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This paper presents a deadbeat-based method for the single-inductor multiple-input multiple-output (SI-MIMO) dc–dc converter. By solving the cross regulation problem of the SI-MIMO dc–dc converter, the proposed method is capable of achieving the input current regulation (ICR) and the output voltage regulation (OVR) simultaneously. Moreover, the output current observers are adopted to replace the output current sensors, which are required by the conventional model based methods for dc–dc converters. The proposed control approaches including ICR and OVR are discussed in detail. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed deadbeat-based method, simulation runs and experiments are conducted on the single-inductor dual-input dual-output buck converter simulation platform and hardware prototype, respectively. The simulation and experimental results are analyzed in detail, and the comparison with the previous works is conducted. [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]

Multiphase electric machines are attractive in comparison with three-phase ones due to advantages such as fault-tolerant nature, smaller rating per phase, and lower torque ripple. More specifically, the machines with multiple three-phase windings are particularly convenient, because they are suitable for standard off-the-shelf three-phase ac–dc converter modules. For instance, they are becoming a serious option in the context of electric vehicles and wind turbines. On the other hand, in these applications, operation at low power is often required for long time intervals; hence, improving the efficiency under such conditions is highly desired and could save a significant amount of energy in the long term. This paper proposes a method to enhance the efficiency of electric drives based on multiple three-phase windings at light load. The number of active legs is selected depending on the required torque at each instant. To ensure that the overall efficiency is effectively optimized, not only the converter losses but also the stator copper losses are taken into account. Experimental results verify the theoretical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new load impedance specification for multistage dc power conversion systems. The proposed specification avoids drawbacks of the existing specifications, such as the lack of explicit connections to the dc-link dynamics and the unnecessary conservativeness. The new specification offers a direct command/supervision of the frequency- and time-domain dynamics of the intermediate dc link, while being less conservative than the existing specifications. This paper also presents procedures for redesigning ill-conditioned load impedances to comply with the specification. The validity and utility of the proposed specification are demonstrated using an experimental two-stage dc power conversion system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) for power electronic converters provides high dynamic performance, based on the limited number of inputs and accurate model of the converter. By applying this algorithm to multilevel converters such as a cascaded-H-bridge-based static var compensator (CHB STATCOM), the dynamic performance is degraded, because the optimized input is achieved by searching among a large set of switching combinations and redundancies. This paper proposes an FCS-MPC algorithm, which benefits high dynamic performance for the CHB STATCOM, despite the large set of inputs. The proposed FCS-MPC replaces the time-consuming optimization algorithm by solving Diophantine equations over the large set of switching combinations. The desired switching combination and all its redundancies are determined in a minimum execution time. The proposed FCS-MPC performance is validated by applying to two configurations: 1) a 15-level CHB STATCOM with energy storage capability for a short-term active power smoothing and reactive power compensation of a 10 MW fixed speed wind farm at medium voltage; and 2) an experimental seven-level CHB STATCOM at low voltage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) has become the most promising converter topology for medium- and high-power applications. In this paper, a sliding mode control (SMC) based method is proposed for the MMC. Based on analysis of the system dynamics under the proposed control method, relations among control parameters and their validity conditions are obtained, which provide a guidance for systematic controller design. Compared with the conventional proportional-integral based method, the proposed SMC-based method provides comparable steady state performance and faster dynamic responses, without compromising the computational effort or requirement for precise system model. Simulation studies in the PSCAD/EMTDC software environment are carried out to validate the performance and effectiveness of the proposed control method in the context of an HVdc transmission system. A laboratory prototype is also developed to experimentally validate the proposed control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-stage electric vehicle (EV) battery charger typically consists of an ac–dc converter cascaded with a dc–dc converter. In such a cascaded system, maintaining stability at the intermediate dc link is imperative for reliable operation of the battery charger under different operating modes. This paper addresses the intermediate dc-link stability challenges that exist in a bidirectional two-stage grid connected single-phase battery charger. It is delineated that the small-signal load-dependent resistance of the ac–dc converter plays a crucial role in determining the stability of the bidirectional battery charger. A virtual-resistor-based active damping control strategy that does not require any additional sensors is explored for the ac–dc converter to stabilize the cascaded system under all operating modes irrespective of the power flow direction. Experimental results on a grid-connected single-phase battery charger hardware prototype are presented to validate the proposed models and showcase the improvement in the dc-link stability due to the virtual-resistance-based active damping approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposed paper presents the development of a highly efficient and highly immune misalignment tolerant loosely coupled inductive power transfer system using dynamic wireless power transfer concept to charge a 48-V battery bank at 500 W through a 16-cm airgap. The purpose of this work is to investigate the influence of a third coil functioning as a transmitter coil. The resonant circuit as well as the electronic power converters used to implement a prototype are deeply explained. [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]

