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A grid-connected inverter's stability is easily influenced by the system's internal and external characteristics, especially when the grid-connected inverter is connected to the grid by an LCL filter, which complicates the system design and operating conditions. To handle the problem of disturbance in the high-order grid-connected system of the inverter, a linear active disturbance rejection control (LADRC) strategy based on LCCL (which divides the capacitor of the LCL filter into two halves in a specified proportion) is proposed in this paper. First, the system is reduced from third order to first order by using the split capacitor control method, which solves the difficulties of complicated LCL grid-connected inverter controller design and easy resonance. Meanwhile, the internal and external disturbances of the inverter system are treated as generalized disturbances. Then, the LADRC control is used to adjust the closed-loop system's parameters, which enhances the quality of the grid current and the system's stability. Finally, the impacts of PI and LADRC control on the power mutation and voltage drop of an LCCL grid-connected inverter are compared by the experiments. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed LADRC control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a transformerless distribution static synchronous compensator (DSTATCOM) based on the cross-switched (CS) multilevel inverter (CSMLI) is introduced. In comparison with the well-known cascaded h-bridge (CHB) topology, CS inverter produces higher number of voltage levels using fewer number of power components. Since CS inverter produces ac side voltage with high quality and has the ability to work at high voltage and power levels, the proposed CS-DSTATCOM is directly connected to the distribution grid without the need for a transformer. In the proposed CS-DSTATCOM, all the dc sources are replaced with dc capacitors. In this paper, an effective voltage balancing control scheme is proposed to keep the capacitors voltages balanced in the CS structure. The control scheme balances the capacitors voltages in two levels, i.e., inter-cell and within-cell level. On the other hand, the over-voltage and under-voltage phenomena are of the most common power quality (PQ) issues in distribution grids. The proposed DSTATCOM is able to cope with these issues by exchanging reactive power with the grid. Applying the CSMLI in the DSTATCOM structure as well as the capacitors voltage balancing methods are the main novelties of the paper. Also, the capacitors values are considered to be different (which is unavoidable in practice) while their voltages are balanced using the proposed voltage balancing methods. In this paper, a CS-DSTATCOM has been designed for 11 kV distribution grid and several simulation results are provided in the MATLAB/Simulink environment which validate the feasibility and performance of the proposed CS-DSTATCOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel single-phase transformerless dual-mode interleaved multilevel inverter (DMIMI) is proposed in this paper, which can inject a highly sinusoidal ac current to the grid even with the input dc voltage less than the peak grid voltage. Furthermore, dead-beat controllers are developed to directly calculate the optimal duty cycles in a digital control platform. As compared to the traditional dual-mode multilevel approaches, the DMIMI offers high efficiency, less number of components conducting simultaneously in each operation mode, and the capability of reactive power exchange. This paper presents the theoretical analysis and the experimental results obtained from a 1-kW prototype. The experimental results reveal that the proposed DMIMI can achieve high conversion efficiency and low leakage current as well as high quality grid current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One promising solution for future large wind turbine power conversion is to use medium-voltage power conversion systems for high efficiency and high power-density, e.g., by using a cascaded structure presented in this paper. However, a medium-frequency (MF) oscillation issue was observed while testing the experimental prototype of the above system. Given the complex multivariable coupling models of the multiwinding transformer and multiple inverters, conventional single-variable theories are not suitable. Therefore, this paper presents a new decoupling analysis method. Using a proposed linear transformation matrix, the output currents of multiple inverters can be transformed to a summation (grid) current and difference currents, where the former is the summation of inverter currents and the latter are the differences between currents of any two inverters. This transformation has enabled the use of single-variable theories, e.g., Bode diagram to analyze the summation current and difference current separately. It was found that the MF oscillation issue is caused by the equivalent impedance of the summation current being much larger than that of the difference current. Specifically, using small controller parameters cannot ensure the grid current quality and using large parameters may cause oscillation in the difference current. The proposed method can provide guidelines to design the parameters of current regulators and filters in multiple-inverter systems. Experimental results of a downscaled wind energy conversion system are presented to verify the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an integrated method of three-phase ac excitation and high-frequency voltage signal injection (HFVSI) for sensorless controlled starting of brushless synchronous machines (BSM) used as starter/generator in variable frequency ac power systems of civil aircraft. Fixed 400 Hz of the three-phase ac power is adopted both for the ac excitation and HFVSI in the initial starting process to eliminate the bulky rotor position sensor for BSM. The resulting 6th sequence harmonic voltage determined by the rotating rectifier is utilized as the HFVSI into the field-winding of main generator without any extra high-frequency signal injection. The rotor position is estimated by the high-frequency response signals extracted from the armature windings of main generator. Due to the nonlinear rotating rectifier linked in the HFSI chain, a novel frequency-insensitive asynchronous demodulation strategy is proposed in this paper for rotor position estimation. Furthermore, the initial rotor position detection is calibrated by polarity decision of the induced currents of the armature windings within the establishment procedure of field current of the main generator at standstill. The effectiveness of the ac excitation and feasibility of rotor position estimation for sensorless starting control of BSM are validated by the simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extra-LC auxiliary-resonant-snubber-based converter (ELCARSC), as a soft-switching converter, has the advantages of low switching loss, low electromagnetic interference noise, and low-output distortion caused by the dead-time effect. However, the dead-time effect is still the main problem in a high-precision