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This paper investigates the Multilevel Current Source Converter (MCSC) STATCOM. It proposes a new method of modulation. The new modulation method produces less THD and di/dt at the terminals of the MCSC STATCOM when compared to the widely used Phase-Shifted Carrier SPWM (PSC-SPWM). To ensure the inductors' currents remain balanced, a Current Balancing Algorithm (CBA) is presented. The CBA does not require any controls. It relies on assigning optimum switching states to each CSC module in real-time. In addition, two control strategies are presented in this paper. The first one assumes the STATCOM to be a SISO. Therefore, it only requires one PI controller. However, the gains for the controller must be changed if the STATCOM was to transition from capacitive mode to inductive mode, or vice versa. The second control strategy overcomes this problem by implementing a TITO integral state feedback controller. The contributions of this paper are validated via simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utility engineers, professionals from regulatory agencies, manufacturers and researchers have discussed if high-frequency distortions produced by rooftop photovoltaic generators are a general power quality concern for distribution systems. In this context, this paper presents the results of an extensive research to investigate the emission and propagation characteristics of such high-frequency distortions. Analytical and theoretical analyses, computer simulations, laboratory experiments and field measurements revealed that high-frequency distortions emitted by rooftop photovoltaic inverters are produced with a voltage source characteristic. As a result, the equivalent grid impedance limits and attenuates significantly the high-frequency distortions injection and propagation into the distribution systems. Moreover, the front-end, low-pass filters found in many home appliances also contribute with such attenuation by sinking part of the high-frequency distortions. In summary, the results indicate that these distortions are unlikely to become a generalized power quality concern, so that the front-end filters commonly available for such devices, when properly designed, are enough to deal with this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the estimation of parameters of a Thevenin equivalent in an AC grid. We consider the practically relevant case of measurements coming from a grid-connected inverter. Our focus is on non-intrusive measurements, as we postulate and later experimentally observe transients that occur in normal operation as the primary source of information. We notice that even during quiet, after work hours there are typically enough variations in the grid to enable successful convergence of our procedure. For completeness, we also consider the artificial case of no external variations and show that injection of very small current perturbations suffices for convergence. Our procedure is based on real-time monitoring of the estimated determinant of the regression matrix. Regression matrix properties are also used to evaluate the integrity of the estimates and to initiate a brief sequence of perturbation in rare cases of the exceptionally restful grid. The estimation algorithm is simple enough to be implementable on standard industrial controllers, yet robust and reliable in terms of speed of convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In high power applications, 3-phase ac/dc Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) are paralleled to increase the overall aggregated converter power rating, effective switching frequency and control bandwidth. For this, interleaved Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and current limiting paralleling inductors are required. Interphase Transformers (ITRs) are often used for the converter paralleling because they provide large magnetizing inductances for the currents flowing between the converters while introducing negligible leakage inductances for the currents flowing from the converters to the ac grid. This large asymmetry in the inductance values makes it difficult to independently control active power flows in the individual converters. Thus, if the converters dc buses are not mutually interconnected, instabilities in active control of balance of converter dc bus voltages can occur in certain operational conditions. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the active power flows produced by the currents flowing among the converters and explains origins of potential instability in the active control of balance of dc bus voltages in multi-converter systems with floating dc buses, paralleled using the ITRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) have established their position as the choice of next-generation high voltage converters. These converters, however, require a bulk number of sensors in each phase for sub-modules (SMs) voltage balancing. A limited number of studies are found in the literature where the number of sensors is reduced by incorporating observers to estimate the SM voltages. Nonetheless, most of these methods require accurate measurements of the arm voltage. Thus, the dependence on sensors is not completely eliminated. In this paper, a Kalman-filter-based estimation of SM voltages is presented, which does not require any voltage sensor to measure the arm voltage. Therefore, this method considerably simplifies the implementation of MMCs. Extensive simulations and experimental test cases are conducted to validate the performance of the proposed SM voltage estimation method. The performance assessments verify the accuracy and robustness of the proposed method for various test scenarios performed over a wide range of sampling frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative- and zero-sequence internal currents of a modular multilevel converter (MMC) under unbalanced ac-grid conditions can increase the peak voltage of the submodule (SM) capacitors, which should be kept below a maximum voltage limit. This paper investigates the impact