SM) voltage rating and quantity a challenging compromise. An extra degree of design freedom is possible if modules in each arm are a mixture of nominal voltage ratings. A design is investigated here with several high voltage SMs for bulk power processing and two low voltage SMs for waveform following control. Power loss, efficiency and total harmonic distortion are compared against two designs of conventional MMC of equivalent power rating and waveform distortion level, but different SM voltage choices. A new low-level controller for SM rotation is devised which deploys different SM types for the different purposes, but also ensures charge balancing. Simulation results show reduced power loss for an MMC with mixed voltage-rated SMs within the same arm, when compared against the conventional MMCs.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2018 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference Europe (ISGT-Europe)
Pages	1-6
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-5386-4505-5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ISGTEurope.2018.8571447
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2018
Event	2018 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference Europe, ISGT-Europe 2018 - Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Duration: 21 Oct 2018 → 25 Oct 2018

Conference

Conference	2018 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference Europe, ISGT-Europe 2018
Country/Territory	Bosnia and Herzegovina
City	Sarajevo
Period	21/10/18 → 25/10/18

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

harmonic distortion
power convertors
waveform following control
power loss
equivalent power rating
waveform distortion level
low-level controller
MMC
medium voltage applications
nominal voltage ratings
bulk power processing
modular multilevel converter
low voltage SM
mixed voltage-rated SM
high voltage SM
mixed submodule voltages
submodule voltage rating
SM voltage rating
total harmonic distortion
charge balancing
Insulated gate bipolar transistors
Modular multilevel converters
Switches
Switching loss
Pulse width modulation
HVDC transmission
Voltage control
Insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT)
Power distribution
Power semiconductor devices
Voltage-source converters

Access to Document

10.1109/ISGTEurope.2018.8571447

Cite this

@inproceedings{0a2c81e7cb254e2d82228f9cae9eabf9,

title = "Modular Multi-level Converter for Medium Voltage Applications with Mixed Sub-module Voltages within Each Arm",

abstract = "Modular Multi-level Converters (MMC) for medium voltage applications need to be compact and low-loss but also must have good waveform quality. This makes the choice of Sub-Module (SM) voltage rating and quantity a challenging compromise. An extra degree of design freedom is possible if modules in each arm are a mixture of nominal voltage ratings. A design is investigated here with several high voltage SMs for bulk power processing and two low voltage SMs for waveform following control. Power loss, efficiency and total harmonic distortion are compared against two designs of conventional MMC of equivalent power rating and waveform distortion level, but different SM voltage choices. A new low-level controller for SM rotation is devised which deploys different SM types for the different purposes, but also ensures charge balancing. Simulation results show reduced power loss for an MMC with mixed voltage-rated SMs within the same arm, when compared against the conventional MMCs.",

keywords = "harmonic distortion, power convertors, waveform following control, power loss, equivalent power rating, waveform distortion level, low-level controller, MMC, medium voltage applications, nominal voltage ratings, bulk power processing, modular multilevel converter, low voltage SM, mixed voltage-rated SM, high voltage SM, mixed submodule voltages, submodule voltage rating, SM voltage rating, total harmonic distortion, charge balancing, Insulated gate bipolar transistors, Modular multilevel converters, Switches, Switching loss, Pulse width modulation, HVDC transmission, Voltage control, Insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT), Power distribution, Power semiconductor devices, Voltage-source converters",

author = "James Wylie and Judge, {Paul D.} and Green, {Tim C.}",

year = "2018",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1109/ISGTEurope.2018.8571447",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-1-5386-4506-2",

pages = "1--6",

booktitle = "2018 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference Europe (ISGT-Europe)",

note = "2018 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference Europe, ISGT-Europe 2018 ; Conference date: 21-10-2018 Through 25-10-2018",

}

Wylie, J, Judge, PD & Green, TC 2018, Modular Multi-level Converter for Medium Voltage Applications with Mixed Sub-module Voltages within Each Arm. in 2018 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference Europe (ISGT-Europe). pp. 1-6, 2018 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference Europe, ISGT-Europe 2018, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 21/10/18. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISGTEurope.2018.8571447

TY - GEN

T1 - Modular Multi-level Converter for Medium Voltage Applications with Mixed Sub-module Voltages within Each Arm

AU - Wylie, James

AU - Judge, Paul D.

AU - Green, Tim C.

PY - 2018/10/1

Y1 - 2018/10/1

N2 - Modular Multi-level Converters (MMC) for medium voltage applications need to be compact and low-loss but also must have good waveform quality. This makes the choice of Sub-Module (SM) voltage rating and quantity a challenging compromise. An extra degree of design freedom is possible if modules in each arm are a mixture of nominal voltage ratings. A design is investigated here with several high voltage SMs for bulk power processing and two low voltage SMs for waveform following control. Power loss, efficiency and total harmonic distortion are compared against two designs of conventional MMC of equivalent power rating and waveform distortion level, but different SM voltage choices. A new low-level controller for SM rotation is devised which deploys different SM types for the different purposes, but also ensures charge balancing. Simulation results show reduced power loss for an MMC with mixed voltage-rated SMs within the same arm, when compared against the conventional MMCs.

AB - Modular Multi-level Converters (MMC) for medium voltage applications need to be compact and low-loss but also must have good waveform quality. This makes the choice of Sub-Module (SM) voltage rating and quantity a challenging compromise. An extra degree of design freedom is possible if modules in each arm are a mixture of nominal voltage ratings. A design is investigated here with several high voltage SMs for bulk power processing and two low voltage SMs for waveform following control. Power loss, efficiency and total harmonic distortion are compared against two designs of conventional MMC of equivalent power rating and waveform distortion level, but different SM voltage choices. A new low-level controller for SM rotation is devised which deploys different SM types for the different purposes, but also ensures charge balancing. Simulation results show reduced power loss for an MMC with mixed voltage-rated SMs within the same arm, when compared against the conventional MMCs.

KW - harmonic distortion

KW - power convertors

KW - waveform following control

KW - power loss

KW - equivalent power rating

KW - waveform distortion level

KW - low-level controller

KW - MMC

KW - medium voltage applications

KW - nominal voltage ratings

KW - bulk power processing

KW - modular multilevel converter

KW - low voltage SM

KW - mixed voltage-rated SM

KW - high voltage SM

KW - mixed submodule voltages

KW - submodule voltage rating

KW - SM voltage rating

KW - total harmonic distortion

KW - charge balancing

KW - Insulated gate bipolar transistors

KW - Modular multilevel converters

KW - Switches

KW - Switching loss

KW - Pulse width modulation

KW - HVDC transmission

KW - Voltage control

KW - Insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT)

KW - Power distribution

KW - Power semiconductor devices

KW - Voltage-source converters

U2 - 10.1109/ISGTEurope.2018.8571447

DO - 10.1109/ISGTEurope.2018.8571447

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-1-5386-4506-2

SP - 1

EP - 6

BT - 2018 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference Europe (ISGT-Europe)

T2 - 2018 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference Europe, ISGT-Europe 2018

Y2 - 21 October 2018 through 25 October 2018

ER -

Modular Multi-level Converter for Medium Voltage Applications with Mixed Sub-module Voltages within Each Arm

Abstract

Conference

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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Cite this