This paper proposes a novel power-fed permanent magnet adjustable speed drive (PF-PMASD) to regulate the speeds of pumps and fans for energy saving. The drive features that the slip power induced in the wound rotor of the drive can be fed to the power grid by a power electronic converter. The structure, operation principle, and control strategy of the drive are introduced and investigated. The mathematical model of the PF-PMASD is built by referring to the models of the traditional permanent magnet synchronous machine and wound rotor induction motor, based on which the power-size equation for the drive is deduced. The losses and efficiencies of the drive under different slips are also calculated and evaluated. The relationships between the slip and the duty cycle of the insulated-gate bipolar transistor in the boost chopper are revealed by the mathematical model of the control unit. The steady characteristics including electromotive forces, phase currents, and torques under different operation states are computed and analyzed comprehensively by finite-element analysis. The speed regulation characteristics, the power factor, and the energy-saving capabilities of the drive are investigated by experimental test. The analysis results indicate that the proposed PF-PMASD possesses a remarkable speed regulation capability with high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel family of cascade three-level (TL) ac–ac direct converters based on ac switch cells, which transfer unsteady high ac voltage with distortion into regulated sinusoidal voltage with low total harmonic distortion (THD). The topological family includes buck TL–boost, buck–boost TL, and buck TL–boost TL modes. In order to achieve a reliable TL ac–ac conversion, a double transient voltage feedback control strategy of the output voltage and the voltage across the flying capacitor is introduced in this paper. A 500-VA 220-V \pm10% 50-Hz ac/220-V 50-Hz ac prototype is presented with the experimental results to prove that the converters have four improved advantages simultaneously, including lower voltage across power switches, bidirectional power flow, low THD of output voltage, and higher input power factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a 12-bit dual-residue pipeline ADC allowing the use of low gain and low bandwidth residue amplifiers to achieve 59 dB peak SNDR at 800 MSample/s. The dual-residue architecture is insensitive to the open-loop gain and the bandwidth of the residue amplifiers. However, their offset limits the accuracy of the entire ADC and therefore a background offset calibration technique was implemented. The high sampling speed was obtained through four times interleaving, requiring gain and offset calibration between the interleaved ADC lanes. The ADC was realized in a standard 40 nm CMOS technology, operates from a dual 1 V/2.5 V power supply, utilizes an input range of 1.2 V peak-to-peak differential, and consumes 105 mW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the control and design of the 6.6-kV back-to-back (BTB) system combining bidirectional isolated dc/dc converters and modular multilevel cascade pulsewidth modulation (PWM) converters. The system consists of multiple converter cells connected in cascade per phase at both front ends. Each converter cell consists of a bidirectional isolated medium-frequency dc/dc converter and two voltage-source H-bridge (single-phase full-bridge) PWM converters. Extremely low-voltage steps bring a significant reduction in harmonics and electromagnetic interference emissions to the BTB system. This paper designs, constructs, and tests a single-phase downscaled BTB system rated at 120 V and 3.3 kW to verify the viability and effectiveness, leading to the actual system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Switching power supplies are sources of noise for sensitive circuits. Converters should comply with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) rules so that the electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by switching cannot interfere with the normal operation of adjacent circuits and also the converter itself. The produced interference can be in the form of conduction or radiation. In this paper, some techniques are used in switching converters to suppress EMI with emphasis on the conduction form. EMI analysis and evaluation of a conventional flyback converter and a proposed zero-current transition (ZCT) flyback converter is achieved by simulation and experimental results. In addition to evaluating some EMI suppression techniques, the main objective of this paper is to improve EMI in the topology design stage. The operating modes of the improved ZCT flyback are discussed. In addition to the efficiency improvement, the amount of EMI reduction of this ZCT flyback and the effectiveness of some EMI reduction techniques are shown by practical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a CLL resonant dc–dc converter as an option for offline applications. This topology can achieve zero-voltage switching from zero load to a full load and zero-current switching for output rectifiers and makes the implementation of a secondary rectifier easy. This paper also presents a novel methodology for designing CLL resonant converters based on efficiency and holdup time