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The modular multilevel converter (MMC) is a promising candidate for high-/medium-voltage high-power applications such as medium voltage ac drives due to its modularity, reliability, and scalability. The main challenge of a conventional MMC is low-frequency operation. Capacitor voltage ripple is inversely proportional to the operating frequency. Hence, operating at low frequency necessitates employing large submodule capacitances to limit voltage ripple or the utilization of energy equalization modules (EEMs). The first option negatively affects converter lifetime, and the second option requires a large number of semiconductor devices and isolating transformers. In this article, a modified MMC topology with self-energy equalization is proposed to ensure converter operation with balanced capacitor voltages with low ripple during zero-/low-frequency conditions. Operating with balanced capacitor voltages with low ripple is achieved by maintaining the same energy level in the involved upper and lower arms. A low device count alternative to the EEMs approach is proposed in this work. Detailed illustration of the operational concept and design of the associated passive components is presented. The performance of the proposed medium voltage ac drive is elucidated through simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a medium-/high-voltage high-power hybrid modular dc–dc converter to interconnect two different dc-voltage levels in medium-/high-voltage dc grids. The converter consists of half-bridge submodules (SMs) rated at a moderate voltage level, i.e., series connection of semiconductor devices is avoided while connecting two high dc-voltage levels. The proposed architecture provides self-balancing operation, i.e., unlike conventional modular converters, no need for capacitor voltage measurement, which enhances the system reliability and simplicity. Sequential charging/discharging of SMs capacitors is adopted in the proposed approach to ensure a self-balanced operation. The proposed architecture can provide a high conversion ratio as well as power transfer in both directions, i.e., bidirectional dc–dc converter. Detailed illustration of the proposed approach operational concept, design, and overall control system is presented. Simulation and experimental results are presented to show the viability of the proposed configuration and validate the claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new high-voltage pulse generator, which is based on positive and negative buck-boost (BB) converters fed from a relatively low voltage dc supply. The proposed generator is able to generate unipolar or bipolar high-voltage pulses via operating the BB converters with series or parallel connected outputs respectively using a common input dc source. The components of each converter are rated at half of the pulsed voltage magnitude in the unipolar mode. The converters in the proposed pulse generator operate in discontinuous conduction mode. This enhances system efficiency, as the circuit only operates when it is desired to generate a pulsed output voltage, otherwise the circuit is switched to idle mode with zero current. Detailed illustration of the proposed approach is presented along with a full design of the system components for given output pulse specifications. Finally, simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed concept. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a new configuration for integrated on-board battery chargers of electric vehicles (EVs) incorporating symmetrical six-phase machines. The configuration proposes an exclusive utilization of a nine-switch converter (NSC) along with the machine windings during both propulsion and charging of EVs. The proposed configuration has the advantage of employing a reduced number of components in both the EV (on-board) and charging station (off-board), with the privilege of avoiding machine electromagnetic torque production during charging/vehicle-to-grid (V2G) mode of operation. During charging/V2G mode, the NSC is turned into a conventional three-phase pulse width modulation rectifier and is directly connected to the three-phase mains through the machine windings. Conventional three-phase transformers can be employed for galvanic isolation. Switching between propulsion and charging modes is carried out using a simple hardware reconfiguration. Control schemes for both propulsion and charging/V2G modes are elaborated, along with the principles of operation of the NSC. Experimental results are provided to validate the theoretical deductions for the different operating modes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The most recent literature on multiphase machine drives is based on voltage-source converter (VSC) systems utilizing different modulation techniques. Very little attention is given to the multiphase current-source converters (CSCs). Applying CSCs in high-power multiphase drive systems is promising and can effectively solve many technical problems associated with conventional VSC-based systems. This paper proposes a space vector pulsewidth-modulation (SVPWM) scheme suitable for a five-phase CSC. Generally, in SVPWM-CSCs, a current path should be provided for the dc-link current by ensuring that one pair of upper and lower switches is always on. Applying this constraint yields 25 different space vectors, which are mapped into two concentric decagons with ten equal sectors in the $\alpha\beta$ and $xy$ sequence planes. Each sector has two active-large vectors, two active-small vectors, and a null vector. Moreover, the active-large vectors in the $\alpha\beta$ plane are active-small vectors in the $xy$ plane, and vice versa. In the proposed scheme, the ampere-second concept is utilized to determine the ratio between the dwelling times of the large and small vectors such that the $xy$ current components are nullified, the utilization of the input dc-current is maximized, and the switching transitions are minimized, which, in turn, minimizes the CSC switching losses. The proposed scheme can effectively provide sinusoidal converter currents, which is suitable for motor drives and energy conversion applications. The proposed scheme is verified using a 1-kW prototype five-phase induction motor fed by a five-phase CSC. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The nine-arm modular multilevel converter (9A-MMC) has been recently proposed as a reduced MMC topology variation for six-phase drive applications, with 25% reduction in the number of employed arms and associated components, compared to a standard dual three-phase MMC, however with a limited output voltage amplitude. This paper proposes a hybrid 9A-MMC comprised of half-bridge submodules (SMs) in both the upper and lower arms, and full-bridge SMs in the middle arms. By employing the negative-voltage state of the full-bridge SMs, the hybrid 9A-MMC avoids the limitations imposed on the dc-link voltage utilization, while achieving further reduction in the component count, compared to a standard 9A-MMC with identical half-bridge SMs. The operating principles of the proposed hybrid 9A-MMC are illustrated with mathematical analysis, whereas its characteristics are verified through both simulation and experimentation. An assessment of the proposed topology quantifying its employed components is also provided, in comparison to other MMC-based six-phase machine drives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increased interest in multiphase induction machines for safety-critical applications, machine parameter identification for the different sequence planes is still a challenging research point. In most available literature, the effect of nonfundamental sequence planes is overlooked due to the assumption of sinusoidal winding distribution and healthy operation. However, in a single layer or concentric winding layout with an odd number of phases, the effect of flux produced by nonfundamental sequence planes cannot be ignored for the open-phase case. This paper proposes a simple offline method to estimate the parameters of a five-phase induction machine corresponding to different sequence planes. The proposed technique can estimate the stator leakage inductance as well as the magnetizing inductance of both fundamental and third sequences by applying a quasi-square voltage to the stator winding while the machine is running at no-load. Consequently, the rotor circuit parameters of the fundamental sequence plane can be simply obtained by deducting the stator impedance from the blocked rotor machine impedance. For the third sequence plane, an approximate relation to estimate these parameters based on the measured fundamental sequence rotor parameters is also given. An experimental 1.5 Hp prototype machine is used to verify the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]