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This paper proposes a hybrid-boost Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) for the Medium-Voltage (MV) Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) employed in subsea applications, such as oil and gas recovery. In the presented architecture, a hybrid-boost MMC with a reduced number of semiconductor devices driving a multiphase Induction Machine (IM) is investigated. The stepped output voltage generated by the MMC reduces or eliminates the filtering requirements. Moreover, the boosting capability of the proposed architecture eliminates the need for bulky low-frequency transformers at the converter output terminals. A detailed illustration of the hybrid-boost MMC operation, the expected limitations/constraints, and the voltage balancing technique are presented. A simulation model of the proposed MV hybrid-boost MMC-based five-phase IM drive has been built to investigate the system performance. Finally, a downscaled prototype has been constructed for experimental verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventionally, in order to reduce the ac components of the dc-link capacitors of the two-level Half-Bridge Voltage Source Inverter (HB-VSI), high dc-link capacitances are required. This necessitates the employment of short-lifetime and bulky electrolytic capacitors. In this paper, an analysis for the performance of low dc-link capacitances-based HB-VSI is presented to elucidate its ability to generate an enhanced fundamental output voltage magnitude without increasing the voltage rating of the involved switches. This feature is constrained by the load displacement factor. The introduced enhancement is due to the ac components of the capacitors' voltages. The presented approach can be employed for multi-phase systems through using multi single-phase HB-VSI(s). Mathematical analysis of the proposed approach is presented in this paper. To ensure a successful operation of the proposed approach, a closed loop current controller is examined. An expression for the critical dc-link capacitance, which is the lowest dc-link capacitance that can be employed for unipolar capacitors' voltages, is derived. Finally, simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a buck-boost converter-based bipolar pulse generator, which is able to generate bipolar exponential pulses across a resistive load. The concept of the proposed approach depends on operating the involved buck-boost converters in discontinuous current conduction mode with high-voltage gain and enhanced efficiency. A full design of the pulse generator and its passive components is presented to ensure generating the pulses with the desired specifications (rise time, pulse width, and pulse magnitude) for a given load resistance and input dc voltage. In case of moderate pulsed output voltages (i.e. few of kV), one module of the presented bipolar generator can be employed. While in case of high-voltage pulsed output, multi-module version can be employed, where each module is fed from an isolated dc source and their outputs are connected in series. Simulation models for the proposed approach are built to elucidate their performance in case of one-module as well as multi-module based generator. Finally, a scaled-down prototype for one-module of buck-boost converter-based bipolar pulse generator is implemented to validate the proposed concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]