requirements. An optimal transformer structure is proposed, which uses a current-type synchronous rectifier (SR) drive scheme. An 800-kHz 250-W CLL resonant converter prototype is built to verify the proposed circuit, design method, transformer structure, and SR drive scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper analyzes the electromechanical interaction in a flywheel system with a doubly fed induction machine, used for wind farm power smoothing or grid frequency response control. The grid-connected electrical machine is subject to power control, and this can cause it to produce negative damping to the shaft torsional vibration. Resonance must be prevented, and this paper proposes a solution by coordinating the design of the electrical controller and mechanical shaft. Computer simulations are used to demonstrate the problem and the proposed solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplying power to offshore oil platform facilities is a challenging task due to the high power demands and long distances involved. While it is possible to supply power by ac submarine transmission cable to a nearby offshore load, this becomes impractical for loads with long distances and/or high power demands. This paper examines technically and economically two alternatives for subsea transmission: high-voltage alternating current and high-voltage direct current (HVdc). The most effective solution is determined to supply approximately 530 MW of load for several proposed offshore fields (from a few kilometers up to 100 km from the shore). Additionally, this paper sheds some light on voltage source converter technology and how it positively impacts the HVdc setup and efficiency, improving the economics of supplying electrical power to offshore installations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation technique applied to a series-resonant multiple-output inverter for new multi-inductor domestic induction heating platforms. The control of the topology is based on a system-on-programmable chip (SoPC) solution, which combines the MicroBlaze embedded soft-core processor and a customized peripheral that generates the power converter control signals. The firmware is written in C, and the customized peripheral is described using a hardware description language. Simulating the whole system using digital or mixed-signal simulation tools is a very time-consuming task due to the embedded processor model complexity, and additionally, it does not support tracing C instructions. To overcome these limitations, this paper proposes a real-time simulation test bench. The embedded processor core, peripherals, and the power converter model are all implemented into the same field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Using the hardware and software debugging tools supplied by the FPGA vendor, currents and voltages of the power converter model are monitored, and firmware C instructions are traced while running on the embedded processor core. Then, it is presented a design flow that is proven to be an effective and low-cost solution to verify the functionality of the customized peripheral and to implement a platform to perform firmware verification. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes a novel solution to the problems that exist in the conventional hill climb searching (HCS) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for the wind energy conversion system. The presented solution not only solves the tracking speed versus control efficiency tradeoff problem of HCS but also makes sure that the changing wind conditions do not lead HCS in the wrong direction. It intelligently adapts the variable step size to keep up with the rapid changes in the wind and seizes the perturbation at the maxima to yield 100% control efficiency. For this purpose, a novel peak detection capability has been devised which, in contrast with conventional peak detection, can work robustly under changing wind conditions. The proposed MPPT performs self-tuning to cope with the nonconstant efficiencies of the generator–converter subsystems—a phenomenon quite rarely discussed in research papers so far. In addition, a smart speed-sensorless scheme has been developed to avoid the use of mechanical sensors. The experimental results confirm that the proposed algorithm is remarkably faster and more efficient than the conventional HCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a high step-up quasi-Z Source (QZS) dc–dc converter is proposed. This converter uses a hybrid switched-capacitors switched-inductor method in order to achieve high voltage gains. The proposed converter have resolved the voltage gain limitation of the basic QZS dc–dc converter while keeping its main advantages, such as continuous input current and low voltage stress on capacitors. Compared to the basic converter, the duty cycle is not limited, and the voltage stress on the diodes and switch is not increased. In addition to these features, the proposed converter has a flexible structure, and extra stages could be added to it in order to achieve even higher voltage gains without increasing the voltage stress on devices or limiting the duty cycle. The operation principle of the converter and related relationships and waveforms are presented in the paper. Also, a comprehensive comparison between the proposed and other QZS based dc–dc converters is provided which confirms the superiority of the proposed converter. Simulations are done in power systems computer aided design (PSCAD) in order to investigate the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) capability of the converter. In addition, the valid performance and practicality of the converter are studied through the results obtained from the laboratory built prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power modules are the most common components to fail in power converters that are employed in mass transportation systems, thus leading to high unscheduled maintenance cost. While operating, high junction temperature swings occur that result in