application. Besides, the traditional control and compensation methods rely on the accuracy of the circuit parameters, especially the junction capacitance, thus resulting in compensation error. Therefore, this paper proposed a novel high-precision control method through modulating the initial resonant current to eliminate the dead-time effect of ELCARSC. The method does not need complicated online calculation and reduces the dependence on the accuracy of the circuit parameters, especially the influence of the junction capacitances of the switches. In this paper, the dead-time effect of the ELCARSC is analyzed. The output voltage error with the conventional variable-timing control method is analyzed. Subsequently, the proposed modulated initial resonant current control is introduced. Finally, a prototype was developed that verified the effectiveness of the control method. The quality of the output current and voltage is improved by utilizing the proposed control method. However, the peak current of the auxiliary switch is increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, modelling and hardware implementation of three-phase interleaved inverter-based shunt active power filter (SAPF) is proposed to mitigate current harmonics, reactive power for ensuring unity power factor and load balancing without shoot-through effect. Shoot-through effect is one of the hazardous issues in conventional voltage source inverters such as damage of power electronic switches, electromagnetic interference, ringing in the power circuitry. The present power system has inevitable non-linear loads which create large variations in the supply voltage distortions. Therefore, the compensation capability and efficiency of the SAPFs degrades. A novel predictive tuned filter is proposed in this paper to estimate the variations in the amplitude of supply voltage, frequency and harmonics for extracting the fundamental voltage signal. The fundamental extracted signal is further processed for reference current generation using generalized p-q theory. The performance of the proposed system is simulated using MATLAB®/Simulink environment and tested under different supply voltage conditions. The simulation results have been validated by developing a prototype in the laboratory by using a dSPACE1104 controller. It is found from the simulated and experimental results that the proposed system is fast, robust and accurate which improves the power quality without shoot-through problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed comparative analysis between Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Quasi Z-Source Cascaded Multilevel Inverter (QZS-CMI). The comparative analysis investigates for boost operation in both Symmetrical and Asymmetrical System. Analysis is done based on the achieved input current, capacitor voltage of the upper capacitor and parallel capacitor and the two inductors current of DC link (Quasi Z-Source network) which is combined with H-bridge. In Asymmetrical QZS-CMI, the input voltage for three DC sources are given in the ratio of 1:3:9, i. e. the system is designed for 27 level. Asymmetrical QZS-CMI is new system and proposed in this paper for comparative analysis with Symmetrical QZS-CMI. An advanced optimal Alternative Phase Opposition Disposition (APOD) technique is developed and implemented. Symmetrical system has high boosting capability of output voltage, reducing the switching losses, high voltage gain and lower spikes in switching voltage. The comparative study is done and results are verified with Experimental 250 W prototype model and also verified by using MATLAB/ Simulink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage/VAR regulation (VVR) implemented by capacitor banks (CBs), on-load tap changers (OLTCs), and photovoltaic (PV)-associated inverters is effective to enhance voltage stability and reduce power loss. On the other hand, conservation voltage reduction (CVR) has been widely adopted in distribution networks to reduce load demand. Existing works mainly focus on each of them. This paper proposes a VVR method with CVR, forming a multi-objective optimisation problem which minimises (i) voltage collapse proximity indicator (VCPI), (ii) load demand, and (iii) power loss. Besides, PV power generation as uncertainty significantly impairs the VVR results. To deal with the uncertainty issue, this paper proposes a rollinghorizon framework to determine VVR and applies Taguchi's orthogonal array testing (TOAT) to model the uncertain PV power generation, achieving rolling-horizon-based multi-objective robust VVR. The proposed model is tested and demonstrated on the IEEE 33-bus and 69-bus systems, and simulation results verify that the proposed method can support robust solutions of the multi-objective VVR problem for decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the significant impact of distributed-energy-resource (DER) inverters (which are connected to the same node) on anti-islanding protection of DER-installations. As it concerns the harmonic injection-based schemes, the induced harmonic voltage component that is provoked by each inverter is compromised, as synchronous injection (injection at the same time intervals) among the inverters cannot be reassured. Therefore, harmonic injection-based anti-islanding schemes will fail if the harmonic voltage component falls below a certain level. In this framework, a novel metric (i.e., the upgrade factor, UF) is introduced, indicating the supplementary power (of DERs) that can be installed in the same point of common coupling without compromising the effectiveness of the harmonic injection scheme. As this metric enables the evaluation of harmonic injection schemes prior to the future integration of DERs, it could be a substantial addendum into the relevant standards that evaluates the anti-islanding features of grid-tied DER-inverters. Finally, this paper proposes a technique (implemented in the software level), which maximizes UF and reassures the effectiveness of the harmonic injection schemes under the power variations of installed inverters. Extensive simulations and experimental tests have been conducted that verify the effectiveness of the proposed strategy under various penetration-levels and islanding-network conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel method for instantaneous balancing of neutral-point (NP) voltages with stacked multilevel inverters (MLIs) for variable-speed drives. The stacked MLI uses series-connected dc sources and NPs (connecting points of dc sources) to obtain the desired levels. The balancing of NP voltages are obtained by using a low-voltage-capacitor-fed cascaded H-bridge (CHB) per phase of a symmetrical six-phase induction machine (IM), which ensures zero current drawn from NPs (at any given instant). Since no current is drawn from NPs, the single dc-link operation with stacked capacitors is also possible. The scheme is suitable for applications, where low-voltage dc sources and batteries are stacked to form a dc link. A variable-speed operation is done using a seven-level inverter scheme for a symmetrical six-phase IM, which is formed by three dc-link stacked capacitors cascaded with two low-voltage-capacitor-fed