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This paper provides an experimental discussion on a real-time real-power emulator that plays an important role in achieving a total test of medium-voltage, high-power, high-speed induction motor drives. The use of the emulator brings cost and time savings to the test. The test bench including the emulator is characterized by connecting two modular multilevel double-star chopper-cell (DSCC) converters connected in a front-to-front way. This paper designs, builds, and tests a 400- ${\rm V}_{\rm dc}$ , 10-kW downscaled test bench. It mainly consists of the following two identical DSCC converters: 1) one DSCC converter is used as an inverter under test; and 2) the other as a real-time real-power high-fidelity emulator. Experimental waveforms confirm that the emulator can reproduce electrical and mechanical operating performance of the three-phase 200-V, 10-kW, four-pole, 9000-r/min induction motor loaded with a centrifugal compressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new class of bidirectional partial-resonance power converters is presented. The proposed family can be configured to interface single- or multi-port dc, single- or multi-phase ac systems at input-side and/or output-side. The proposed family offers a very modular structure, which can lead to cost reduction from a common designed module. In this converter, which accomplishes power conversion in a single stage, a small inductor placed in series with the input and output switch-bridges forms the link. This small link inductor is responsible for transferring power between different ports of the system. The proposed topologies can operate in buck, boost, and buck–boost modes of operation to step up and/or step down the voltage. In buck–boost mode of operation, the converter is controlled such that the power is entirely transferred through the link inductor; whereas, in buck or boost modes of operation only a fraction of the power is transferred through the link inductor, and the remaining power is directly transferred from input phases to the output phases. Galvanic isolation, which is typically a prominent factor contributing to power density of a converter, can be provided by means of a compact and lightweight single-phase high-frequency transformer added to the link. In comparison with earlier generations of partial-resonance inductive-link power converters, in the proposed converter, the level of link peak current and consequently power-loss, as well as voltage and current stress of switches are dramatically decreased. A very small film capacitor can be placed in parallel with the link inductor to facilitate zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) operation for all the switches/diodes. Apart from increasing the overall efficiency, minimized dv/dt stress and improvement in power density are achieved by adding the link capacitor. The proposed converter employs four-quadrant switches, i.e., bidirectional-conducting bidirectional-blocking switches, and charges the link inductor in both positive and negative directions in each cycle. In view of this, better utilization of the link inductor and lower total harmonic distortion (THD) are offered. Furthermore, two distinct switching algorithms are developed for the proposed family of converters. In this paper, the detailed behavior of the proposed family is investigated analytically, and simulation and experimental results are presented to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the proposed converter. A low-power proof-of-concept prototype with input voltage of 59 V/161 V, load voltage of 178 V/73.5 V, maximum switching frequency of 4.9 kHz/3.65 kHz at 215 W/450 W in a step-up/step-down operation is considered for the experimental verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A trinary multilevel converter uses a few heterogeneous H-bridge submodules (SMs) to synthesize an output voltage with multiple levels. Two major limitations of this converter are that it needs multiple dc sources and it cannot operate under pulsewidth modulation (PWM). This paper addresses these limitations by adding a low-voltage H-bridge SM to this converter and proposing a new switching algorithm. The resulting PWM-based asymmetric cascaded H-bridge converter uses only one dc source and synthesizes a high-quality output voltage. This improved converter can be a potential choice for real and reactive power support in power system applications. This paper also proposes methods for stability analysis and design of this converter. Experimental case studies evaluate the performance of the proposed converter for both standalone and grid-connected modes of operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel bidirectional series resonant converter for energy storage systems (ESS). Conversion between a dc energy storage device and an ac grid has grown in importance because of the renewable energy generators and ESS used in microgrids, which usually use batteries or supercapacitors as storage devices in order to provide different services and improve the quality and reliability of the grid. This novel converter avoids the need to have two converting stages: one for converting the energy from the storage device to a regulated dc value, and the other for converting the regulated dc to the ac output. Conversion occurs via a modified dc/dc dual-bridge series resonant converter. The output bridge of the converter is attached to the input bridge through a resonant branch and a high frequency (HF) transformer, and it is also attached to the ac link through an output filter. Therefore, two ac power signals are mixed in the output bridge: a HF signal, which maintains the dc link capacitor voltage, and a low frequency power signal, which transfers energy to the grid. This paper details the different working modes of the converter and presents a 3000 W prototype that validates the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modular multilevel converter (MMC) is regarded as a promising topology in high-voltage direct current systems. However, the MMC consists of numerous submodules (SMs) and switching devices, which lead to a considerable switching loss, and increased cost and size of the heat sink. To mitigate these issues, this paper presents a novel modulation method composed of fundamental frequency modulation (FFM) and multicarrier-based sinusoidal pulsewidth modulation schemes. The main purpose of this modulation method is the reduction of switching loss while maintaining good harmonic performance. However, the FFM scheme leads to the unbalanced capacitor voltage of each SM in the MMC. Accordingly, this paper additionally proposes the rotation method and selective voltage balancing control for SMs to ensure effective performance of the method. Simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness and performance of the proposed modulation scheme through switching loss and spectral analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new structure for a nonisolated boost dc–dc converter is proposed. The proposed converter generates higher voltage gain than some conventional nonisolated boost dc–dc converters. In this paper, the voltage and current equations of the elements and voltage gain in continuous conduction mode and discontinuous conduction mode are extracted. Then, the critical inductance converter is extracted and the current stresses in the switches are calculated. To achieve high voltage gain, a generalized structure based on the proposed structure