high thermomechanical stress within the structure of the power module, reducing the lifetime of the module. Liquid metals as a cooling medium received so far little attention in the area of power semiconductor cooling, despite being able to remove high heat fluxes. This paper shows for the first time how liquid metal is used to reduce actively the junction temperature swing. A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pump has been designed for this purpose allowing active control of the flow rate of the liquid metal that impinges against the baseplate of the module. The pump has been 3-D printed and is attached directly to the power module. A closed-loop temperature control system is implemented, able to estimate the insulated-gate bipolar transistor's junction temperature, and thus, controls the MHD power. This paper presents simulation and experimental results showing reductions in the temperature swing over the full load cycle with 12 °C as the highest observed reduction rate. This paper also shows detailed designs of the MHD pump and the controller hardware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transistor models have been playing a key role in designing efficient power converters. As the operating frequency of the converters becomes higher, transistor models need to represent physical device behavior accurately. This paper proposes a comprehensive surface-potential-based model of silicon carbide (SiC) power MOSFETs that realizes accurate circuit simulations. Whereas conventional simulation models are based on empirical formulas, the proposed model is constructed in a surface-potential-based framework by considering the physical structure and behavior of vertical power SiC MOSFETs. The proposed model represents both I–V and C–V characteristics from weak inversion to the high-power region. In addition, the proposed model calculates the channel mobility degradation due to SiC/SiO $_2$ interface traps, which significantly affects the circuit performance. Through experiments using a commercial SiC power MOSFET, excellent agreements are obtained between measurement and simulation in I–V and C–V characteristics at various temperatures for wide power ranges up to 1 kW. The transient behavior of a double-pulse tester is also well reproduced within a timing error of 12.6 ns even under the high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, some issues related to the impedance-based stability criterion, such as RHP poles in the minor-loop gain, how to specify source and load impedances, and node-dependent stability margins are discussed and the vector fitting method is used to improve the method. This results in an eigenvalue analysis of the system instead of using the Nyquist diagram, and leads to obtain more information about the system. Furthermore, a participation factor analysis can be used to identify the problematic subsystem. The proposed method is examined in the assessment of a stable and an unstable system, and simulation results are used for verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual active bridge (DAB) based converters offer the benefit of smaller volume due to high-frequency isolation and controllability of active power flow, making them attractive for various applications, such as renewable energy generation, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and distribution systems. This paper presents a novel converter topology along with a modulation strategy for a DAB-based three-phase ac to dc converter. The major benefits are single-stage conversion, no unreliable intermediate dc-link capacitor, reduced number of switches, i.e., only two active switches on the ac side, simple control scheme, open-loop unity power factor operation, bidirectional power flow, and partial soft-switching. This paper presents the analysis of all the operating modes of the converter, resulting in the analytical estimation of power transfer and rms winding current and investigation of soft-switching conditions for the power devices. Simulation and experimental results have been presented to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed technique and accuracy of the analysis.1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LCL filters are commonly used to connect voltage-sourced converters (VSCs) to the grid. This type of filter is cheaper than a single inductor for the same current total harmonic distortion (THD), but it generates resonance problems if no active or passive damping method is applied. Active damping methods are becoming popular in the literature because they improve efficiency, but they are sometimes difficult to implement and additional measurements are required. This paper proposes an active damping method for VSCs connected to weak grids, which is based on making the open-loop phase zero at the resonance frequency. It will be shown that this strategy provides adequate damping of oscillations and that it can be achieved in two different ways: at the design stage (if the design constraints make it possible) or with an all-pass filter in series with the current controller. Two methods to design the all-pass filter are proposed. Also, the proposed active damping technique is compared with three alternatives already proposed in the literature. All the control algorithms are verified by simulation and in a 15-kW prototype of a three-phase VSC connected to a configurable weak grid via an LCL filter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LLC resonant converters have gained popularity in a wide number of industrial applications due to their high efficiency and power density. Common applications of these converters are battery chargers, electric vehicles, and high-efficiency power supplies, which require tight output voltage regulations. However, traditional averaging techniques employed in pulse width modulation converters cannot be employed for LLCs. As a consequence, designing linear controllers for these types of converters requires complex analysis or applying empirical methods. This paper proposes a simple