CHBs per phase. Furthermore, the method is extended for an open-end IM to obtain a seven-level common-mode eliminated space vector structure using a single dc link. The generalization of this method for any stacked $n$ -level inverter without NP voltage deviation is also presented in this paper. The experimental results and analysis are included to validate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the resonance problem in a parallel-inverter-based grid-connected system. Harmonic interactions between inverters and the grid exhibit various number of complicated characteristics that threatens the system stability and power quality. In this paper, a method of harmonic resonance analysis is proposed to investigate the resonance problem in a multi-inverter grid-connected system based on resonance modal analysis (RMA) and participation factor (PF) calculations. Initially, an impedance-based analytical approach is employed and expanded to an electricity distribution network that is dominated by multiple inverters with LCL filters and proportional resonant controllers. Then, the RMA is introduced to investigate the resonant interactions among inverters and the grid. Specifically, harmonic resonance characteristics are addressed through transfer functions and the proposed method considering variation of inverter number, different inverter combinations, and critical system components. Finally, time domain simulations on the PSCAD/EMTDC platform are presented. The case study results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmonic distortions at a point of common coupling (PCC) are caused by the harmonic sources in both supply system and customer facilities. In order to verify compliance with harmonic limits for an operating facility, it is essential to determine the contribution of a facility to the harmonic distortions measured at the PCC. Over the past many years, a significant amount of research work has been conducted in developing different harmonic analysis methods and especially harmonic contribution assessment methods. A common need of this line of research is consistent test systems that can be used to verify/validate a proposed method or to compare different approaches. To address this gap, a benchmark test system representing a typical medium-voltage/low-voltage network supplying industrial loads is proposed in this paper. This paper also includes examples on how to use the system to assess the performance of harmonic contribution determination methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conventional medium‐voltage large‐capacity bidirectional chopper used in a battery energy storage system for DC electric railways is equipped with a heavy and bulky inductor for current smoothing. This paper presents the experimental verification of a bidirectional chopper with an auxiliary converter for the purpose of reducing the size and weight of an inductor. The auxiliary converter is formed by the cascade connection of multiple single‐phase full‐bridge converter cells. Applying the so‐called "phase‐shifted PWM" to each of the cells can reduce the voltage step across an inductor and increase the ripple frequency, resulting in a significant reduction in size and weight of the inductor. This paper discusses the operating principles and control method of the bidirectional chopper, followed by experiments using a 150‐V, 2‐kW down‐scaled model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive analytically expressions for the probability distribution of the propagation delay time of logic signals through a CMOS inverter when the inverter power supply voltage $V_{{\text{dd}}}$ (more precisely, gate voltage $V_{{\text{GS}}}$) is itself probabilistic for some reason (e.g., system noise or a random external electromagnetic disturbance). Since the propagation delay time is a function of the value of $V_{{\text{dd}}}$ , then some values of $V_{{\text{dd}}}$ may produce values of the inverter propagation delay time that cause the circuit in which the inverter resides to malfunction (e.g., by resulting in an inverter delay time value not conforming with the delay time margins for that circuit). Based upon the derived inverter propagation delay time probability distribution, we then derive a probability for the malfunction of a circuit containing a single inverter subject to such a stochastic $V_{{\text{dd}}}$. In this paper, we present no discussion of the application of our formalism to example probability density functions for $V_{{\text{dd}}}$ ; we rectify this situation by presenting three detailed such examples in a companion paper in this journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many research works report the use of LCL filters for grid-interfaced PV systems. Indiscreet selection of passive LCL filter parameters may result in poor filtering and increased power losses. LCL filter parameter selection is critical to get a good performance and at the same time ensure that losses and costs stay low. This paper proposes a novel approach to design the LCL filter for a grid-interfaced PV system. A cost-based minimization approach on a cost per joule basis for each of the filter elements is explored to obtain the optimal filter design. Simulation results for a 10-kVA grid-connected inverter with an LCL filter are presented in order to verify the efficacy of the proposed design. The impact of designed filter parameters on the ripple current is also discussed in this paper. The total inductance of the LCL filter is varied and filter parameter values which give lowest cost is identified while meeting harmonic standard requirements and the fundamental voltage drop across the filter. Finally, the proposed design is also experimentally validated via a hardware prototype. Results validate the design method in terms of the harmonic attenuation and total harmonic distortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Z-source inverter has recently been introduced to overcome the limitations of conventional voltage source inverter. This paper deals with a novel topology of single-phase Z-source inverter (ZSI). This topology reduced the number of passive elements and active switches in order to make the inverter cheaper and smaller in size compared to traditional ZSI. Detailed analysis of the proposed topology is presented in this paper which includes calculations of boost factor, total harmonic disorder, magnitude of output voltage etc. Modulation technique used to control the switching of the proposed inverter is explained in detail. This paper also compares the proposed topology with conventional topologies of Z-source inverter. Simulation results of MATLAB and real-time simulators are shown to explain the working of the proposed topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Transformerless inverters are becoming popular for grid‐connected photovoltaic applications due to their simplicity, reduced size, weight, cost, and higher efficiency. In this paper, a two‐stage hybrid transformerless multilevel inverter (MLI) for single‐phase grid‐connected photovoltaic power generation system (PVPGS) is presented. The proposed topology comprises a multilevel boost converter (MLBC) and a symmetrical