generates for dc–dc converters. Meanwhile, the root mean square current relations of devices are obtained for an extended structure. Finally, the results of PSCAD/EMTDC software and laboratory prototype are used to reconfirm theoretical concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with some new results on the averaging theory approach for the analysis of feedback controlled pulsewidth modulation power electronic converters. It develops some considerations regarding the averaging approximation of time-variant differential systems proving an analytical relationship between the accuracy with which the solution of the averaged model converges to the solution of the original time-variant model (i.e., the switched model) and the switching frequency of the converters. This relation is valid both for stable and unstable systems. Moreover, this paper confirms, as corollary, that under suitable conditions (verified during the standard operations of the power electronic converters) the averaged model uniformly converges to the switched model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modeling and control of a buck–boost and stacked dual half-bridge (DHB) integrated bidirectional dc–dc converter have been studied in this paper. This converter features high-voltage transfer ratio, high efficiency, and the minimum number of switches. In this paper, an extended, continuous, full-order, state-space averaging modeling method is proposed. Compared with existing methods, the proposed method exhibits higher coincidence with the switching circuit simulation, in steady and especially dynamic states. Due to its high dynamic accuracy and low complexity, the proposed modeling method provides a better theoretical analysis and a fast simulation tool for transient process and control design of converters with dual-active-bridge units, especially with DHB units. By using this method, the high-frequency transformer series inductance current is directly divided into a sampled dc component and a fluctuant component. Only the sampled dc one is included into state variables, but both components are considered into state equations. Besides, this method regards the entire converter as a linear superposition of its subsections, which provides a stepwise modeling based on linearization of subsections. Moreover, a decoupled proportional-integral control method is proposed to enhance the stability and dynamic response of the converter. This control method is analyzed by the proposed models, which can be regarded as an application of the proposed modeling method. Simulation and experiments have validated both the proposed modeling and the decoupled control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a new feed-forward strategy for suppressing low-order harmonic circulating currents in pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) based modular multilevel converters (MMCs). The approach is based on the new average model approach established in this paper, which identifies cross-coupling interactions between the system-level and submodule elements using decomposed dependent sources. As well as improving the damping of the system, the major advantage of this approach is that it maintains the natural DC bus balance property of a PWM modulated MMC by considering the upper and lower arms together (unlike existing feed-forward schemes which treat each MMC arm independently). Moreover, unlike existing direct control resonant strategies, which require careful gain tuning and are highly dependent on the ac system frequency, the proposed approach achieves wideband circulating current ripple suppression without requiring knowledge of the circulating current harmonic frequencies and needs only a simple proportional–integral (PI) controller to regulate the circulating current dc component for power balance. This makes it particularly suitable for use in multifrequency or variable-frequency ac systems. Extensive simulation and matching experimental results, including steady-state and transient responses compared against existing circulating current suppression approaches, validate the effectiveness and benefits of this new feed-forward compensation technique. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a hybrid seven-level converter based on T-type converter and H-bridge cascaded suitable for low-voltage and high-power-density applications. The operation principles and conduction paths are analyzed comprehensively. Voltage balance control of the floating capacitors is the key point of this paper. Mathematical expressions of capacitor voltage balance conditions are deduced based on sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM). The results show that floating capacitor voltages are only balanced when the modulation index is below 0.82 under SPWM. In order to enlarge the modulation index ensuring the capacitor voltage balance, space vector modulation (SVM) is also applied to regulate floating capacitor voltages taking advantage of redundant switching vectors. Meanwhile, in SVM, there are no additional control requirements for the capacitor voltage. Taken both SPWM and SVM into consideration, the limit to the range of operation for this seven-level converter is presented, which is a function of the modulation index and the power factor. The merit of dc voltage utilization improvement in this topology is also analyzed based on simulation results. Simulations and experimental results under different modulation index and RL load are presented to verify the modulation strategies illustrated in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper introduces a novel five-level nested neutral point piloted (NNPP) converter and analyzes the operating principle of five-level NNPP converter. This paper presents a novel space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) algorithm based on gh coordinate for five-level NNPP converter. First, the common-mode voltage is reduced by choosing the appropriate redundant switching states. After that, the floating-capacitor voltage balance control strategy is presented. The appropriate switch combinations of each phase are determined by the control requirements of floating-capacitor voltages respectively and the hardware mapping method of the switching states is presented. Furthermore, the neutral-point voltage balance control strategy is presented. In order to balance the dc-link capacitor voltages, the seven-segment switching sequence is selected according to the control requirements of dc-link capacitor voltages and the neutral-point voltage regulatory factor is introduced to regulate the durations of the redundant switching states in a switching cycle. Finally, the validity of the novel SVPWM algorithm with decoupling control strategies of floating-capacitor voltages and dc-link capacitor voltages is verified by the experimental results of five-level NNPP converter under steady-state and dynamic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cascaded multicell converter (CMC) is one of the effective solutions for medium-voltage high-power drives. The inability to regenerate power back to the source is one of the limitations of this converter. The regeneration capability is obtained by using a pulsewidth-modulated active rectifier instead of a conventional three-phase passive rectifier in each cell. However, due to their two-level voltage operation at the input side, an inductor is required for each cell to filter out the switching frequency components from the input current. This paper proposes