and straightforward methodology for designing linear controllers for LLC resonant converters. A dual-loop control scheme including an inner current loop and an outer voltage loop is introduced. A simplified second-order equivalent circuit is employed to derive all the relevant equations for designing the compensators. Simulations and experimental results using a 150-W platform are employed to validate the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel topology of a planetary magnetic gear having only two rotating parts. The proposed gear is a planetary mechanism with two internal engagements that is typically characterized by high torque density. The operational principle and basic design considerations are discussed. The proposed topology offers a simple rotational motion of input and output shafts that does not require additional mechanical converters. The simulation study is carried out with the gear having the gear ratio of −14 with the 2-D finite-element method. The modeling gave promising results in comparison with other high-performance topologies of magnetic gears. The proposed magnetic gear demonstrates torque density of $187~\text {kN}\cdot \text {m}/\text{m}^{3}$ and maximum torque per volume of permanent magnets of $825~\text {kN}\cdot \text {m}/\text{m}^{3}$. Finally, a 3-D sketch is developed showing principal mechanical design peculiarities of the proposed magnetic gear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is focused on determining the efficiency dependency on the switching frequency for a solid state transformer (SST) with one of the ports connected to an energy storage device (Lithium-Ion battery). Some contributions for measuring the efficiency/losses for different power converter structures for energy storage applications can be found in the literature. However, there are few references which consider the impact of the high frequency behavior of the battery in the complete system performance. Moreover, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no study considering these effects when the energy storage system is directly coupled to an SST port. This research will first obtain parametric high frequency models of the battery cells and modules, the SST, and the power converter based on a vector fitting method in frequency domain. The models will be used to evaluate the system losses depending on the converter switching frequency and the dc-link capacitance. Experimental results confirm the accuracy of the proposed model as well as the battery losses dependency on the switching frequency, the dc-link capacitance and the state of charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving high efficiency and high power density features of intermediate bus converter (IBC) in data center application is very critical. This paper proposes a nonisolated switched-tank dc–dc converter (STC) to meet the high requirement of IBC. The proposed STC has fixed voltage conversion ratio. Theoretical analysis provides the guideline for designing resonant tank and nonresonant tank as well as selecting proper deadtime for the proposed circuit. With resonant operation feature of the proposed circuit, zero current switching is realized on all switching devices to help the high-efficiency operation of the proposed converter. Through the proposed design methodology in this paper, power loss on switching devices and planar inductors can be minimized. In addition, detailed power loss analysis and breakdown provide hints for further efficiency improvement. Simulation has been performed to validate the operating principle of the proposed STC. A designed 6x STC (450 W nominal/600 W maximum) based on eGaNFETs is demonstrated. With 54 V typical input voltage, the output of the 6x STC is 9 V. The GaN-based prototype achieves a peak efficiency of 98.55%. Also, it achieves 97.18% efficiency and 750 W/in3 power density at 450 W. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LLC resonant converter is a soft switching frequency modulated dc–dc topology with its switching frequency near the resonant frequency. However, in applications where a wide output voltage is desired, it is extremely difficult to tune its operation close to the resonant frequency. In this paper, a novel pulsewidth modulated LLC type resonant converter based on voltage quadrupler rectifier is proposed. The proposed converter always operates at the resonant frequency and is able to achieve a wide output voltage range by modulating the duty cycle of the secondary side auxiliary mosfet. This brings the benefits of the decreased circulating current and corresponding conduction loss, as well as the simplification of the parameters selection and magnetic component design. Zero-voltage-switching and zero-current-switching are realized among all power mosfets and all power diodes, respectively. Detailed circuit operation principles and modeling method are presented. A 1.3-kW converter prototype, generating 250–420 V output from 390-V dc-link is designed. Both the circuit functionality and the theoretical analysis are verified in the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth in photovoltaic (PV) installations makes characterization and condition monitoring essential. In this paper, broadband impedance spectroscopy is implemented for characterization and performance monitoring of silicon solar cells for near real-time operation. An optimized quasi-logarithmic broadband signal is designed to estimate the impedance response of the cells. Electrical equivalent circuits are then modeled from the obtained Nyquist plots and the cell parameters are extracted using complex nonlinear least squares. This procedure can be applied for direct estimation of the internal parameters of the silicon solar cells/module at different operating points. Results show that the implemented broadband characterization yields good correlation to the conventional electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at significantly reduced equipment cost and signal acquisition time (of approximately 1s). Based on the