hybrid MLI. MLBC combines the boosting and switched capacitor voltage functions to produce self‐balanced multiple voltage levels. The proposed MLI is derived from a combination of bidirectional switches, a half bridge, and a diode‐clamped branch, which can produce only two variations in the total common mode voltage and is capable of suppressing leakage current as per DIN VDE 0126‐1‐1 grid standards. It offers the advantages of scalability, reactive power capability, reduced total harmonic distortion, and filter size. The proposed hybrid transformerless seven‐level inverter is simulated in MATLAB, and experimental setup is built to validate the effectiveness of the proposed configuration. Finally, a comprehensive comparison is made with other seven‐level inverter topologies. This paper presents a two‐stage hybrid transformerless seven‐level inverter for single‐phase grid‐connected photovoltaic power generation systems. The proposed topology comprises a symmetrical hybrid multilevel inverter (MLI) and multilevel boost converter (MLBC). The MLBC combines the boosting and switched capacitor voltage functions to produce self‐balanced multiple voltage levels. It owns the advantages of modularity, reduced THD, filter size, and minimum leakage current with reactive power capability. The performance of the proposed configuration is validated through MATLAB simulation and experimental setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a high-efficiency single-phase T-type boundary conduction mode (BCM) microinverter. The conventional full-bridge BCM microinverter has achieved zero voltage switching (ZVS) and thereby improved the efficiency, but it suffers from high switching losses under light load conditions. The proposed T-type BCM microinverter reserves ZVS and uses a multilevel technique to further decrease the switching losses. The BCM operation with multilevel technique will have too low switching frequency when the grid voltage approaches half of the dc link voltage. To solve this problem, this paper adopts a third operation mode for the T-type switching leg to maintain the switching frequency above a minimum value. The corresponding mode transitions are also detailed to ensure a smooth operation. Because of the turn-offdelay of the freewheeling transistor, the actual lower current boundary deviates from the programmed one, which will distort output current. To address this issue, this paper also proposes a boundary compensation method. A prototype has been built for performance verification, which can test both full-bridge and T-type topology. Compared with the full-bridge BCM microinverter, the proposed T-type BCM microinverter has a higher efficiency over the whole load range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the digital implementation of a boundary controller with unipolar switching characteristic for single-phase voltage source full-bridge inverters. This paper expands the application of a second-order switching surface-based control method to unipolar switching of single-phase voltage source inverters (VSIs) using a finite-state machine. The finite-state machine has been formulated considering four different states of the inverter; positive,zero1, negative, andzero2. The second-order boundary control governs the current state of the system and provides proper switching action to keep the system within the desired reference. The control law is implemented digitally in F28m35x digital control card. A full-bridge inverter topology is used to achieve the three-level voltage switching. Various simulations and experiments were performed in a 550 VA, 120 V, 60 Hz VSI with a digitally implemented controller to verify the theoretical predictions. A high-quality voltage output was obtained for various loading conditions. The transient performance of the controller was investigated using a reference and load changes. A comparison of the implementation was made with the existing classical controllers to verify the fast-dynamic response of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foil-winding transformers with high currents in low voltage winding normally have copper/aluminum bars as leads of the coils. A practical solution for locating bar leads without increasing the size of the active part is to flatten the coil in the leads zone causing a deformation. Abnormalities in the leakage reactance have been identified in this type of transformers. In order to take this effect into account, this paper proposes a correction to the mathematical formulation for calculating the leakage reactance in transformers with deformations in the low voltage winding. Three methods for calculating the leakage reactance have been compared for four real case studies: the proposed formulation, the commonly used formulation, and detailed simulations with the finite element method in three-dimension (FEM3D). The leakage reactance calculated with the proposed method has been found to have an improved accuracy compared with the one calculated using the formulation without correction in all case studies. The main contribution of this paper is that the proposed correction in the formulation makes it possible to increase the accuracy in the calculation of leakage reactance, avoiding the need to resort to detailed simulations with FEM3D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a split-capacitor four-wire current source inverter, which is the dual of the split-capacitor four-wire voltage source inverter. Since the midpoint of the dc link is tied to the neutral point of ac filter capacitors, the common-mode voltage (CMV) is reduced significantly. Consequently, the leakage current issue is effectively addressed. The proposed circuit is cost-effective as no extra switch is added. This paper, first, establishes the equivalent common-mode circuit of the proposed inverter. The impact of the neutral line inductance on CMV is also analyzed. Then, a specific modulation is introduced to balance the dc-link voltages/currents. To achieve good input/output performance, a nonlinear control method is developed based on time-domain models. Finally, all the proposed methods and related theoretical analysis are verified by simulations and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing penetration of photovoltaic power plants (PVPPs) to the electrical grid leads to continuous evaluation of grid interconnection requirements. For this purpose, Malaysian grid representative from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) issued technical rules and requirements concerning the connection of photovoltaic system to low and medium voltage networks. The objective of this paper is to design a large-scale PV plant connected to the MV side of the Malaysian grid, taking the compliance of TNB technical regulations into consideration. In this study, the PV plant has been modeled using MATLAB/Simulink with nominal rated peak power of 1.5 MW. The sizing of suggested PV system is achieved in which the simulation results matched the sizing calculation results. The paper focuses on the model’s ability to reflect the important requirements that a PVPP should have based on TNB rules for MV connection. The results show that the proposed PVPP