Overview on Submodule Topologies,Modeling,Modulation,Control Schemes,Fault Diagnosis,and Tolerant Control Strategies of Modular Multilevel Converters

In the present scenario,modular multilevel converters(MMCs)are considered to be one of the most promising and effective topologies in the family of high-power converters because of their modular design and good scalability;MMCs are extensively used in high-voltage and high-power applications.Based on their unique advantages,MMCs have attracted increasing attention from academic circles over the past years.Several studies have focused on different aspects of MMCs,including submodule topologies,modeling schemes,modulation strategies,control schemes for voltage balancing and circulating currents,fault diagnoses,and fault-tolerant control strategies.To summarize the current research status of MMCs,all the aforementioned research issues with representative research approaches,results and characteristics are systematically overviewed.In the final section,the current research status of MMCs and their future trends are emphasized.

Circulating Current Suppression for MMC-HVDC Systems with Asymmetric Arm Impedance

The modular multilevel converter(MMC)has been a highly promising topology in the high-voltage direct-current(HVDC)transmission area,where each arm of the MMC may consist of hundreds of series-connected submodules and an inductor.Due to its parameter inaccuracy,component aging,and so on,the component parameter in different arms of the MMC may be different,which may cause circulating current in the MMC-HVDC transmission system,and result in current deterioration,power losses,and electromagnetic interference,etc.In this paper,the circulating current suppressing(CCS)in the MMC-HVDC system,due to asymmetric arm impedance,is analyzed.Based on the mathematical analysis,a method of using an auxiliary circuit is proposed for the MMC to realize the CCS and improve the performance of the MMC-HVDC system.Simulation studies are conducted with PSCAD/EMTDC in the HVDC system,which confirms the feasibility of the proposed method.

A Double Input-parallel-output-series Hybrid Switched-capacitor Boost Converter

A double input-parallel-output-series hybrid switched-capacitor boost(DIPOS-HSCB)converter is proposed which consists of two different kinds of input-parallel-output-series(IPOS)circuits,i.e.,inner IPOS circuit and outer IPOS circuit.Two boost modules and one switched-capacitor network build an inner IPOS circuit based IPOS-HSCB converter and two IPOS-HSCB converters develop the outer IPOS circuit based DIPOS-HSCB converter.With the proposed DIPOS-HSCB converter,a high voltage-gain with low component stress and small input current ripple are achieved.Furthermore,an automatic current balancing function for all input inductor currents can be also achieved using a special carrier phase-shifted modulation scheme.A prototype rated at 200 V/120 W has been developed and the maximum efficiency of the proposed DIPOS-HSCB converter is 95% at 120 W.Both steady and dynamic results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed DIPOS-HSCB converter.

Harmonic Circulating Current Injection Based Power Loss Optimization Control of Bottom Switch/Diodes for Modular Multilevel Converters

Power loss management is one of the most significant challenges for reliability improvement of modular multilevel converters(MMCs).In the MMC,the bottom switch/diode in each submodule(SM)normally takes the maximum power loss.In this paper,a power loss optimization control(PLOC)for MMCs is proposed,where the maximum power losses in the bottom switch/diode of each SM can be effectively reduced through injecting optimum second-order harmonic current into the circulating current of MMCs,and accordingly the reliability of MMCs can be improved by the proposed PLOC.Simulation results with PSCAD software and experimental results with a 1 kW MMC platform are provided to confirm the validity of the proposed PLOC for MMCs.

Control Strategy of Wind Turbine Based on Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator and Energy Storage for Stand-Alone Systems

This paper investigates a variable speed wind turbine based on permanent magnet synchronous generator and a full-scale power converter in a stand-alone system.An energy storage system(ESS)including battery and fuel cell-electrolyzer combination is connected to the DC link of the full-scale power converter through the power electronics interface.Wind is the primary power source of the system,the battery and FC-electrolyzer combination is used as a backup and a long-term storage system to provide or absorb power in the stand-alone system,respectively.In this paper,a control strategy is proposed for the operation of this variable speed wind turbine in a stand-alone system,where the generator-side converter and the ESS operate together to meet the demand of the loads.This control strategy is competent for supporting the variation of the loads or wind speed and limiting the DC-link voltage of the full-scale power converter in a small range.A simulation model of a variable speed wind turbine in a stand-alone system is developed using the simulation tool of PSCAD/EMTDC.The dynamic performance of the stand-alone wind turbine system and the proposed control strategy is assessed and emphasized with the simulation results.

Analysis and stabilization control of a voltage source controlled wind farm under weak grid conditions

This paper investigates and discusses the interaction stability issues of a wind farm with weak grid connections,where the wind turbines(WTs)are controlled by a new type of converter control strategy referred to as the voltage source(VS)control.The primary intention of the VS control method is to achieve the high-quality inertial response capability of a single WT.However,when it is applied to multiple WTs within a wind farm,its weakgrid performance regarding the stability remains concealed and needs to be clarified.To this end,a frequency domain model of the wind farm under the VS control is first developed.Based on this model and the application of a stability margin quantification index,not only the interactions between the wind farm and the weak grid but also those among WTs will be systematically assessed in this paper.A crucial finding is that the inertial response of VS control has negative impacts on the stability margin of the system,and the dominant instability mode is more related to the interactions among the WTs rather than the typical grid-wind farm interaction.Based on this knowledge,a stabilization control strategy is then proposed,aiming for stability improvements of VS control while fulfilling the demand of inertial responses.Finally,all the results are verified by time-domain simulations in power systems computer aided design/electromagnetic transients including DC(PSCAD/EMTDC).