variation of the parameters extracted, new models for n-connected series and parallel cells were proposed toward module or array monitoring. A new condition monitoring parameter was also explored, which is the use of the solar cell critical frequency. It is observed that, the determination of the critical frequencies at various operational conditions can be used to further reduce the frequency scanning range and time for easier online implementation using the PV system's associated converters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power oscillations at the input of constant power loads (CPLs) fed by LC filters is a well-known phenomenon in dc microgrids. The phenomenon happens because of the negative resistance characteristic exhibited by CPLs. The oscillations can be damped by inserting virtual resistances at the output of voltage-regulating converters to offset the negative resistance of the CPLs. However, large virtual resistances lead to a poor voltage regulation of the dc bus. This paper proposes a frequency-dependent virtual impedance comprising of a parallel RL branch, which solves the issue of poor voltage regulation. Further, the large signal stability of the system in the presence of the virtual impedance is also investigated through the Brayton–Moser mixed potential analysis. Detailed simulations and analysis of the frequency-domain interactions of the system are carried out and the effectiveness of the proposed technique is showcased. Experimental results from a 250 W prototype CPL are included to validate the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the demand for high reliability, modular multilevel converters (MMCs) are designed with redundant submodules. Redundant submodules can be integrated into the converter by employing different redundancy schemes: the conventional active scheme, the load-sharing active scheme, and the passive scheme. Different schemes have different impacts on the improvement of converter reliability. The contributions of this paper include that an analytical method is proposed to evaluate the reliability of MMCs under different redundancy schemes and the factors’ influence on the converter reliability is analyzed to determine the proper redundancy scheme. Reliability models of MMCs under different redundancy schemes are built using Markov chains and the iteration method. Based on the proposed models, the effects of redundant schemes are evaluated in terms of the converter reliability. A case study is conducted to validate the feasibility and robustness of proposed models and to specify the conditions in the favor of each redundancy scheme. The benefits of sharing redundancy among arms are also explored from the reliability point of view. If insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and capacitors are dominant components in a submodule in terms of failure rates, the load-sharing active scheme performs better; otherwise, setting the redundant submodules in an idle state is more effective. It is also found that the number of required redundant submodules is greatly reduced by sharing redundancy among arms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal design and selection of arm inductances have been as a challenging subject in the field of modular multilevel converter (MMC). The average steady-state model is generally used as the analytical circuit model that neglects the switching frequency and harmonic values. Also, most of the researchers neglect the saturation effect of inductor core to simplify the analytical model. Contrary to the transformers, choosing the maximum flux density of inductance core is a sensitive issue, in order to design and minimize the inductors. Increasing the flux density reduces the inductor size, but getting close to the saturation region might alter the performance of the converter. This paper presents a systematic optimization approach to minimize high-power MMCs with saturable arm inductance considering technical, thermal, and manufacturing constraints. An accurate steady-state analytical model of MMC converter has been proposed and verified. A combination of converter circuit model and inductance electromagnetic model is employed to find the optimal arm inductances and capacitor values. The effect of nonideal inductance core on converter outputs has been investigated. A dimensioning model of inductor consisting of electromagnetic and thermal models is presented. To compute the optimal inductor size, a novel hybrid optimization loop is proposed including the analytical model of the converter and the inductor in which circuit, electromagnetic, and thermal properties are taken into consideration. In order to increase the accuracy of the dimensioning model, an internal verification loop is employed to verify and correct the analytical model using finite-element analysis. The proposed optimization loop aims to find the minimum inductor size considering technical and manufacturing constraints. Finally, the converter mass sensitivity of MMC converter versus some important constraints, such as temperature rise and capacitor ripple, has been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The More Electric Aircraft concepts aims at increasing the penetration of electric systems on aircrafts. In this framework, the electrical power distribution system (EPDS) is of high importance. In order to improve the utilization of the generators and face the peak power demand without disconnecting the loads, different technologies of storage are employed. This paper proposes the use of a quadruple active bridge converter, already employed in other fields, to interface a fuel cell, a battery, and a supercapacitor bank to the dc bus of the EPDS. This objective can be achieved by employing multiple dc/dc converters, which allow an individual control of the energy sources and a good efficiency. Obtaining the same power control and efficiency with a multiport power converter constitutes a challenge that is worth taking to reduce cost, volume, and weight and increase the system reliability. A