is compatible with TNB requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multifunctional grid-connected inverter (MFGCI) has been a promising solution to mitigate power quality problems in distributed generation system and microgrid applications. However, the capability of a conventional MFGCI is limited when compensating a voltage-based power quality problem. In this paper, a new configuration of MFGCI is proposed to improve both voltage-based and current-based power quality issues and is named shunt-series-switched MFGCI (SSS-MFGCI). The SSS-MFGCI can be connected in series or parallel to the grid by implementing bidirectional switches to provide different modes of operation depending on various grid disturbances. The required compensating current and voltage are analytically derived considering the grid and load conditions for voltage regulation. This paper also presents the compensation strategies, control scheme, and transition scheme between different modes of the proposed SSS-MFGCI. Simulation results to prove the concept are also included for unbalanced sag and swell cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grid-tied inverters and associated control techniques have gained importance in the domain of distributed generation. Different methods of control have been compared in the literature depending upon the ability to meet total harmonic distortion limits, damping offered to resonant oscillations, and stable operation. Multiple-loop methods compared to their single-loop counterparts have proved to be highly effective for meeting the grid regulations. In the literature, while single-loop and two-loop control systems for LCL filter have been assessed, not much study on three-loop control (TLC) has been done, possibly due to the hardware complexity and cost imparted by the increase in the number of sensors. In this paper, a TLC structure for grid connected inverters is analyzed for stability and parametric variations. Robustness of TLC is compared with single-loop grid current feedback control and a two-loop control structure. An approach to estimate the state variables is proposed in this paper, which cuts down the number of sensors and cost of implementation. The performance of the system is analyzed through simulations and results are validated in a hardware setup, under dynamic and steady-state conditions, thereby showing that this is a promising approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel discontinuous pulse-width modulation (DPWM) method to reduce the current harmonics and improve the system efficiency for a single-phase three-level neutral-point clamped inverter. In single-phase inverters, the unipolar pulse-width modulation (UP-PWM) method is commonly used. However, this method has the disadvantage of power losses due to numerous switching operations. Conventional DPWM methods reduce the power losses and improve efficiency but increase the current total harmonic distortion (THD). To overcome these weaknesses, this paper proposes a hybrid DPWM switching method combining two PWM methods: the UP-PWM method and the conventional DPWM method called one-pole clamped PWM method. Since the proposed DPWM method offers all the advantages of both PWM methods, the optimal performance—with regard to the power losses and current THD—is obtained. The combination of two PWM methods is investigated by analyzing the power losses and current THD. Based on the analysis, the process determining the optimal operating condition is introduced. The effectiveness of the proposed DPWM method is demonstrated through simulations and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) converter for grid connection through a high-leg delta transformer. The converter is composed of a symmetrically connected boost converter and three half-bridge inverters. One of the three half-bridge inverters is connected to the boost converter, and the others are directly connected to the PV terminals. As a result, this circuit configuration enables to reduce the power losses in both boost converter and inverters. This paper also proposes a new cooperative control method between the symmetrically connected boost converter and inverter. The control method can reduce the average switching frequency to 75% of that in a conventional one, resulting in a great reduction in the switching power loss. Experimental results confirm that the proposed circuit configuration makes it possible to improve its European efficiency from 91.6% to 94.5%. Moreover, system performance is evaluated on the assumption of maximum power point tracking operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the performance analysis of different PWM techniques for three-phase and dual three-phase induction motors. In this paper, the dual three-phase induction motor is reconnected as a three-phase and six-phase winding configurations and its performances are investigated. The comparative evaluation for the aforesaid machine configurations are carried out in terms of quality of stator current waveform with different PWM techniques. Total harmonic distortion are obtained in terms of harmonic distortion factor for stator current. The theoretical findings are further verified through simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper comprehensively analyzes the stability of a grid-interfacing inverter with the LCL -filter in the discrete domain, where the LCL-filter, along with the controller, is modeled in a polar coordinate. System open-loop and closed-loop poles are analytically studied and expressed in the z -domain. Through the poles movement and distribution analysis, the relationship between system stability and the ratio of resonance frequency over sampling frequency is mathematically revealed and calculated as well as the system control gain limit. Moreover, this paper demonstrates that a grid-voltage feedforward regulator would significantly alter the inverter stability in a weak power system. By means of Jury stability criterion, the stability status under different filter resonance frequency is given. The selection of resonance frequency and filter parameters makes a considerable difference on system behavior. Finally, to improve the robustness against grid inductance variation, a conservative design recommendation of filter parameters and control gain is given. Through the tests on a laboratory-scale prototype, the theoretical analysis is validated by experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents theoretical and experimental discussions on low-voltage-ride-through operation of a modular multilevel single-delta bridge-cell (SDBC) inverter intended for utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems. Modern grid codes require grid-tied inverters to provide dynamic grid support during grid-fault events by injecting reactive current. This paper discusses decoupled positive- and negative-sequence reactive-current control, focusing on asymmetric voltage sags with imbalanced magnitude and phase relationships. The main objective is to present a feedforward control method based on calculation of the zero-sequence current required for achieving power balance during normal and grid-fault conditions. Moreover, this paper