Discontinuous modulation of modular multilevel converters without the need for extra submodules

R. Picas; S. Ceballos; J. Pou; J. Zaragoza; G. Konstantinou; V. G. Agelidis; J. Balcells

doi:10.1109/IECON.2015.7392484

Discontinuous modulation of modular multilevel converters without the need for extra submodules

R. Picas, S. Ceballos, J. Pou, J. Zaragoza, G. Konstantinou, V. G. Agelidis, J. Balcells

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

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this paper, a new approach to the discontinuous modulation technique for the operation of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) is presented. Discontinuous modulation is based on adding a zero-sequence to the original modulation signals so that each MMC arm is clamped to the upper or lower terminals of the dc-link bus during some intervals. In combination with a circulating current control, the original discontinuous modulation can reduce the capacitor voltage ripple amplitudes and the switching power losses. However, additional submodules (SMs) are required to control the circulating current. This new approach presents a clamping algorithm that eliminates the requirement of additional SMs. As a result, the conduction losses are reduced while the capacitor voltage ripples are maintained low. Simulation and experimental results on a silicon-carbide-based MMC are reported and compared against the original discontinuous modulation and a conventional carrier-based pulse-width modulation.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	2538-2543
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9781479917624
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/IECON.2015.7392484
Publication status	Published - 2015
Externally published	Yes
Event	41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, IECON 2015 - Yokohama, Japan Duration: Nov 9 2015 → Nov 12 2015

Publication series

Name	IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society

Conference

Conference	41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, IECON 2015
Country/Territory	Japan
City	Yokohama
Period	11/9/15 → 11/12/15

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 IEEE.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Keywords

Capacitor voltage ripples
discontinuous modulation
efficiency improvement
modular multilevel converter
silicon carbide

Access to Document

10.1109/IECON.2015.7392484

Cite this

Picas, R., Ceballos, S., Pou, J., Zaragoza, J., Konstantinou, G., Agelidis, V. G., & Balcells, J. (2015). Discontinuous modulation of modular multilevel converters without the need for extra submodules. In IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (pp. 2538-2543). Article 7392484 (IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/IECON.2015.7392484

Picas, R. ; Ceballos, S. ; Pou, J. et al. / Discontinuous modulation of modular multilevel converters without the need for extra submodules. IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. pp. 2538-2543 (IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society).

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title = "Discontinuous modulation of modular multilevel converters without the need for extra submodules",

abstract = "In this paper, a new approach to the discontinuous modulation technique for the operation of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) is presented. Discontinuous modulation is based on adding a zero-sequence to the original modulation signals so that each MMC arm is clamped to the upper or lower terminals of the dc-link bus during some intervals. In combination with a circulating current control, the original discontinuous modulation can reduce the capacitor voltage ripple amplitudes and the switching power losses. However, additional submodules (SMs) are required to control the circulating current. This new approach presents a clamping algorithm that eliminates the requirement of additional SMs. As a result, the conduction losses are reduced while the capacitor voltage ripples are maintained low. Simulation and experimental results on a silicon-carbide-based MMC are reported and compared against the original discontinuous modulation and a conventional carrier-based pulse-width modulation.",

keywords = "Capacitor voltage ripples, discontinuous modulation, efficiency improvement, modular multilevel converter, silicon carbide",

author = "R. Picas and S. Ceballos and J. Pou and J. Zaragoza and G. Konstantinou and Agelidis, {V. G.} and J. Balcells",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 IEEE.; 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, IECON 2015 ; Conference date: 09-11-2015 Through 12-11-2015",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.1109/IECON.2015.7392484",

language = "English",

series = "IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society",

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Picas, R, Ceballos, S, Pou, J, Zaragoza, J, Konstantinou, G, Agelidis, VG & Balcells, J 2015, Discontinuous modulation of modular multilevel converters without the need for extra submodules. in IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society., 7392484, IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 2538-2543, 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, IECON 2015, Yokohama, Japan, 11/9/15. https://doi.org/10.1109/IECON.2015.7392484

Discontinuous modulation of modular multilevel converters without the need for extra submodules. / Picas, R.; Ceballos, S.; Pou, J. et al.
IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. p. 2538-2543 7392484 (IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society).

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

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AU - Picas, R.

AU - Ceballos, S.

AU - Pou, J.

AU - Zaragoza, J.

AU - Konstantinou, G.

AU - Agelidis, V. G.

AU - Balcells, J.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - In this paper, a new approach to the discontinuous modulation technique for the operation of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) is presented. Discontinuous modulation is based on adding a zero-sequence to the original modulation signals so that each MMC arm is clamped to the upper or lower terminals of the dc-link bus during some intervals. In combination with a circulating current control, the original discontinuous modulation can reduce the capacitor voltage ripple amplitudes and the switching power losses. However, additional submodules (SMs) are required to control the circulating current. This new approach presents a clamping algorithm that eliminates the requirement of additional SMs. As a result, the conduction losses are reduced while the capacitor voltage ripples are maintained low. Simulation and experimental results on a silicon-carbide-based MMC are reported and compared against the original discontinuous modulation and a conventional carrier-based pulse-width modulation.

AB - In this paper, a new approach to the discontinuous modulation technique for the operation of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) is presented. Discontinuous modulation is based on adding a zero-sequence to the original modulation signals so that each MMC arm is clamped to the upper or lower terminals of the dc-link bus during some intervals. In combination with a circulating current control, the original discontinuous modulation can reduce the capacitor voltage ripple amplitudes and the switching power losses. However, additional submodules (SMs) are required to control the circulating current. This new approach presents a clamping algorithm that eliminates the requirement of additional SMs. As a result, the conduction losses are reduced while the capacitor voltage ripples are maintained low. Simulation and experimental results on a silicon-carbide-based MMC are reported and compared against the original discontinuous modulation and a conventional carrier-based pulse-width modulation.

KW - Capacitor voltage ripples

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KW - efficiency improvement

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BT - IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society

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Picas R, Ceballos S, Pou J, Zaragoza J, Konstantinou G, Agelidis VG et al. Discontinuous modulation of modular multilevel converters without the need for extra submodules. In IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2015. p. 2538-2543. 7392484. (IECON 2015 - 41st Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society). doi: 10.1109/IECON.2015.7392484

Discontinuous modulation of modular multilevel converters without the need for extra submodules

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this