a new configuration of regenerative CMC based on coupled inductor to achieve multilevel voltage at the transformer secondary terminals. This allows us to operate the rectifier devices at reduced switching frequency. The coupled inductor reduces the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the transformer secondary current and thus the transformer size. The size of the filter inductor and the transformer ratings are compared. The operating principle and the detailed analysis are presented. A technique to bypass a faulty module is proposed. The working of the converter is verified through simulation and experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) systems having rechargeable batteries are prone to be complex and costly because multiple converters are necessary to individually regulate a load, PV panel, and battery. This paper proposes novel nonisolated multiport converters (MPCs) integrating a bidirectional pulsewidth modulation (PWM) converter and phase-shift-switched capacitor converter (PS-SCC) for standalone PV systems. A PWM converter and PS-SCC are integrated by reducing the total switch count, realizing the simplified system and circuit. In the proposed MPCs, two control freedoms of duty cycle and phase shift angle are manipulated to individually regulate the load, PV panel, and/or battery. The detailed operation analysis was performed to mathematically derive gain characteristics and zero voltage switching operation boundaries. For the battery discharging mode, in which the PV panel is not available and the MPC behaves as a single-input–single-output converter with two control freedoms available, the optimized control scheme achieving the lowest rms current is also proposed to maximize power conversion efficiencies. Various kinds of experimental verification tests using a 200-W prototype were performed to verify the theoretical analysis and to demonstrate the performance of the proposed MPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetically coupled impedance-source (MCIS) networks are recently introduced impedance networks intended for various high-boost applications. It employs coupled magnetic in the circuit to achieve higher voltage gain. Various MCIS networks have been proposed in the literature for myriad applications; however, due to effective role of system modeling in the closed-loop controller design, this paper is allocated to small-signal modeling and analysis of MCIS converters. The modeling is performed by means of the circuit averaging and averaged switch technique. A generalized small-signal derivation is demonstrated for pulse width modulation (PWM) MCIS converters and it is shown that the derived transfer functions can simply be applied to Y-source, Γ-source, and T-source impedance networks. Various transfer functions for capacitor voltage, output voltage, magnetizing current, input and output impedance are derived and have been validated through frequency and dynamic responses of computer simulation results. In addition, a comprehensive analysis has been done for all mentioned PWM MCIS converters regarding their circuit parameters. Furthermore, the effect of considering the equivalent series resistances of capacitor and inductor on the stability margin of MCIS converters is revealed in this paper. Finally, in order to validate the derived transfer functions and to consolidate the perfumed analysis, experimental results are presented for all mentioned MCIS converters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper extends the high-frequency transformer isolation concept to the Z-source (ZS) ac–ac converters and introduces a new family of high-frequency transformer isolated (HFTI) ZS ac–ac converters. The proposed HFTI-ZS converters retain all the benefits of their existing nonisolated counterparts, such as providing a larger range of output voltage with buck–boost functionality, reversing or maintaining the phase angle, reducing the in-rush and harmonic currents, and improving reliability. In addition to these benefits, the high-frequency (20 kHz) transformer (HFT) in the proposed ZS ac–ac converters provides the electrical isolation and safety with high power density as it eliminates the need for bulky and heavy line frequency (50 or 60 Hz) transformer for galvanic isolation, in applications such as dynamic voltage restorers, etc. The dc-blocking capacitor added in series with the HFT results in only ac voltage applied across its windings, which avoids its saturation. Various ZS-based HFTI ac–ac converters are proposed in this paper, and to verify their operation and advantages, example of quasi-ZS (qZS)-based isolated ac–ac converter is considered in detail. The commutation strategy is also developed to achieve the safe commutation, which avoids the current and voltage spikes without using any RC snubber. A 200-W laboratory prototype of HFTI-qZS ac–ac converter is fabricated and experiments are performed to validate the advantages of the proposed ac–ac converters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

AC voltage regulation is required in both the domestic and industrial sectors to avoid undesired effects from random voltage variations of the power supply. The paper introduces an ac voltage stabilizer/converter (ACVS) that is based on a controllable autotransformer technology. The proposed ACVS offers a specified strategy of voltage regulation, less harmonics, and low cost. The paper explains the operating principle of the ACVS and derives its nonlinear mathematical model. To ensure the desired performance of the ACVS while it is subject to uncertain input voltage and load variations, an optimal control strategy is designed. It is achieved via transforming the ACVS model extending with fictive axis emulation into a rotating reference frame and the linearization of the model via specific orientation of the reference frame and introducing a linear control action. Operation of the ACVS is simulated under different disturbances due to load and grid voltage changes, and compared to voltage stabilization with application of I and PI controllers. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the voltage regulation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In several electrical dc–ac power conversions, the ac output voltage is higher than the input voltage. If a voltage-source inverter (VSI) is used, then an additional dc–dc boosting stage is required to overcome the step-down VSI limitations. Recently, several impedance source converters are gaining higher attentions [1], [2], as they are able to provide buck-boost capability in a single conversion stage. This paper proposes the merging of the boost stage and the VSI stage in a single stage dc–ac power conversion, denoted as split-source inverter (SSI). The proposed topology requires the same number of active switches of the VSI, three additional diodes, and the same eight states of a conventional space-vector modulation. It also shows some merits compared to Z-source inverters, especially in terms of reduced switch voltage stress for voltage gains higher than 1.15. This paper presents the analysis of the SSI and compares different modulation schemes. Moreover, it presents a modified modulation scheme to eliminate the low frequency ripple in the input current and the voltage across the inverter bridge. The proposed analysis has been verified by simulation and experimental results on a 2.0-kW prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Among multilevel converter topologies, the cascaded H-bridge (CHB) converter is one suitable solution for multiple applications, such as flexible ac transmission systems and motor drives. CHB presents a natural high modularity because it is formed by the serial connection of H-bridges. This paper deals with a CHB where the cells do not have the same aging because the maintenance during the years of operation forces to replace some damaged cells of the converter with new or repaired ones. A method based on clamping one power cell can be used to reduce the power losses of that cell reducing its temperature and increasing its lifetime. However, clamping one cell of the CHB introduces high harmonic distortion around twice the carrier frequency due to the CHB unbalanced operation when a conventional phase-shifted pulsewidth modulation (PWM) is applied. A deep harmonic distortion analysis of the CHB output voltage with thermal control based on clamping one cell is presented. Using this analysis, the harmonic distortion at twice the carrier frequency is eliminated applying a nonconventional phase-shifted PWM where the angles between the carriers of consecutive power cells are modified. Experimental results show how the thermal control applying the clamping of a power cell is achieved while the harmonic distortion around twice the carrier frequency is eliminated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital control system of modular multilevel converters (MMCs) normally synchronizes with the switching actions. The switching frequency of an MMC is generally selected as low as possible from an efficiency point of view, which leads to an unavoidable and relatively long time delay in the control system. Such a time delay might deteriorate the MMC performance and even reduce the stability margin by introducing infinite uncertain eigenvalues into the system state functions. Without a proper time-delay model and quantitative system stability analyses, MMCs might suffer from uncertainties and unstable risks during their operations, especially when the switching frequency is low. This paper derives an MMC model considering the time delay in the digital control system. A Padé-based stability analysis method is then proposed, which consists of three steps: information integration and critical eigenvalue extraction, and trajectory visualization and critical angle (CA) calculation, and quantitative assessment and extreme value determination. By the proposed model and method, the critical eigenvalue can be effectively extracted. With the Hopf bifurcation, the time delay in the digital control system induces a pair critical conjugate eigenvalues into MMC systems, which is detected as an instability cause. The CA and the critical impact are defined to quantitatively assess the stability, while selecting the controller parameters and minimum switching frequency. The proposed method for the MMC stability assessment is experimentally verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel closed-loop digital control scheme to maintain proper interleaving operation of a multi-channel boundary-conduction-mode boost converter used in power-factor-correction applications. The proposed control scheme is suitable for implementation on a low-cost microcontroller. This is made possible by executing the control scheme at a constant sampling rate that is much slower than the maximum switching frequency of the converter. The performance of the control scheme is further improved by using an adaptive gain that scales with the on-time of the converter, which provides optimal phase-shift control and stability under all operating conditions. The digital closed-loop control scheme is validated experimentally on a three-channel 1-kW prototype ac–dc converter. The converter has an output voltage of 400 V and a universal input voltage range of 85–265 V. The prototype converter uses a low-cost microcontroller while demonstrating correct interleaving operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a sinusoidal pulsewidth modulation (SPWM) based direct digital control with average-voltage model (AVM) and division–summation process for paralleled three-phase three-wire (3φ3W) grid-connected converters to reduce circulating currents. With the direct digital control, plant of each single-phase converter can be derived directly, and a controller is then designed to cover the variation effects of filter inductance and grid voltage. Based on SPWM and AVM over a switching cycle, each 3φ3W converter can be decomposed into three single-phase converters and each converter is controlled individually to track its sinusoidal reference current tightly, reducing circulating currents significantly. Equal current sharing is therefore also achieved. The control laws for achieving grid connection are derived in detail. In the design and implementation, the inductances corresponding to various inductor currents are measured offline and stored in the controller for scheduling loop gain cycle by cycle. Experimental and simulated results from a three-converter system confirm the analysis and discussion of the proposed control approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) represent an emerging topology in medium-voltage (MV) and high-voltage applications. But for MV variable-speed motor drives, the MMC faces the challenge of large capacitor voltage ripple at low speeds. Delightfully, a hybrid MMC (HMMC) has proved to be potential in MV motor drives, since this topology has a lower capacitor voltage ripple and does not introduce any common voltage to the motor. This paper proposed a method to decrease the average capacitor voltage of the HMMC, which can effectively drive the motor at very low speeds without significantly increasing the submodule (SM) capacitance. Moreover, the selection of average capacitor voltage and the dimension of the SM capacitance are presented. Simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, in response to the open-circuit fault scenario in the grid-side converter (GSC) of doubly fed induction generator-based wind turbines (DFIG-WTs), a fault-tolerant four-switch three-phase (FSTP) topology-based GSC is studied. Compared with other switch-level fault-tolerant converter topologies, fewer switches, less switching and conduction losses, and simpler converter structure are derived. A simplified space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique is proposed to improve the output current quality and reduce the computational complexity in the control process. Unified expressions of duty ratios for the two remaining healthy bridge arms are obtained. In addition, the three-phase unbalance phenomenon caused by the capacitive impedance in the faulty phase is analyzed from the ac point of view, and a current distortion compensation scheme is illustrated. Furthermore, a dc-bus voltage deviation suppression strategy is proposed to maximize the dc-bus voltage utilization rate and mitigate the damage to the dc-link capacitors. Simulations are carried out in MATLAB/Simulink2017a to demonstrate the validity of the proposed SVPWM technique and compensation schemes in FSTP GSC for a 1.5-MW grid-connected DFIG-WT when different working conditions are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel buck–boost ac–ac converter is proposed. The basic switching unit of the proposed converter is a unidirectional buck circuit; therefore, it has no shoot-through worries. It can achieve safe commutation without using RC snubbers or soft commutation strategies. It can be implemented with power MOSFETs without their body