demonstrates a practical method that minimizes overcurrent stress in the three inverter clusters by adjusting active power drawn from PV arrays. Experimental results on a three-phase 12.6-kVA system prove that the SDBC inverter is capable of seamlessly operating through asymmetric voltage sags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A programmable electronic load (PEL) solution is usually needed for comprehensive testing of power supplies. In this paper, a novel PEL based on a hybrid five-level voltage source inverter (VSI) is introduced to emulate a variety of static load behaviors, such as R, L, C loads, high-frequency harmonic loads, and unbalanced loads. Dynamic load behavior, for example, modulation loads, can also be achieved in this paper. A dedicated control structure is proposed for the emulation of different load behaviors and the detailed compensator design is presented to evaluate the system dynamic performance. The proposed PEL system has isolated active dc links to support multilevel converter topology, and it can either dump the energy to a passive load or recycle the energy back to the utility grid through another VSI. Simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the effectiveness of proposed control methods in terms of successfully achieving a variety of load profile functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new single-phase single-stage switched-boost inverter with four switches. Like the quasi-Z-source inverter and quasi-switched boost inverter (qSBI), the proposed inverter has the main features as continuous input current, buck/boost voltage with single-stage conversion, and shoot-through immunity. Compared to the qSBI, the proposed inverter uses one more capacitor and one less switch. This paper presents the operating principles, pulse-width modulation control strategy, parameter design guidelines, and simulation results for the proposed inverter. To verify the performance of the proposed inverter, an 800-W prototype was built with an 110 V/50 Hz output voltage in stand-alone and grid-connected modes. The simulation and experimental results matched those of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity of multi-level inverters (MLIs) for high power and high voltage applications, is increasing day-by-day. These MLIs are being integrated with the grid for renewable energy extraction like solar photovoltaic (PV) system. The MLI produces a staircase output voltage with low harmonic content and may inject a sinusoidal grid current with improved power factor. Thus, the MLI based grid-tied PV system can operate at the lower switching frequency with reduced filter requirements. This paper presents the various MLIs, their modulation and control techniques for the grid connected applications. A detailed classification of different grid connected Multi-level inverters (GCMLIs) based on the number and arrangement of DC voltage sources is presented. Also, different control techniques and the modulation techniques have been discussed for different MLI based PV systems being interfaced with the utility grid. The thorough comparisons and discussion of different control techniques used in single-phase and three-phase grid-connected MLI is also incorporated in this paper for better understanding and effectiveness of the past-present and future PV system developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-metal induction heating (IH) systems have been introduced to heat both ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic pots using dual resonant frequencies. They are designed for heating ferromagnetic pots using a first harmonic operation mode (FHOM) and for heating the non-ferromagnetic pots using a third harmonic operation mode (THOM). All-metal IH systems employing dual resonant frequencies consist of an IH inverter and a power factor correction (PFC) circuit to transfer desired power to pots by increasing the input voltage of the IH inverter. In this paper, the input voltage is designed to obtain an efficiency-optimized operating point. To obtain an appropriate input voltage, power loss analyses are conducted using first harmonic approximation (FHA). Based on analysis results, the input voltage of the IH inverter can be selected to improve its power conversion efficiency. A 2-kW half-bridge series resonant inverter prototype is implemented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed design by heating ferromagnetic pots using the FHOM with a 2-kW transfer power and by heating non-ferromagnetic pots using the THOM with a 1-kW transfer power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current paper, an improved control strategy designed for synchronizing and transferring autonomous microgrids (MGs) to the grid is presented. The proposed approach is based on an MG leading inverter (MGLI) supplied by a supercapacitor energy storage system, which takes over the MG only during a transitory load and distributes it to the available MG supporting inverters (MGSIs). This paper presents the control systems for both the proposed MGLI and the associated MGSIs, the focus being on the specific issues related to MG synchronization and grid transfer. By means of the proposed solution, the operation of the MG and its transition between autonomous and grid-connected modes require merely the adaptation of the MGLI control system, while the MGSIs operation remain unchanged during all MG states. The comprehensive experimental results, which were carried out on a laboratory-scale MG, have shown that the system is kept stable and with minimum disturbance to the local MG voltage and frequency during the analysed events, namely the scheduled MG transfer to the grid, power-flow control during grid-connection operation, and disconnection from the grid, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two structures are proposed for the switched-inductor quasi-Z-source inverter. In the proposed structures to extend the voltage gain of inverter, two new switched-inductor structures are used. In the proposed structures, voltage across the capacitors in the Z-source network and in the switched-inductor is symmetric and small. The other advantage of proposed inverters is known as achieving higher voltage gain per smaller duty cycle ratio (of shoot-through). Compared with a conventional continuous input current switched-inductor quasi-Z-source inverter at the same gain voltage, there is less of a ripple of input current in the proposed inverters. In this paper, at first the both the conventional and the proposed switched-inductor Z-source inventers are thoroughly investigated to find out their governing relations. Then, the proposed Z-source inverters are compared with the conventional ones by simulating them to assess their performance efficiency. Next, applying the simple boost pulse width modulation the simulation is carried out with PSCAD/EMTDC software. After that, to evaluate the obtained results, the prototypes of the proposed inverters with 48 Vdc input voltage are used. