i-manager Publications

Brief Introduction to Modular Multilevel Converters and Relative Concepts and Functionalities

Sonal Purkait*, Rahul Pandey**

* M.Tech Scholar, Department of Electrical Power System, Shri Shankaracharya Group of Institutions, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India.

** Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics, Shri Shankaracharya Group of Institutions, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India.

Periodicity:January - March'2018
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jdp.6.1.15157

Abstract

With new developments in semiconductor technology, automation and control systems are booming. These sources have not only reduced the system size, but also allowed it to perform tasks that were impossible a few years back. Designing a DC-DC converter has always been a challenge, i.e, the way it should perform the conversion either unidirectional or bidirectional, compactness, power flow control, generation of a wide range of output levels, reduction in switching losses, etc. Among different DC-DC converters available, there is more scope for new topologies in multilevel converters. A unique multilevel converter that having striking features like high scalability, modular nature, internal fault cutback, regulation of voltage, and smaller space requirements is Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC). This paper sets an outline for studying Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) to be applied and further developed for the wide range of applications. The later sections involve their fundamentals, modeling, control modulation, and some of the implemented applications.

Keywords

Capacitor Voltage Balance, HVDC, Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC), Sub-module (SM)

How to Cite this Article?

Purkait, S., and Pandey, R. (2018). Brief Introduction to Modular Multilevel Converters and Relative Concepts and Functionalities. i-manager's Journal on Digital Signal Processing, 6(1), 33-39. https://doi.org/10.26634/jdp.6.1.15157

References

[1]. Allebrod, S., Hamerski, R., & Marquardt, R. (2008, June). New transformerless, scalable modular multilevel converters for HVDC-transmission. In Power Electronics Specialists Conference (pp.174-179).

[2]. Baruschka, L., & Mertens, A. (2013). A new three-phase AC/AC modular multilevel converter with six branches in hexagonal configuration. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 49(3), 1400-1410.

[3]. Callavik, M. (2010). HVDC grids for integration of renewable power sources. In EPRI FACTS and HVDC Users Meeting.

[4]. Das, A., Nademi, H., & Norum, L. (2011, November). A method for charging and discharging capacitors in modular multilevel converter. In IECON 2011-37^th Annual Conference on IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (pp.1058- 1062).

[5]. Debnath, S., Qin, J., Bahrani, B., Saeedifard, M., & Barbosa, P. (2015). Operation control and applications of the modular multilevel converter: A review. IEEE Trans. Power Electron, 30(1), 37-53.

[6]. Gemmell, B., Dorn, J., Retzmann, D., & Soerangr, D. (2008, April). Prospects of multilevel VSC technologies for power transmission. In Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition (pp.1-16).

[7]. Guan, M., Xu, Z., & Chen, H. (2011, November). Control and modulation strategies for modular multilevel converter based HVDC system. In IECON 2011-37^th Annual Conference on Industrial Electronics Society IEEE (pp.849- 854).

[8]. Guan, M., Xu, Z., & Li, H. (2010, October). Analysis of DC voltage ripples in modular multilevel converters. In Power System Technology (POWERCON), 2010 International Conference on IEEE (pp.1-6). IEEE.

[9]. Guying, Z., Daozhuo, J., & Xiaorang, L. (2012, July). Modular multilevel converter for unified power flow controller application. In Digital Manufacturing and Automation (ICDMA), 2012 Third International Conference on IEEE (pp.545-549).

[10]. Hagiwara, M., & Akagi, H. (2009). Control and experiment of pulsewidth-modulated modular multilevel converters. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 24(7), 1737-1746.

[11]. Iannuzzi, D., Piegari, L., & Tricoli, P. (2013, March). A novel PV-modular multilevel converter for building integrated photovoltaics. In Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER), 2013 8^th International Conference and Exhibition on IEEE (pp.1-7).

[12]. Ilves, K., Antonopoulos, A., Harnefors, L., Norrga, S., Ängquist, L., & Nee, H. P. (2011, November). Capacitor voltage ripple shaping in modular multilevel converters allowing for operating region extension. In IECON 2011-37^th Annual Conference on IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (pp.4403-4408).

[13]. Kammerer, F., Kolb, J., & Braun, M. (2012, September). Fully decoupled current control and energy balancing of the modular multilevel matrix converter. In Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference (EPE/PEMC), 2012 15^th International IEEE, LS2a-3.

[14]. Khoshkbar-Sadigh, A., Dargahi, V., & Corzine, K. (2016). New flying-capacitor-based multilevel converter with optimized number of switches and capacitors for renewable energy integration. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, 31(3), 846-859.

[15]. Konstantinou, G., Ciobotaru, M., & Agelidis, V. (2013). Selective harmonic elimination pulse-width modulation of modular multilevel converters. IET Power Electronics, 6(1), 96-107.

[16]. Lai, J. S., & Peng, F. Z. (1996). Multilevel converters - A new breed of power converters. IEEE Trans. Ind. Application, 32, 509-517.