of offset pulsewidth modulation (OPWM) and zero-sequence voltage injection on reducing peak SM capacitor voltages of the MMC during unbalanced ac-grid conditions. It is demonstrated that OPWM extends the operating range of the MMC for a given set of restrictions, as it leads to a reduction of capacitor voltage in every phase by utilizing all the SMs in the arms. Zero-sequence voltage injection further reduces the maximum SM capacitor voltage among three phases under certain conditions. Simulation results from an 800-MVA MMC-based high-voltage direct current transmission system demonstrate the effect of OPWM in the operation of the converters and the efficacy of the method compared to standard modulation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Replacing the phase shifting transformers of interphase power controller with a reduced rating dual unified power flow controller (UPFC) results in a unified interphase power controller (UIPC) with potential for enhanced performance. However, in most cases, the UPFC is controlled as a static phase shifter (SPS), producing marginal improvements. A control approach that allows the minimization of the power ratings of the series voltage source converters (VSCs) of the UIPC was recently proposed. For that, one has to define four control parameters, as opposed to only two in the SPS-based UIPC. This can be done off-line, by means of an optimization procedure that splits the desired transmission line current among the capacitive and inductive branches of the UIPC. In this paper, a control scheme is presented for the implementation of the novel technique. The current sharing factors obtained from the optimization are stored in a lookup table. The gating signals for the VSCs are generated using Park's transformation so as to synthesize the optimal UIPC inductive and capacitive branch currents with proportional resonant controllers and sinusoidal pulse width modulation. The transmission line angle, as well as the magnitude and phase of the desired transmission line current with respect to the voltage at the receiving end voltage, is assumed to be provided by a transmission system operator. Experimental results that include steady state and transient conditions are provided to prove its feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For phase-controlled vacuum breakers, the acting time of the actuator should be precise. The variation of capacitor voltage, capacitance, and environmental temperature impact the dispersion of closing time seriously. A new technology has been put forward in this paper. It is the speed control of the vacuum breaker. This technology can be used for phase-controlled operation of vacuum breakers. By using this technology, the deviation of displacement can be corrected in real time. So the permanent-magnetic actuator (PMA) can move along with the given displacement curve. Also, the closing time is stable when the external factors, such as capacitor voltage, capacitance, and environment temperature change. The closed-loop system has been established in this paper. The proportion-differentiation (PD) algorithm and fuzzy algorithm are used in the system. The PD algorithm adjusts the coil current to ensure that different actuators have the same excitation time. And the fuzzy algorithm is used to adjust actuator displacement. With the use of the algorithm, the closing time of the breaker is stable, and mechanical properties are optimal. Based on the aforementioned theory, many experiments have been performed when external factors change, such as environment temperature, capacitance, and so on. The results prove that the displacement deviation can be corrected using this method and the closing time can be stabilized within \pm0.5 ms. Therefore, not only can the accuracy of phase-controlled operation can be ensured, but the lifespan of the circuit breaker can also be prolonged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimodule converter-based high-voltage dc (HVDC) power transmission incorporates numerous voltage-source converters (VSCs) connected in series/parallel to provide increased voltage/current and, hence, power ratings. When a selective harmonic elimination pulsewidth-modulation (SHE-PWM) technique is employed, the switching losses of the VSC modules are reduced but the voltages of the series-connected dc capacitors are not naturally balanced. In this paper, a voltage-balancing technique is reported. The technique relies on monitoring the voltage of each dc capacitor and when such voltage exceeds its preset band, the realization of the multilevel waveform reallocates the task to another VSC module to ensure that voltage balance between all capacitors is achieved. Three-phase bipolar VSC modules are considered in this paper and each one is modulated by a precalculated multilevel SHE-PWM waveform. The time-domain waveforms and their line-to-line voltage spectra are verified by simulation using PSCAD/EMTDC. The selected results are presented to confirm the viability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The use of power networks as a communication medium is currently under development. Power line communication (PLC) is a recent technology that allows interconnecting high-speed multimedia equipment while using the conventional domestic electric network. This paper deals with the use of this technology over pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) networks in motor-drive applications. The originality stands on the frontier of two distinct domains—communication and energy. First, the performance of the PLC technology conceived for domestic applications is evaluated when used over a PWM network. Operating limits and main difficulties encountered are underlined. Based on the requirements of the PWM network, new PLC modems are developed and tested. Experimental results presented in this paper show the capacity of these modems to overcome the hostile environment due to the inverter and to guarantee reliable communication over the PWM network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a modified phase-shifted