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Microinverters require high voltage gain capability for interfacing the low dc voltage output of photovoltaic (PV) module to single-phase ac grid. A two-stage nonisolated inverter is proposed in this paper, with a first boost stage and a second traditional pulse width modulated grid-tied inverter stage. The proposed boost stage consists of a coupled inductor added with a voltage multiplier to achieve the required high voltage gain at high efficiency and to operate over a wide input voltage range. Among the coupled inductor topologies, adding a clamp circuit is a common solution to limit the voltage spike caused by leakage inductance. In the proposed converter, the resonance between the coupled inductor and voltage multiplier is used to address the issue of voltage spike, thereby reducing both component count and device voltage stress. Detailed analysis and design procedure of the proposed converter is presented in this paper. Experimental results of a 250-W microinverter are presented to validate the proposed converter. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Y‐source inverter has a high voltage gain by using a small shoot‐through duty ratio, so it is very suitable for photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, the input current of the traditional Y‐source inverter is discontinuous, and the leakage inductances in the coupling inductor lead to dc‐link voltage spikes and reduce the dc‐link voltage. To address these issues, an improved Y‐source inverter topology is proposed in this paper. The improved Y‐source inverter provides continuous input current and a higher voltage gain by adding one additional inductor and one capacitor. Compared to the traditional Y‐source inverter, the improved Y‐source inverter has lower voltage spikes and higher dc‐link voltage. Moreover, the proposed inverter can suppress resonant current at startup. In this paper, the operating principles and effects of the leakage inductances are analyzed. Finally, a 200 W laboratory prototype is built based on a TMS320F2812 digital signal processor to verify the performance of the improved inverter. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This two-part paper presents the review, application, and interpretation of the methods for analyzing the harmonic distortions at the point of common coupling thoroughly. In Part I, two different definitions for the dominant side are discussed regarding the equivalent harmonic “voltage” or “current” source. In addition, common methods are categorized in three general concepts based on the direction of active power flow, the reactive power, and the voltage–current ratio. These three categories as well as their validity are analytically reviewed for both the definitions. In Part II, the application of the methods is illustrated using two common calculation examples. The magnitude and the phase angle of the equivalent harmonic sources are separately varied in the first and second calculation example, respectively. The validity of the methods is investigated using these calculation examples. Afterward, the physical interpretation of the methods is addressed. The difference between the dominant sides regarding the equivalent harmonic “voltage” and “current” source is discussed using the calculation examples. It is shown that if one of the utility and customer equivalent harmonic voltage sources is “much” larger than the other, the dominant sides regarding the equivalent harmonic “voltage” and “current” source will be the same. Some practical aspects such as the tolerance of the methods to errors in input data are discussed. In this regard, nonresonance and resonance conditions are taken into account. This two-part paper provides a comprehensive but clear review of methods for identifying the dominant side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversification of control schemes adopted by inverter-interfaced distributed generators (IIDGs) leads to difficulties in fault current estimation in a microgrid, which might make preexisting protection systems invalid and threaten the safety of power electronic devices. It is therefore important to study fault characteristics of IIDGs. This paper investigates characteristics of fault current of IIDGs caused by both symmetrical and asymmetrical faults. Two kinds of widely used control modes, current control (constant current control and PQ control) and voltage control (V/F control and droop control), are under investigation to provide an intuitive comparison on fault current. In particular, a novel algorithm is proposed to calculate fault current of droop-controlled IIDGs. It is found that different limiters have great impacts on fault response of IIDGs and detailed research works are carried out to identify the effects in this paper. Simulation results based on PSCAD/EMTDC and calculation results based on MATLAB/Simulink verify the correctness of the proposed fault models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shunt active power filters (SAPFs) have been widely used to improve power quality of the grid by mitigating harmonics injected from nonlinear loads. This paper presents a new method for improving the performance of SAPFs using neutral-point-clamped (NPC) three-level inverters. NPC three-level inverters often suffer excessive voltage fluctuations at the neutral-point of DC-link capacitors, which may damage switching devices and cause additional high harmonic distortion of the output voltage. In order to solve the problem, two compensating schemes are proposed to restrict voltage fluctuation in the inverters. The first is voltage dependent, adopting a voltage compensation method, while the second is current dependent, using a current compensation method. The paper describes the respective circuit architectures and principles of operation. Corresponding models are mathematically formulated and evaluated under typical balanced and unbalanced working load conditions. The results show that both schemes are able to alleviate considerably voltage oscillations and hence harmonic distortions, and the current-compensated NPC inverter outperforms the voltage-compensated NPC inverter. Consequently, it is shown that the proposed approaches are effective and feasible for improving power quality of the grid when connected to nonlinear loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, new half-bridge and full-bridge topologies for a switched-boost inverter are proposed. These topologies have a high boost factor in comparison with conventional types. In addition, the proposed topologies have continuous input current and can generate zero-voltage level in output. In this paper, the operation of the proposed inverters in different operating modes is analyzed. Then, the values of inductors and capacitors are designed. Moreover, the used switching pattern and its logical diagram are introduced. A comprehensive comparison between the proposed and conventional topologies in terms of the boost factor, the number of elements, and the efficiency shows the good features of the proposed inverters. Finally, to verify correct operation of the proposed topologies and derived equations, simulation and experimental results are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a modified model predictive control (MMPC) method for a two-level voltage source inverter (VSI) by applying 