diodes conducting and, for current freewheeling external diodes, can be used to minimize the reverse recovery issues and related loss. It has a bipolar voltage gain with both inverting and non-inverting operations. The non-inverting operation can be used to compensate voltage sag, and inverting operation can be used to compensate voltage swell. Therefore, the proposed converter as a dynamic voltage restorer is capable of compensating for both voltage sag and swell in a wide range. The detailed theoretical analysis followed by detailed experimental results of a 300-W prototype converter is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new single-stage half-bridge (HB) resonant $LLC$ converter additionally employing one resonant capacitor and two relays with one package is proposed, compared with a single-stage HB $LLC$ converter. Moreover, a center-tapped transformer is replaced with a coupled transformer. Since the proposed converter changes the turns ratio of the coupled transformer using a relay according to low- or high-input-voltage range, it can decrease the range of its needed voltage gain. It means that the proposed converter can be designed with large transformer magnetizing inductance compared with the conventional single-stage HB $LLC$ converter. As a result, the primary conduction and turn-off losses are reduced. Moreover, in low input voltage range, it has smaller total primary wire resistance of the transformer due to parallel connection of the coupled transformer, which decreases its conduction loss. In addition, additionally employed small-sized components can be inserted to the conventional system. To confirm the operation, features, and validity of the proposed converter, universal input with low line and high line and 16.5 V/60 W output laboratory prototype targeting laptop adapters with wide-input-voltage range is built and tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the analysis of low leakage inductance current regions, small-signal model, and decoupled control for a dual-half-bridge isolated bidirectional dc–dc converter with pulse width modulation plus phase-shift strategy. Traditionally, the duty cycle of the transistors is fixed at 0.5 and only the phase-shift is varied to regulate the output voltage. With PPS control, two control freedoms—the duty cycle is used to regulate the voltage gain and phase-shift is used to control the power flow—can be obtained to expand input-voltage variation range. In addition, since the amplitude of leakage inductance current is limited, the current stresses of transistors can be reduced. According to the analysis, there exists a region in which higher leakage inductance current leads to lower output power and thus, causes more conduction loss. Attention should be paid to avoid this operation region. Then, a small-signal model is derived in the low conduction loss region with the state space averaging method to facilitate the closed-loop design. In addition, a decoupled control strategy is proposed to eliminate the interactions between phase-shift ratio and duty cycle, so as to simplify the proportional-integral controller design significantly. A prototype was built to verify the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed steady-state analysis and ac small-signal modeling of the power stage of pulse-width modulated A-source converter. The voltage and current waveforms along with their corresponding expressions describing the converter operation are presented in detail. The input-to-output and input-to-capacitor dc voltage transfer functions are determined. The minimum inductance required to ensure continuous conduction mode is derived. The expressions for the semiconductor devices stresses are also presented. The dc, averaged equivalent circuit is derived using the circuit averaging technique. A complete derivation of the small-signal model including the converter parasitic resistances are presented followed by the power stage transfer functions relevant to the capacitor voltage loop, such as: 1) duty cycle-to-capacitor voltage; and 2) input-to-capacitor voltage. In addition, the expressions for the network input impedance and output impedance are derived. Finally, experimental validations of the derived small-signal models are performed, both in frequency and time domain for a laboratory prototype of an A-source converter. The theoretical predictions were in good agreement with the experimental results over a wide range of frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the active capacitor voltage-balancing (ACVB) methods based on the dynamic model for a five-level nested neutral-point piloted (NNPP) converter using hybrid carrier modulation. The traditional hybrid carrier modulation provides natural voltage balancing of floating capacitors and dc-link capacitors. First, the natural voltage-balancing ability under steady-state and ideal conditions is theoretically proved. However, there are accumulated errors and deviations of capacitor voltages in practical applications, especially under dynamic conditions. In order to address the accumulated errors and deviations of capacitor voltages, the dynamic models of floating-capacitor voltages and neutral-point voltage are established. Moreover, the ACVB method based on the dynamic model of the neutral-point voltage is proposed by injecting the zero-sequence voltage. And the ACVB method based on the dynamic model of floating-capacitor voltages is proposed by introducing the adjustment variables. The proposed ACVB methods have the advantages of simple formula, definite physical meaning, and high accuracy. Furthermore, the output voltage quality and current quality are evaluated in term of total harmonic distortion and the effect of model parameter mismatch on the proposed ACVB methods is presented. Finally, the comparative simulation and experimental results verify the correctness of the proposed ACVB methods based on the dynamic model under different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For dc–dc converters with pulsating output current, such as boost and buck–boost converters, the use of leading-edge or trailing-edge pulse width modulation (PWM) can result in distinctly different behavior. This phenomenon is not readily captured by the usual averaged model but can be predicted with a discrete-time model. However, the discrete-time model, which tracks the dynamics of state variables over a switching period, is usually more complex and less convenient to apply for the design of the feedback control. Based on the low-pass characteristics of dc–dc converters, an approximate discrete-time model is proposed in this paper, and upon transforming to the s-domain, the model results in transfer functions that can be conveniently used for deriving practical closed-loop parameters. With the proposed model, the loop gain, the input and output impedances are derived and analyzed. The effects of applying different types of PWM on the stability of a single dc–dc converter and a system of cascaded dc–dc converters are discussed. Finally, prototypes of a buck converter, a boost converter, and a cascaded system of buck and boost converters are constructed to verify the effectiveness of the approximate discrete-time model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new bidirectional three-phase push–pull converter that has a simple structure and achieves zero-voltage switching turn-on of switches. Also, due to use of a single inductor, an imbalance among phase currents on the low-voltage high-current side is trivial in the proposed converter although no current sharing control is employed. In this paper, a new dual asymmetrical pulse width modulation (PWM) switching method is proposed for bidirectional power flow control with seamless mode change. The proposed switching method offers reduced circulating current and makes the converter easier to implement compared to the PWM plus phase shift-based control method since it is a general PWM method having two independent duty cycle controls on each side. Experimental results from a 3-kW prototype are provided to validate the proposed concept. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Multiphase variable-speed drives and generation systems (systems with more than three phases) have become one of the mainstream research areas during the last decade. The main driving forces are the specific applications, predominantly related to the green agenda, such as electric and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs), locomotive traction, ship propulsion, “more-electric” aircraft, remote offshore wind farms for electric energy generation, and general high-power industrial applications. As a result, produced body of significant work is substantial, making it impossible to review all the major developments in a single paper. This paper therefore surveys the recent progress in two specific areas associated with multiphase systems, namely power electronic supply control and innovative ways of using the additional degrees of freedom in multiphase machines for various nontraditional purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an alternative approach to address the control and modulation problem of single-phase three-level converters applied in the high-speed railway electrical traction drive system. Following the principle of deadbeat predictive direct torque control of ac motors, this paper discusses an improved direct power control (DPC) method based on a deadbeat active and reactive power prediction technique. Comparing with the conventional PI-based DPC scheme, the proposed deadbeat predictive DPC scheme can provide these advantageous features: lower current harmonics and THD index, lower active and reactive power ripples, and fewer adjusted parameters. Moreover, compared with PI-based DPC with the PI parameters optimization, this approach can also easily obtain fast dynamic response but without the main voltage orientation. A single-phase three-level space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) with inherent neutral-point voltage balancing capability is adopted, which can be combined with DPC scheme as an overall control and modulation system. A series of simulation and experimental tests have been conducted to demonstrate an excellent performance of the deadbeat predictive DPC. In addition, the neutral-point-voltage balancing ability of the adopted SVPWM method has been verified. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper studies the effect of common-mode voltage elimination (CMVE) on the iron loss of electrical machine core laminations under multilevel converter supply. Three identical magnetic ring cores are excited by either a three-level converter or a five-level voltage source converter to study the behavior of CMVE on a three-phase system. Both multilevel converters are controlled by using a space vector pulsewidth modulation as it is one of the most often used techniques for CMVE. These experimental results are confirmed numerically with a dynamic iron loss model. In addition, the effect of CMVE, at different switching frequencies, on the core loss of a synchronous machine is numerically studied. The results presented in this paper show that the core loss is considerably increased when the CMVE is implemented. However, this iron loss increase in the five-level drive systems is lower compared with the three-level ones. Therefore, it is important that the designers of drive systems take such effects into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a modular isolated dc–dc converter, based on the input-series and output-series association of the full-bridge PWM dc–dc converter with capacitive filter. The main attribute of the proposed architecture is its ability to provide self-balance of the input and output voltages across the individual converters, without voltage loop control scheme, both in the steady-state and transient operations. Circuit operation, theoretical analysis, and modeling are included in this paper, along with experimental results taken from a laboratory prototype with four modules, 1600-Vdc total input voltage, 1600-Vdc total output voltage, 4-kW output power, and 40-kHz switching frequency. Possible applications include high-voltage power supplies, solid-state transformers, dc current distribution systems, and renewable electric energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For high-power PWM current-source motor drive systems, due to the low converter switching frequency and the relative small dc choke for reduced cost/weight, the converters’ switching harmonics may interact through dc link and produce interharmonics in the entire system. Such harmonics interaction phenomenon may give rise to the system resonance at certain motor speeds, which degrades the grid-side power quality and generates excessive torque ripples on the motor side. The resonance caused by the harmonics interaction in high-power PWM current-source motor drives is investigated in previous study. In addition, to actively suppress such resonance, the basic idea of a dc-link virtual impedance-based suppression method has also been proposed. This paper extends the previous study to thoroughly analyze the mechanism and realization of resonance suppression by the dc-link virtual impedance-based method. The in-depth analysis shows that the dc-link virtual impedance-based method successfully enables the active interharmonics compensation capability of high-power PWM current-source drives, which is not addressed in previous researches. Moreover, simulations and experiments demonstrate that, by following the selection of coefficient in the suppression method discussed in this paper, the dc-link virtual impedance-based method can effectively enhance the attenuation effect of dc link in high-power PWM current-source drive systems so as to suppress the resonance due to the harmonics interaction under all resonance conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the voltage error caused by the dead time in voltage-source PWM converters. The theoretical analysis in this paper derives the nonlinear voltage error paying attention to the parasitic output capacitance in each switching device. The analytical result reveals that the turn-off current or the switching current ripple strongly affects the voltage error. In addition, it is clarified that the conventional compensation methods based on linear and three-level approximation are suitable under small and large current ripple conditions, respectively. A simple calculation method of current ripples in three-phase PWM converters is also developed to estimate the turn-off currents. Turn-off transition compensation method which is a new compensation method based on the analysis is developed and compared with three different conventional methods in experiments using a 200-V, 5-kW three-phase grid-connection converter. The proposed method exhibits a good compensation performance having a lower voltage THD than the conventional methods in all over the operating range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an