A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters

Ezequiel Rodriguez; Glen G. Farivar; Josep Pou; Hossein Dehghani Tafti; Christopher D. Townsend; Sergio Vazquez

doi:10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648

A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters

Ezequiel Rodriguez, Glen G. Farivar, Josep Pou, Hossein Dehghani Tafti, Christopher D. Townsend, Sergio Vazquez

Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Lab

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

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The use of an inter-cell voltage balancing scheme to evenly distribute the total dc-link voltage among the multiple floating capacitors is crucial in modular multilevel cascaded converters (MMCs). This paper presents an intuitively simple and computationally efficient sorting-based modulation algorithm for capacitor voltage balancing applicable to any MMC. The proposed modulation stage is inherently decoupled from the upper-level control scheme and it is able to both generate the required converter output voltage and balance the capacitor voltages suitably. Furthermore, it maintains a constant harmonic performance even as the number of switching transitions is varied to achieve voltage balance under different loading conditions with minimum incurred switching losses. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated on an experimental seven-level 350-VA single-phase cascaded H-bridge working as a static compensator. In addition, a simulated 350-VA system is used to obtain complimentary results.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	214-218
Number of pages	5
ISBN (Electronic)	9781728103952
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648
Publication status	Published - Sept 2019
Event	11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019 - Baltimore, United States Duration: Sept 29 2019 → Oct 3 2019

Publication series

Name	2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019

Conference

Conference	11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019
Country/Territory	United States
City	Baltimore
Period	9/29/19 → 10/3/19

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 IEEE.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Mechanical Engineering
Control and Optimization
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

Capacitor voltage balancing
Cascaded H-bridge (CHB)
Multilevel converters
Static synchronous compensator (STATCOM)
Virtual voltages

Access to Document

10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648

Cite this

Rodriguez, E., Farivar, G. G., Pou, J., Tafti, H. D., Townsend, C. D., & Vazquez, S. (2019). A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters. In 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019 (pp. 214-218). Article 8912648 (2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648

@inproceedings{f2003707441b446aa935463b87588287,

title = "A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters",

abstract = "The use of an inter-cell voltage balancing scheme to evenly distribute the total dc-link voltage among the multiple floating capacitors is crucial in modular multilevel cascaded converters (MMCs). This paper presents an intuitively simple and computationally efficient sorting-based modulation algorithm for capacitor voltage balancing applicable to any MMC. The proposed modulation stage is inherently decoupled from the upper-level control scheme and it is able to both generate the required converter output voltage and balance the capacitor voltages suitably. Furthermore, it maintains a constant harmonic performance even as the number of switching transitions is varied to achieve voltage balance under different loading conditions with minimum incurred switching losses. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated on an experimental seven-level 350-VA single-phase cascaded H-bridge working as a static compensator. In addition, a simulated 350-VA system is used to obtain complimentary results.",

keywords = "Capacitor voltage balancing, Cascaded H-bridge (CHB), Multilevel converters, Static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), Virtual voltages",

author = "Ezequiel Rodriguez and Farivar, {Glen G.} and Josep Pou and Tafti, {Hossein Dehghani} and Townsend, {Christopher D.} and Sergio Vazquez",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 IEEE.; 11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019 ; Conference date: 29-09-2019 Through 03-10-2019",

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doi = "10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648",

language = "English",

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Rodriguez, E, Farivar, GG, Pou, J, Tafti, HD, Townsend, CD & Vazquez, S 2019, A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters. in 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019., 8912648, 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 214-218, 11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019, Baltimore, United States, 9/29/19. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648

A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters. / Rodriguez, Ezequiel; Farivar, Glen G.; Pou, Josep et al.
2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2019. p. 214-218 8912648 (2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019).

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

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AU - Rodriguez, Ezequiel

AU - Farivar, Glen G.

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AU - Tafti, Hossein Dehghani

AU - Townsend, Christopher D.

AU - Vazquez, Sergio

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N2 - The use of an inter-cell voltage balancing scheme to evenly distribute the total dc-link voltage among the multiple floating capacitors is crucial in modular multilevel cascaded converters (MMCs). This paper presents an intuitively simple and computationally efficient sorting-based modulation algorithm for capacitor voltage balancing applicable to any MMC. The proposed modulation stage is inherently decoupled from the upper-level control scheme and it is able to both generate the required converter output voltage and balance the capacitor voltages suitably. Furthermore, it maintains a constant harmonic performance even as the number of switching transitions is varied to achieve voltage balance under different loading conditions with minimum incurred switching losses. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated on an experimental seven-level 350-VA single-phase cascaded H-bridge working as a static compensator. In addition, a simulated 350-VA system is used to obtain complimentary results.

AB - The use of an inter-cell voltage balancing scheme to evenly distribute the total dc-link voltage among the multiple floating capacitors is crucial in modular multilevel cascaded converters (MMCs). This paper presents an intuitively simple and computationally efficient sorting-based modulation algorithm for capacitor voltage balancing applicable to any MMC. The proposed modulation stage is inherently decoupled from the upper-level control scheme and it is able to both generate the required converter output voltage and balance the capacitor voltages suitably. Furthermore, it maintains a constant harmonic performance even as the number of switching transitions is varied to achieve voltage balance under different loading conditions with minimum incurred switching losses. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated on an experimental seven-level 350-VA single-phase cascaded H-bridge working as a static compensator. In addition, a simulated 350-VA system is used to obtain complimentary results.

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ER -

Rodriguez E, Farivar GG, Pou J, Tafti HD, Townsend CD, Vazquez S. A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters. In 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2019. p. 214-218. 8912648. (2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019). doi: 10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648

A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this