'Midpoint Euler's Approximation' technique to achieve a high performance. Therefore, a new predictive mathematical modeling is derived and presented in this paper to predict the future behavior of the inductive load model, which is compared with the reference signal to determine the cost function of the system. In this MMPC method, all the possible switching vectors of the converter are utilized to obtain the cost functions, and the corresponding switching vector for minimum cost function is selected to actuate the power converter in the next sampling time interval. The proposed MMPC method and the traditional MPC schemes are verified in MATLABSimulink. The experimental validation is performed in DS1104 R&D Controller Board to justify and confirm the performance of the system. Simulation and experimental results validate the robustness of the proposed MMPC method, and improve the results compared to traditional MPC method in terms of total harmonic distortion (THD) and current reference tracking mean error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable Energy Source (RES)-based power plants need to control the active and reactive power at the Point of Common Connection (PCC) with the grid, in order to comply with the requirements of the Transmission System Operators (TSOs). This point is normally far away from the power converter station, and the cables and step-up transformers have a non-neglectable influence on the delivered power. In order to overcome this drawback, this paper presents a control algorithm that permits one to control remotely the power injected at the PCC, by adjusting the local controller of the Voltage Source Converters (VSCs). In this work, the synchronization with the grid is done based on the Virtual Flux (VF) concept. The results reveals that the VF estimation is able to produce a reliable estimation of the grid voltage in any point of the network, and makes it possible to calculate the necessary current reference for injecting a desired active and reactive power at a point that can be some kilometres away. In this paper the main principle for this remote power control is presented. Likewise, the simulation and experimental results will be shown in order to analyse the effectiveness of the proposed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the paper is a presentation of hardware protections, which increase the reliability of a prototype inverter welder. Under certain assumptions, the constructed device may be classified to a group containing objects with a serial reliability structure. As a result, the functionality of the inverter welder is provided, when all components (sub-assemblies) operate correctly. The paper presents the results of simulations, which confirm the essence of using each of the hardware protections. The tests were conducted using the ICAP/4 software by Intusoft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For power converters with inductive loads, a freewheeling path is needed for the current due to reactive power. The MOSFET synchronous rectification (SR) is widely used to reduce the conduction loss during the freewheeling period. Due to the wide band gap of silicon carbide (SiC), the intrinsic body diode of SiC MOSFET exhibits a high voltage drop. Hence, an antiparallel SiC Schottky diode is normally implemented to eliminate its conduction. However, the external SiC Schottky diode is not fully utilized as it only works during the dead time. In this paper, the hard-switching SR is investigated in an SiC three-phase inverter and compared with a conventional inverter using freewheeling diode (FWD). An improved power loss model for the two inverters has been developed. It is found that the inverter using SR has higher efficiency due to the smaller switching loss. A 7-kW prototype of SiC three-phase inverter is built, which achieves a peak efficiency of 98.8% ($\pm$ 0.15%) and 98.5% ($\pm$ 0.15%) at 40 kHz using SR and FWD, respectively. This paper confirms that the SiC MOSFET is an ideal candidate for the SR. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Considering the aim of having low switching losses, especially in medium-voltage and high-power converters, the pre-programmed pulse width modulation technique is very useful because the generated harmonic content can be known in advance and optimized. Among the different low switching frequency techniques, the Selective Harmonics Elimination (SHE) modulation method is most suitable because of its direct control over the harmonic spectrum. This paper proposes a method for obtaining multiple solutions for selectively eliminating specific harmonics in a wide range of modulation indices by using modified Newton-Raphson (NR) and pattern generation techniques. The different pattern generation and synthesis approach provide more degrees of freedom and a way to operate the converter in a wide range of modulation. The modified Newton-Raphson technique is not complex and ensures fast convergence on a solution. Moreover, multiple solutions are obtained by keeping a very small increase in the modulation index. In the previous methods, solutions were not obtainable at all modulation indices. In this paper, only exact solutions to the low-order harmonics elimination for Cascaded H-bridge inverter are reported for all modulation indices. Analytical and simulation results prove the robustness and correctness of the technique proposed in this paper. [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]

In this paper, SHE based on Newton–Raphson algorithm is used for open-loop control of flying capacitor multilevel inverter. Without measuring current and capacitor voltages, as well as not using any controller and voltage feedback, proposed control strategy generates accurate switching angles, capable of balancing flying capacitor voltage and eliminates lower order harmonics while considering load power factor variation. Efficiency and robustness of proposed algorithm are verified by simulation and experiments. Results show that proposed method does effectively eliminate specific low-order harmonics, and inverter output voltage is resulted in low total harmonic distortion with desired number of levels and balanced capacitor voltages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper presents cascaded topology of three‐phase neutral‐point‐clamped converters (NPCC)s. Two or more NPCCs are cascaded in their AC sides through transformers. This multilevel inverter (MLI) is a transformer‐based single‐source inverter with trinary asymmetry. Compared with conventional and advanced diode‐clamped multilevel inverters, the proposed MLI achieves more levels on output voltage. From cost, number of components, volume, complexity and efficiency aspects, the proposed inverter is an optimized and advanced inverter. An individual space vector modulation (SVM) method has been developed for voltage control of the inverter. The neutral‐point voltage of the inverter is balanced conveniently by the SVM method. The proposed inverter is suitable for constant‐frequency applications. Simulation and experimental results of a 17‐kVA prototype verify the efficiency of the proposed arrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]