carrier-based pulsewidth-modulation (PSC-PWM) scheme for modular multilevel converters (MMC). In order to reduce the average device switching frequency, a reduced switching-frequency (RSF) voltage balancing algorithm is developed. This paper also proposes a circulating current suppressing controller (CCSC) to minimize the inner circulating current in an MMC. Based on the double line-frequency, negative-sequence rotational frame, the three-phase alternative circulating currents are decomposed into two dc components and are minimized by a pair of proportional integral controllers. Simulation results based on a detailed PSCAD/EMTDC model prove the effectiveness of the modified PSC-PWM method and the RSF voltage-balancing algorithm. The proposed CCSC not only eliminates the inner circulating current but also improves the quality of the converter ac output voltage. A simple loss evaluation demonstrates that the RSF voltage-balancing algorithm and the CCSC reduce the converter power losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) is a newly introduced switch-mode converter topology with the potential for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission applications. This paper focuses on the dynamic performance of an MMC-based, back-to-back HVDC system. A phase-disposition (PD) sinusoidal pulsewidth modulation (SPWM) strategy, including a voltage balancing method, for the operation of an MMC is presented in this paper. Based on the proposed PD-SPWM switching strategy, a mathematical model for the MMC-HVDC system, under both balanced and unbalanced grid operation modes, is developed. Dynamic performance of the MMC-based back-to-back HVDC converter system, based on time-domain simulation studies in the PSCAD/EMTDC environment, is then evaluated. The reported time-domain simulation results show that based on the adopted PD-SPWM switching strategy, the MMC-HVDC station can respond satisfactorily to the system dynamics and control commands under balanced and unbalanced conditions while maintaining voltage balance of the dc capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents theoretical, simulation, and experimental investigations of input current interharmonics in modern variable-speed drives based on voltage source inverters and diode input rectifiers that are caused by motor current imbalance. It investigates how a disturbance in the inverter dc side current created by unbalanced motor currents propagates from the inverter to the rectifier stage and appears as variable frequency interharmonic distortion in the rectifier input currents. Particular emphasis is given to theoretical analysis of the frequency transformations created by the inverter and rectifier stages and the magnification of the disturbance current caused by parallel resonance in the drive dc bus circuit. The theoretical results are confirmed by simulation and experimental results. They demonstrate that motor current imbalance can be responsible for high non-characteristic inter-harmonic distortion in the drive input currents. A calculation example outlines a procedure for estimation of the drive input current interharmonic distortion based on measurements of the motor currents. The paper should be helpful for people investigating the origin of problems caused by variable frequency interharmonic currents. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper introduces and develops i) a novel unified dynamic model, and ii) new control schemes for a grid-connected static energy conversion system that is based on the voltage-sourced converter (VSC) configuration. The model and the controls are applicable to both the conventional two-level and the three-level neutral point diode clamped (NPC) VSCs. The model is unified since it represents the dynamic behavior of the VSC with respect to both positive- and negative-sequence components, due to unbalanced grid conditions and disturbances. To develop the unified model, the concepts of "generalized sinusoidal pulse-width modulation (SPWM)" and "VSC sequence subsystems" are presented. Based on the negative-sequence subsystem control, a new control strategy, to either balance the ac line currents or to mitigate dc-bus voltage ripples, is introduced. Application of the developed model and the controls to a variable-speed wind-power unit is presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four-leg dc–ac power converters are widely used for the power grids to manage grid voltage unbalance caused by the interconnection of single-phase or three-phase unbalanced loads. These converters can further be connected in parallel to increase the overall power rating. The control of these converters poses a particular challenge if they are placed far apart with no links between them (e.g., in islanded microgrids). This challenge is studied in this paper with each four-leg converter designed to have improved common current sharing and selective voltage-quality enhancement. The common current sharing, including zero sequence component, is necessary since loads are spread over the microgrid and they are hence the common responsibility of all converters. The voltage-quality enhancement consideration should however be more selective since different loads have different sensitivity levels towards voltage disturbances. Converters connected to the more sensitive load buses should therefore be selectively triggered for compensation when voltage unbalances at their protected buses exceed the predefined thresholds. The proposed scheme is therefore different from conventional centralized schemes protecting only a common bus. Simulation and experimental results obtained have verified the effectiveness of the proposed scheme when applied to a four-wire islanded microgrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilevel current source converters are a smart choice for the high-power applications with low-voltage and high-current requirements. This paper presents the detailed analysis of a current source modular multilevel converter (CSMMC) and its application as a STATCOM. Various properties of CSMMC are compared with