[17]. Lesnicar, A., & Marquardt, R. (2003, June). An innovative modular multilevel converter topology suitable for a wide power range. In Power Tech Conference Proceedings, 2003 IEEE Bologna, Vol.3, (pp.1-6).

[18]. Li, J., Zhao, X., Song, Q., Rao, H., Xu, S., & Chen, M. (2013, May). Loss calculation method and loss characteristic analysis of MMC based VSC-HVDC system. In Industrial Electronics (ISIE), 2013 IEEE International Symposium on IEEE (pp.1-6).

[19]. Li, X., Song, Q., Liu, W., Rao, H., Xu, S., & Li, L. (2013). Protection of nonpermanent faults on DC overhead lines in MMC-based HVDC systems. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 28(1), 483-490.

[20]. Marquardt, R. (2011, May). Modular multilevel converter topologies with DC-short circuit current limitation. In Power Electronics and ECCE Asia (ICPE & ECCE), 2011 IEEE 8^th International Conference on IEEE (pp.1425-1431). IEEE.

[21]. Miet, G. P. A., Mieee, O. A. L., Mieee, G. B., & Smieee, J. M. (2009, September). Transformerless STATCOM based on a five-level modular multilevel converter. In Power Electronics and Applications, 2009. EPE'09. 13^th European Conference on IEEE (pp.1-10).

[22]. Modeer, T., Nee, H. P., & Norrga, S. (2012). Loss comparison of different sub-module implementations for modular multilevel converters in HVDC applications. EPE Journal, 22(3), 32-38.

[23]. Nabae, A., Takahashi, I., & Akagi, H. (1981). A new neutral-point-clamped PWM inverter. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 5, 518-523.

[24]. Nami, A., Wang, L., Dijkhuizen, F., & Shukla, A. (2013, September). Five level cross connected cell for cascaded converters. In Power Electronics and Applications (EPE), th 2013 15 European Conference on IEEE (pp.1-9).

[25]. Perez, M. A., Bernet, S., Rodriguez, J., Kouro, S., & Lizana, R. (2015). Circuit topologies, modeling, control schemes, and applications of modular multilevel converters. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 30(1), 4- 17.

[26]. Purkait, S., Pandey, R. (2018). Modular Multilevel Converters an overview : Basic concepts, design and control along with applications. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, 5(7), 835-843.

[27]. Rohner, S., Bernet, S., Hiller, M., & Sommer, R. (2010). Modulation, losses, and semiconductor requirements of modular multilevel converters. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 57(8), 2633-2642.

[28]. Rosas-Caro, J. C., Ramirez, J. M., Peng, F. Z., & Valderrabano, A. (2010). A DC-DC multilevel boost converter. IET Power Electronics, 3(1), 129-137.

[29]. Solas, E., Abad, G., Barrena, J. A., Aurtenetxea, S., Carcar, A., & Zając, L. (2013). Modular multilevel converter with different submodule concepts-Part I: Capacitor voltage balancing method. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 60(10), 4525-4535.

[30]. Son, G. T., Lee, H. J., Nam, T. S., Chung, Y. H., Lee, U. H., Baek, S. T., & Park, J. W. (2012). Design and control of a modular multilevel HVDC converter with redundant power modules for noninterruptible energy transfer. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 27(3), 1611-1619.

[31]. Vasiladiotis, M., Cherix, N., & Rufer, A. (2012, September). Accurate voltage ripple estimation and decoupled current control for modular multilevel converters. In Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference (EPE/PEMC), 2012 15^th International IEEE (pp.1- 8). IEEE.

[32]. Winkelnkemper, M., Korn, A., & Steimer, P. (2010, July). A modular direct converter for transformerless rail interties. In Proc. IEEE Int. Symp. Ind. Electron (pp.562-567). IEEE.

[33]. Xu, J., Zhao, C., Zhang, B., & Lu, L. (2011, March). New precharge and submodule capacitor voltage balancing topologies of modular multilevel converter for VSC-HVDC application. In Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), 2011 Asia-Pacific IEEE (pp.1-4).

[34]. Yang, X., Li, J., Wang, X., Fan, W., & Zheng, T. Q. (2011, June). Harmonic analysis of the DC capacitor voltage in modular multilevel converter based STATCOM. In Industrial Electronics and Applications (ICIEA), 2011 6^th IEEE Conference on IEEE (pp.2575-2579).

[35]. Yang, X., Zheng, T. Q., Lin, Z., Xiong, T., & You, X. (2012, May). Power quality controller based on hybrid modular multilevel converter. In Industrial Electronics (ISIE), 2012 IEEE International Symposium on IEEE (pp.1997-2002).

Brief Introduction to Modular Multilevel Converters and Relative Concepts and Functionalities

Abstract

Keywords

How to Cite this Article?

References

If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Options for accessing this content:

	North Americas,UK, Middle East,Europe		India	Rest of world
	USD	EUR	INR	USD-ROW
Pdf	35	35	200	20
Online	35	35	200	15
Pdf & Online	35	35	400	25