in-depth critical discussion and derivation of a detailed small-signal analysis of the phase-shifted full-bridge (PSFB) converter. Circuit parasitics, resonant inductance, and transformer turns ratio have all been taken into account in the evaluation of this topology's open-loop control-to-output, line-to-output, and load-to-output transfer functions. Accordingly, the significant impact of losses and resonant inductance on the converter's transfer functions is highlighted. The enhanced dynamic model proposed in this paper enables the correct design of the converter compensator, including the effect of parasitics on the dynamic behavior of the PSFB converter. Detailed experimental results for a real-life 36 V-to-14 V/10 A PSFB industrial application show excellent agreement with the predictions from the model proposed herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many publications have been presented on the modulation and control of the modular multilevel converter, some of which are based on phase-shifted carrier modulation. This paper presents an analysis of how the switching frequency affects the capacitor voltages, circulating currents, and alternating voltages using phase-shifted carrier modulation. It is found that switching frequencies that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency should be avoided as they can cause the capacitor voltages to diverge. Suitable switching frequencies are derived for which the arm and line quantities will be periodic with symmetric operating conditions in the upper and lower arms. Thus, the practical outcome of this paper is a detailed description of how the switching frequency should be chosen in order to achieve advantageous operating conditions. The theoretical results from the analysis are validated by both simulations and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modular multilevel converter (MMC) is an attractive solution for power conversion without transformers. The MMC consists of cascade connections of floating dc capacitors. In this paper, an adaptive observer design has been proposed to estimate the capacitor voltages from the measurement of arm currents. This work introduces the capacitance value of the cell capacitors as a parameter uncertainty for making the system performance robust with unknown constant parameters. It may be used for predictive control, condition monitoring for capacitors, and diagnosis check for capacitor health. In addition, a pulsewidth modulation (PWM) technique for MMC has been explored. The PWM technique is performed using a carrier-based level-shifted PWM strategy. It does not necessitate the calculation of duty cycles, and can be easily implemented in a DSP. By using the PWM technique, harmonics in the phase voltage is shifted to twice the switching frequency. Theoretical analysis is included in this paper for showing stability and convergence of the proposed observer. Analytical expressions are verified by simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents two topologies of three-phase semicontrolled rectifiers suitable for open-end ac power sources. The rectifiers are composed of a combination of two-level three-phase bridges (controlled, semicontrolled, or uncontrolled) and three single-phase floating capacitor h-bridges (controlled). These topologies generate two powered dc-links, each one belonging to a three-phase bridge. They present a reduced number of controlled power switches if compared with other open-end configurations of similar complexity found in the literature. It is also proposed a space-vector pulse-width modulation (SV-PWM) approach and a method of floating capacitor voltage control dedicated to the topologies with an equivalent approach based on the level-shifted PWM (LS-PWM). The proposed SV-PWM solving method is based on a redundant state selection (RSS) technique, which allows the floating capacitors voltage regulation. On the other hand, the LS-PWM solving method is based on the neutral voltage selection, which is shown to be equivalent to the SV-PWM RSS technique seen from the control system. Simulation results are shown to validate proposed topologies, as well as the SV-PWM and LS-PWM techniques, and the control strategy. Experimental results are shown to demonstrate proposed configurations feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper discusses the use of a cascaded multilevel converter for flexible power conditioning in smart-grid applications. The main feature of the proposed scheme is the use of independent dc links with reduced voltages, which makes such a topology an ideal candidate for medium- and high-power applications with increased reliability. The developed control strategy regulates independent dc-link voltages in each H-bridge cell, and allows the selective and flexible compensation of disturbing currents under a variety of voltage conditions without requiring any reference frame transformation. The selective control strategies are based on the decompositions proposed in the conservative power theory, which result in several current-related terms associated with specific load characteristics. These current components are independent of each other and may be used to define different compensation strategies, which can be selective in minimizing particular effects of disturbing loads. Experimental results are provided to validate the possibilities and performance of the proposed control strategies, considering ideal and deteriorated voltage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A widely adopted multilevel converter topology is the cascaded H-bridge (CHB), as it can provide voltage and power scalability. However, since the CHB converter can be composed by cells with different remaining lifetime, it could be useful to delay a fault of higher aged cells in order to prolong the entire converter's lifetime. In this paper, a thermally compensated discontinuous pulse width modulation (DPWM) strategy is proposed in order to reduce the thermal stress for power semiconductors in power modules of higher aged cells. Considering the thermal cycles as the most influencing cause of wear out of power modules, the proposed method compensates the thermal cycles under a varying power profile by manipulating the clamping angle of the DPWM. Moreover, the proposed method obtains a comparable total harmonic distortion performance to the phase-shifted carrier modulation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Active gate driving has been demonstrated to beneficially shape switching waveforms in Si- and SiC-based power converters. For faster GaN power devices with sub-10-ns switching transients, however, reported variable gate driving has so far been limited to altering a single drive parameter once per switching event, either during or outside of the transient. This paper demonstrates a gate driver with a timing resolution and range of output resistance levels that surpass those of existing gate drivers or arbitrary waveform generators. It is shown to permit active gate driving with a bandwidth that is high enough to shape a GaN switching during the transient. The programmable gate driver has integrated high-speed memory, control logic, and multiple parallel output stages. During switching transients, the gate driver can activate a near-arbitrary sequence of pull-up or pull-down output resistances between 0.12 and 64 Ω. A hybrid of clocked and asynchronous control logic with 150-ps delay elements achieves an effective resistance update rate of 6.7 GHz during switching events. This active gate driver is evaluated in a 1-MHz bridge-leg converter using EPC2015 GaN FETs. The results show that aggressive manipulation of the gate-drive resistance at sub-nanosecond resolutions can profile gate waveforms of the GaN FET, thereby beneficially shaping the switch-node voltage waveform in the power circuit. Examples of open-loop active gate driving are demonstrated that maintain the low switching loss of constant-strength gate driving, while reducing overshoot, oscillation, and EMI-generating high-frequency spectral content. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In order to increase the output voltage levels and reduce the isolated dc sources, a symmetrical hybrid nine-level inverter for high-speed motor drive applications is presented in this paper. Each phase of this inverter is composed of a five-level dc/dc converter cell and an H-bridge cell. The dc/dc converter is operated at high frequency with low-voltage devices and the H-bridge is operated at fundamental frequency with high-voltage devices. The three phases are connected to a common dc-link and each drives an isolated winding of an open-winding motor. The operating principles and modulation method are introduced. A detailed analysis of the average currents through the flying capacitor and neutral point of the dc-link is presented and a capacitor voltage balancing method based on phase-shifted pulse-width modulation is proposed. Simulation and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of this topology and control method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper investigates the utilization of two different six-leg configurations of single-phase to three-phase converters. One of the topologies is transformerless and the other is transformer based. The studied converters allow feeding the load voltage with sinusoidal voltages with constant amplitude and frequency, and to operate with sinusoidal grid current with high power factor. The system model and pulse-width modulation techniques for one of the topologies are given. Control strategies for both topologies are provided. The studied topologies are compared with the conventional in terms of dc-link specification, voltages harmonic distortions, semiconductor losses, and other characteristics. Simulation and experimental results are provided to illustrate the operation of the systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Power systems for exploration rovers tend to be complex as three separate converters are necessary; in addition to a main dc–dc converter and cell equalizer for rechargeable energy storage cells, an equalizer for photovoltaic (PV) modules is desirably equipped in order to preclude negative impacts of partial shading. This paper proposes the pulse width modulation (PWM) converter integrating voltage equalizers for PV modules and energy storage cells. The proposed integrated converter comprises a switched capacitor converter, PWM buck converter, and series-resonant voltage multiplier that perform PV equalization, power conversion from the PV modules to the load, and cell equalization, respectively. Three converters can be integrated into a single unit with reducing the total switch counts, achieving not only system-level but also circuit-level simplifications. The derivation procedure of the integrated converter is explained, followed by the operation analysis. Experimental tests were performed using series-connected supercapacitor (SC) modules and solar array simulators to emulate a partial shading condition. With the integrated converter, the extractable maximum power from the PV modules significantly increased while voltage imbalance of SC modules was adequately eliminated, demonstrating the integrated performance of the proposed converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) technology has become a mature power quality product. In high-power applications, DVR using a multilevel converter is commonly used. However, DVR using a multilevel direct pulse width modulation (PWM) ac–ac converter has not been well studied. This paper presents a new DVR topology using a cascaded multilevel direct PWM ac–ac converter. In the proposed scheme, the unit cell of the multilevel converter consists of a single-phase PWM ac-ac converter using switching cell structure with coupled inductors. Therefore, the multilevel converter can be short- and open-circuited without damaging the switching devices. Neither lossy RC snubber nor a dedicated soft commutation strategy is required in the proposed DVR. This improves the reliability of the DVR system. The output voltage levels of the multilevel converter increase with the number of cascaded unit cells, and a high ac output voltage is obtained by using low-voltage-rating switching devices. Furthermore, a phase-shifted PWM technique is applied to significantly reduce the size of the output filter inductor. A 1-kW prototype of single-phase DVR is developed, and its performance is experimentally verified. Finally, the simulation results are shown for a three-phase DVR system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents two hybrid six-phase machine drive systems. The topologies are considered to be hybrid because two three-phase groups of the machine are fed by different types of converters. The purpose of these topologies is to be alternative configurations, being midway between the conventional six-leg two-level (2L) inverter, composed of 12 switches, and more complex structures, such as the six-leg three-level neutral point clamped (3L-NPC) inverter, composed of 24 switches and 12 clamping diodes, or the conventional 12-leg dual inverter, composed of 24 switches. One of the hybrid topologies is composed of 18 switches and the other is composed of 18 switches and 6 clamping diodes. A comparative study of harmonic distortion, semiconductor losses, and machine torque ripple is performed. Compared with the conventional 2L inverter, the proposed systems provide better performance in terms of harmonic distortion, overall semiconductor losses, and machine torque ripple and are less complex than dual and NPC inverters. Pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy is discussed and simulated. A modification in PWM strategy of the hybrid configurations is performed in order to obtain similar torque ripple to the cases when dual and 3L-NPC converters are used, even with lower number of semiconductor devices. Experimental results are also presented in order to validate the PWM strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a theoretical harmonic analysis of phase disposition (PD) and phase-shifted carrier pulse-width modulation strategies for modular multilevel converters (MMCs). It is shown that when these strategies are implemented on a per MMC arm basis, their spectral performances converge because of cancellation of odd carrier sideband groups between each phase leg's arms. An improved PD modulation strategy is then presented that uses a single PD modulator for the entire phase leg, followed by a state machine decoder that evenly distributes switching pulses to all submodules across the phase leg upper and lower arms to balance the distribution of submodule commutation events. The resulting strategy achieves optimum phase leg PD spectral performance and also achieves natural voltage balancing of the MMC submodules. All theoretical findings are supported by simulation and experimental results obtained using a five-level MMC prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]