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Differential-mode buck-boost inverters have merits such as reduced switch number, ability to provide voltages higher or lower than the input voltage magnitude, improved efficiency, reduced cost and size, and increased power density, especially in low-power applications. There are five buck-boost inverters that can provide flexible output voltage without the need of a large electrolytic input side capacitor, which degrades the reliability of inverters. The continuous input current of these inverters is appropriate for maximum power point tracking operation in photovoltaic and fuel cells applications. Three of the five inverters can be isolated with high-frequency-link transformers where the common-mode leakage current can be mitigated. However, the performance and control of such converters have not been discussed in detail. In this paper, the five possible single-stage three-phase differential-mode buck-boost inverters with continuous input current are investigated and compared in terms of total losses, maximum ripple current, total harmonic distortion, and device and passive element ratings. In addition, the possible methods are presented for eliminating the input third-order harmonic current, resulting from the stored energy in the passive elements, as well as the output second-order harmonic currents. The ability for isolating the input and output sides of the inverters with a small–high frequency transformers is discussed. A changeable-terminal 2.5-kW bidirectional inverter is used to validate the design flexibility of the inverter topologies, when digital signal processor-controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional dual-active bridge topologies provide galvanic isolation and soft-switching over a reasonable operating range without dedicated resonant circuits. However, scaling the two-level dual-active bridge to higher dc voltage levels is impeded by several challenges among which the high dv/dt stress on the coupling transformer insulation. Gating and thermal characteristics of series switch arrays add to the limitations. To avoid the use of standard bulky modular multilevel bridges, this paper analyzes an alternative modulation technique, where staircase approximated trapezoidal voltage waveforms are produced; thus, alleviating developed dv/dt stresses. Modular design is realized by the utilization of half-bridge chopper cells. This way the analyzed dc-dc transformer employs modular multilevel converters operated in a new mode with minimal common-mode arm currents, as well as reduced capacitor size, hence reduced cell footprint. Suitable switching patterns are developed and various design and operation aspects are studied. Soft-switching characteristics will be shown to be comparable to those of the two-level dual-active bridge. Experimental results from a scaled test rig validate the presented concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multilevel topology with medium-frequency ac link for medium-voltage grid integration of utility photovoltaic (PV) plants is discussed in this paper. A megawatt-scale PV plant is divided into many zones, each comprising of two series-connected arrays. Each zone employs a medium-frequency transformer with three secondaries, which interface with the three phases of the medium voltage grid. An insulated-gate bipolar transistor full-bridge inverter feeds the MF transformer. The voltages at the transformer secondaries are then converted to three-phase line frequency ac by three full-bridge ac-ac converters. Second line frequency harmonic power does not appear in the dc bus, thereby reducing the dc capacitor size. Cascading several such cells, a high-quality multilevel medium-voltage output is generated. A new control method is proposed for the cascaded multilevel converter during partial shading while minimizing the switch ratings. The proposed topology eliminates the need for line frequency transformer isolation and reduces the dc bus capacitor size, while improving the power factor and energy yield. This paper presents the analysis, design example, and operation of a 10-MW utility PV system with experimental results on a scaled-down laboratory prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interline dynamic voltage restorer (IDVR) is invariably employed in distribution systems to mitigate voltage sag/swell problems. An IDVR merely consists of several dynamic voltage restorers (DVRs) sharing a common dc link connecting independent feeders to secure electric power to critical loads. While one of the DVRs compensates for the local voltage sag in its feeder, the other DVRs replenish the common dc-link voltage. For normal voltage levels, the DVRs should be bypassed. Instead of bypassing the DVRs in normal conditions, this paper proposes operating the DVRs, if needed, to improve the displacement factor (DF) of one of the involved feeders. DF improvement can be achieved via active and reactive power exchange (PQ sharing) between different feeders. To successfully apply this concept, several constraints are addressed throughout the paper. Simulation and experimental results elucidate and substantiate the proposed concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]