the voltage-source modular multilevel converter (VSMMC). The submodule inductance selection method and a sorting-based algorithm for inductor current balancing are proposed for CSMMC. The validity of the inductance selection method and the inductor current balancing algorithm are confirmed by the simulation of a three-phase CSMMC using PSCAD/EMTDC. The carrier phase-shifted sinusoidal pulsewidth modulation is used as the switching technique. The performance of a converter is analyzed with interleaved and noninterleaved carrier signals for the upper and lower arms. Results show that CSMMCs and corresponding VSMMCs have analogous features. Hence, the development on VSMMCs can be used for reference to CSMMCs and vice-versa. Furthermore, the control designs for CSMMC-based STATCOM are presented and verified using simulations. The obtained results of the proposed STATCOM show that the steady-state and transient performance of the system are quite satisfactory. This makes the CSMMC suitable for HVDC and flexible ac transmission systems applications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The large number of voltage levels in a modular multilevel converter (MMC) make staircase modulation a feasible alternative, particularly in high-power applications. However, staircase waveforms do not necessarily mean operation of the MMC submodules (SMs) at the fundamental frequency. This paper presents an analysis of SM switching frequencies in staircase-modulated MMCs and their correlation to the modulation index and load phase angle. A carrier-based pulsewidth-modulation (CB-PWM) equivalent technique is also developed. This analysis demonstrates that CB-PWM techniques provide a similar switching frequency with superior harmonic performance and improved voltage balancing characteristics at all modulation indices compared to staircase modulation. The theoretical analysis is verified with extensive simulation results for MMCs with different SMs and experimental results from a laboratory prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The three-phase series-connected modular multilevel converter (SC-MMC) is presented as one option for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) tap to reduce the cost of an HVDC station. Compared with conventional three-phase parallel-connected MMC, the number of semiconductor switches in SC-MMC is reduced by one-third to withstand the same dc voltage. First, the paper studies the operating principle of SC-MMC, and then presents an interspacing phase-shifted pulsewidth-modulated method which could improve the waveform of the output ac voltage for a given switching frequency. Next, the control strategy based on the identical real power input of each phase is proposed to balance the dc voltage of each phase under an unbalanced grid condition. The current limit of switching devices is also taken into consideration to protect SC-MMC from overcurrent. Furthermore, a universal zero-sequence current controller is developed as one part of the control strategy. In addition, an innovative method to suppress the third harmonics of ac current is presented. With the third harmonic suppression strategy, the SC-MMC can operate with much smaller SM capacitors without deteriorating the ac current, which contributes to the cost reduction further. Finally, simulation results obtained in PSCAD/EMTDC are provided to validate the proposed control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a new hybrid power conditioner is proposed for suppressing harmonic currents and neutral-line current in three-phase four-wire distribution power systems. The proposed hybrid power conditioner is composed of a neutral-line current attenuator and a hybrid power filter. The hybrid power filter, configured by a three-phase power converter and a three-phase tuned power filter, is utilized to filter the nonzero-sequence harmonic currents in the three-phase four-wire distribution power system. The three-phase power converter is connected to the inductors of the three-phase tuned power filter in parallel, and its power rating can thus be reduced effectively. The tuned frequency of the three-phase tuned power filter is set at the fifth harmonic frequency. The neutral-line current suppressor is connected between the power capacitors of the three-phase tuned power filter and the neutral line to suppress the neutral-line current in the three-phase four-wire distribution power system. With the major fundamental voltage of the utility dropping across the power capacitors of the three-phase tuned power filter, the power rating of the neutral-line current suppressor can thus be reduced. Hence, the proposed hybrid power conditioner can effectively reduce the power rating of passive and active elements. A hardware prototype is developed to verify the performance of the proposed hybrid power conditioner. Experimental results show that the proposed hybrid power conditioner achieves expected performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilevel converters are attractive for unified power-flow controller (UPFC) applications, due to their high-voltage and power capability. Among multilevel topologies, the three-level neutral-point-clamped (NPC) converter allows back-to-back connection as the UPFC shunt and series converters. Besides the pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) multilevel control schemes, UPFCs require constant dc-link voltage and balanced voltages in the NPC multilevel dc capacitors. This paper proposes three main contributions to increase the dc-link voltage steadiness of multilevel UPFCs under line faults: 1) decoupled active and reactive linear power controllers; 2) real-time PWM generation; and 3) double balancing of dc capacitor voltages. A case study using part of the Portuguese transmission network is presented. The results show the effectiveness of the real-time PWM generation and dc-link capacitor voltages balancing included in NPC series and shunt converters to keep the dc-link voltage steadiness under line faults, overall enhancing the UPFC ride-through capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A line frequency transformer is usually employed in grid-connected power converters, from both renewable and traditional energy sources, in order to suppress the DC current component and the ground leakage current. Solutions employing a high frequency transformer or employing no transformer at all have recently been investigated in order to reduce size, weight and cost. As a consequence, unless a suitable remedy is adopted, a DC current component exceeding the limits enforced by international standards may be injected into the grid. This paper proposes a simple and cheap solution to reduce the DC current component injected into the grid in the case of a full-bridge, single-phase, transformerless converter. The proposed strategy is intrinsically insensitive to offset measurement errors and can be utilized as a robust and dynamic offset compensator for the current transducer. The simulation results have confirmed the theoretical behavior of the proposed solution, while the experimental ones, performed for different values of output power and for different current control architectures, have shown its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a time-optimal current-control (TOCC) algorithm for a space vector modulation-based voltage-source converter. The term “time optimal” refers to optimally controlled reference current tracking in order to gain the shortest durations of current transients. The dynamics of the proposed controller are compared with a nonlinear hysteresis controller known for its good dynamic performance. For the two algorithms, the response to a reference step change is observed using PSCAD simulations. Results show that despite its digital implementation and constant switching frequency, the TOCC algorithm in most cases provides faster transient responses than the hysteresis controller. The operation of the TOCC algorithm was during balanced and unbalanced voltage sags evaluated as stable and very fast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a neutral point voltage control strategy for the three-level active neutral point clamped (ANPC) converter using selective harmonic elimination pulsewidth modulation (SHE-PWM). The control strategy introduces a small change in the switching angles, which varies the duty cycle of the zero-level switching state, controls the neutral point current and, therefore, the neutral point voltage. The decision to vary a given switching angle takes into account the polarity of the output currents and the voltage across the lower dc-link capacitor. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is verified through extensive simulation studies and experimentally validated using a low power laboratory prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental testing of a wavelet packet transform (WPT)-based technique for protecting and controlling three-phase voltage-source (VS) pulse-width modulated (PWM) inverters under extreme load conditions. The proposed technique is based on a two-level multiresolution analysis (MRA) applied on output currents of a 3Ø VS PWM inverter. The MRA aims to extract certain signatures, which are the second level highest frequency subband coefficients. These coefficients take a nonzero value for any signal that is short-duration, nonperiodic and nonstationary with impulse-super imposed high frequencies. Such a signal perfectly matches a current arising from any typical fault occurring in either the inverter legs or on the load side. The proposed technique is realized using a C-code hosted and executed by a dSPACE ds1102 controller board. The tested inverter supplies loads that include a 3Ø Y-connected R — L load, a 34 squirrel-cage induction motor and a 3Ø synchronous reluctance motor. The extreme load conditions include inverter open-leg, motor starting currents and different faults in motor stator windings. The experimental test results show accurate, fast, and effective response to all disturbances including fault currents by the proposed WPT-based technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system based on three-level flying capacitor (FC) multilevel converters with hybrid pulse-width modulation (PWM) is presented in this paper. Selective harmonic elimination PWM (SHE-PWM) is used during normal operating conditions and is switched to phase-shifted sinusoidal PWM (PS-SPWM) during an asymmetric network fault. The generation of the switching patterns under SHE-PWM control for each power device is described taking into account the natural balancing of the FC voltages. A new and simple control method for balancing the FC voltages when using SHE-PWM is proposed which is based on the small change of the firing angle according to the polarity of the load current. The FC voltage ripple under SHIE-PWM control is estimated and compared to that under PS-SPWM. A method to implement the proposed hybrid PWM with capacitor voltage balancing is also provided. Simulation studies on a 300-MW/±150 kV voltage-source converter transmission system are presented to confirm the satisfactory performance of the proposed system under active and reactive power variations and single-phase fault conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital simulation of power systems containing power electronics apparatus is challenging due to the need to account multiple switching events within one simulation time-step. This paper describes a family of algorithms, with varying levels of computational complexity, for accounting such switching events in digital simulations. The proposed algorithms are applicable for both off-line and real-time simulations. A comparative study on their performance such as harmonic content, errors in fundamental component and simulation time requirement is presented. A Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based D-STATCOM system is used as a case study for simulations. Simulation results indicate excellent performance (accuracy and efficiency) in comparison with a fixed time-step algorithm using a small step-size. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]