Defining the exact number of sub-module transitions in fundamental frequency modulated modular multilevel converters

Georgios Konstantinou; Josep Pou; Rosheila Darus; Salvador Ceballos; Vassilios G. Agelidis

doi:10.1109/ICIT.2015.7125549

Defining the exact number of sub-module transitions in fundamental frequency modulated modular multilevel converters

Georgios Konstantinou, Josep Pou, Rosheila Darus, Salvador Ceballos, Vassilios G. Agelidis

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

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The large number of voltage levels and high quality of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) output voltage and current makes modulation at fundamental frequency a viable alternative. However, a staircase output voltage does not necessarily translate to fundamental switching frequency of the MMC submodules (SMs). This is because the voltage balancing algorithm usually requires several SMs to switch at any sampling period. This paper proposes a voltage balancing algorithm capable of controlling the exact number of SM transitions that are allowed within the arms of an MMC enabling improved regulation of the SM capacitor voltages. The proposed implementation can be extended to any modulation and circulating current control method. It is also shown that enabling the minimum additional transitions within the arm offers the best compromise between SM capacitor voltage ripple and increase in the switching frequency. The proposed method is verified for all operating points with extensive simulation results and demonstrated in an experimental prototype with five SMs per arm.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	3052-3057
Number of pages	6
Edition	June
ISBN (Electronic)	9781479978007
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIT.2015.7125549
Publication status	Published - Jun 16 2015
Externally published	Yes
Event	2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015 - Seville, Spain Duration: Mar 17 2015 → Mar 19 2015

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology
Number	June
Volume	2015-June

Conference

Conference	2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015
Country/Territory	Spain
City	Seville
Period	3/17/15 → 3/19/15

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 IEEE.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Computer Science Applications
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

Modular multilevel converter
Multilevel converters
Pulse-width modulation

Access to Document

10.1109/ICIT.2015.7125549

Cite this

Konstantinou, G., Pou, J., Darus, R., Ceballos, S., & Agelidis, V. G. (2015). Defining the exact number of sub-module transitions in fundamental frequency modulated modular multilevel converters. In 2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015 (June ed., pp. 3052-3057). Article 7125549 (Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology; Vol. 2015-June, No. June). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIT.2015.7125549

Konstantinou, Georgios ; Pou, Josep ; Darus, Rosheila et al. / Defining the exact number of sub-module transitions in fundamental frequency modulated modular multilevel converters. 2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015. June. ed. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. pp. 3052-3057 (Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology; June).

@inproceedings{02bc10f385044e769241a1201bfc7e43,

title = "Defining the exact number of sub-module transitions in fundamental frequency modulated modular multilevel converters",

abstract = "The large number of voltage levels and high quality of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) output voltage and current makes modulation at fundamental frequency a viable alternative. However, a staircase output voltage does not necessarily translate to fundamental switching frequency of the MMC submodules (SMs). This is because the voltage balancing algorithm usually requires several SMs to switch at any sampling period. This paper proposes a voltage balancing algorithm capable of controlling the exact number of SM transitions that are allowed within the arms of an MMC enabling improved regulation of the SM capacitor voltages. The proposed implementation can be extended to any modulation and circulating current control method. It is also shown that enabling the minimum additional transitions within the arm offers the best compromise between SM capacitor voltage ripple and increase in the switching frequency. The proposed method is verified for all operating points with extensive simulation results and demonstrated in an experimental prototype with five SMs per arm.",

keywords = "Modular multilevel converter, Multilevel converters, Pulse-width modulation",

author = "Georgios Konstantinou and Josep Pou and Rosheila Darus and Salvador Ceballos and Agelidis, {Vassilios G.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 IEEE.; 2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015 ; Conference date: 17-03-2015 Through 19-03-2015",

year = "2015",

month = jun,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1109/ICIT.2015.7125549",

language = "English",

series = "Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

number = "June",

pages = "3052--3057",

booktitle = "2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015",

address = "United States",

edition = "June",

}

Konstantinou, G, Pou, J, Darus, R, Ceballos, S & Agelidis, VG 2015, Defining the exact number of sub-module transitions in fundamental frequency modulated modular multilevel converters. in 2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015. June edn, 7125549, Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, no. June, vol. 2015-June, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 3052-3057, 2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015, Seville, Spain, 3/17/15. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIT.2015.7125549

Defining the exact number of sub-module transitions in fundamental frequency modulated modular multilevel converters. / Konstantinou, Georgios; Pou, Josep; Darus, Rosheila et al.
2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015. June. ed. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. p. 3052-3057 7125549 (Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology; Vol. 2015-June, No. June).

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

TY - GEN

T1 - Defining the exact number of sub-module transitions in fundamental frequency modulated modular multilevel converters

AU - Konstantinou, Georgios

AU - Pou, Josep

AU - Darus, Rosheila

AU - Ceballos, Salvador

AU - Agelidis, Vassilios G.

PY - 2015/6/16

Y1 - 2015/6/16

N2 - The large number of voltage levels and high quality of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) output voltage and current makes modulation at fundamental frequency a viable alternative. However, a staircase output voltage does not necessarily translate to fundamental switching frequency of the MMC submodules (SMs). This is because the voltage balancing algorithm usually requires several SMs to switch at any sampling period. This paper proposes a voltage balancing algorithm capable of controlling the exact number of SM transitions that are allowed within the arms of an MMC enabling improved regulation of the SM capacitor voltages. The proposed implementation can be extended to any modulation and circulating current control method. It is also shown that enabling the minimum additional transitions within the arm offers the best compromise between SM capacitor voltage ripple and increase in the switching frequency. The proposed method is verified for all operating points with extensive simulation results and demonstrated in an experimental prototype with five SMs per arm.

AB - The large number of voltage levels and high quality of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) output voltage and current makes modulation at fundamental frequency a viable alternative. However, a staircase output voltage does not necessarily translate to fundamental switching frequency of the MMC submodules (SMs). This is because the voltage balancing algorithm usually requires several SMs to switch at any sampling period. This paper proposes a voltage balancing algorithm capable of controlling the exact number of SM transitions that are allowed within the arms of an MMC enabling improved regulation of the SM capacitor voltages. The proposed implementation can be extended to any modulation and circulating current control method. It is also shown that enabling the minimum additional transitions within the arm offers the best compromise between SM capacitor voltage ripple and increase in the switching frequency. The proposed method is verified for all operating points with extensive simulation results and demonstrated in an experimental prototype with five SMs per arm.

KW - Modular multilevel converter

KW - Multilevel converters

KW - Pulse-width modulation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84937716198&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84937716198&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1109/ICIT.2015.7125549

DO - 10.1109/ICIT.2015.7125549

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:84937716198

T3 - Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology

SP - 3052

EP - 3057

BT - 2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015

Y2 - 17 March 2015 through 19 March 2015

ER -

Konstantinou G, Pou J, Darus R, Ceballos S, Agelidis VG. Defining the exact number of sub-module transitions in fundamental frequency modulated modular multilevel converters. In 2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, ICIT 2015. June ed. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2015. p. 3052-3057. 7125549. (Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology; June). doi: 10.1109/ICIT.2015.7125549

Defining the exact number of sub-module transitions in fundamental frequency modulated modular multilevel converters

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this