novel control based on proportional integral (PI) controllers in conjunction with a decoupling system and current feedforward allow shaping the power request to each port. This, however, leads to an asymmetrical loading of each port, which could decrease the efficiency. A laboratory prototype is used to confirm that this asymmetrical kind of operation, where each port processes a different amount of power, does not imply a marked reduction of efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional seven-level active neutral-point-clamped (ANPC-7L) converters suffer from the problems of dynamic voltage balancing in series switches and multilevel voltage jumping of phase output voltage during switching states transition. This paper presents a novel ANPC-7L topology with auxiliary commutating branches and elaborates on its commutating strategies. The presented topology and its commutating strategies completely resolve the two problems mentioned above. The validity of the presented topology and its commutating strategies are verified by experimental results from a 380 V/5 kW ANPC-7L converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is introducing a new method of operation for a series resonant converter, with intended application in megawatt high-voltage dc wind turbines. Compared to a frequency controlled series resonant converter operated in subresonant mode, the method (entitled pulse removal technique) allows the design of the medium frequency transformer for highest switching frequency, while being operated at lower frequency without saturation. The main focus of this paper is to identify and analyze the operating modes of the converter with pulse removal technique. With the use of variable frequency and variable phase displacement in subresonant mode, the new method of operation promises transformer size reduction and facilitates soft-switching transition of the insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and line frequency diodes on rectifier side. Four modes of operation are identified, while equations for output power, voltage, and current stress are identified. Experimental results are concluded on a 1 kW, 250 V/500 V prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a need-based distributed coordination strategy (NDCS) for multiple electric vehicle (EV) storages in an islanded commercial hybrid alternating-current (AC)/direct-current (DC) microgrid. The control capacity of the interlinking converter is enhanced by incorporating combined power-droop and voltage-droop strategies to leverage the coupling of AC and DC voltages. Therefore, the AC bus voltage can be regulated simultaneously by regulating only the DC bus voltage without affecting the power-sharing capabilities of the converter. The NDCS is proposed to coordinate the EV storages to regulate the DC bus voltage. The main objective of the NDCS is to decide whether the coordination of the available EV storages is to be done in a decentralised or a distributed manner. The mathematical model and the algorithm to deploy NDCS are developed to realise its application to a real system. The effectiveness of the control system is verified in a commercial hybrid AC/DC microgrid comprising one photovoltaic unit and four EV storages directly connected to the DC bus via DC/DC converters and four distributed-generation (DG) units connected to the AC bus using the conventional droop-control scheme. The performance of both controllers is tested under variable irradiation, commercial loading, and various fault conditions. The results of the case studies demonstrate the efficacy of the overall system in terms of robustness for a variable generation-demand scenario, time delay, EV plug-and-play, and fault conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impedance matching concept is employed in this paper to select the optimum gain of a VSC-HVDC damping controller. The damping controller of the DC-link is based on control of active power in proportion to the difference in local frequency at the VSC-HVDC converter stations. To explain impedance matching, the small-disturbance electro-mechanical dynamics of a power system is transformed to an equivalent LC circuit. The VSC-HVDC damping controller corresponds to introducing a resistor in the circuit model. Using impedance matching to select a resistor value in the circuit model is equivalent to selecting damping controller gain that gives the maximum damping ratio. An analytical derivation is conducted for a linearized model of a generic two-area power system, including an expression for the optimum gain. It is also shown how the concept may be employed without a circuit model and that the optimum value is hardly affected by changes in the power flow. Then, the performance of the proposed approach in multimode test systems and with nonlinearities is evaluated using dynamic simulations in DIgSILENT PowerFactory. The results show that the impedance matching maximizes the targeted mode damping ratio while nontargeted modes are not negatively impacted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of cascading blackouts greatly relies on failure probabilities of individual components in power grids. To quantify how component failure probability (CFP) influences blackout risk (BR), this paper proposes a sample-induced semianalytic approach to characterize the relationship between CFP and BR. To this end, we first give a generic component failure probability function (CoFPF) to describe CFP with varying parameters or forms. Then, the exact relationship between BR and CoFPFs is built on the abstract Markov-sequence model of cascading outages. Leveraging a set of samples generated by blackout simulations, we further establish a sample-induced semianalytic mapping between the unbiased estimation of BR and CoFPFs. Finally, we derive an efficient algorithm that can directly calculate the unbiased estimation of BR when the CoFPFs change. Since no additional simulations are required, the algorithm is computationally scalable and efficient. Numerical experiments well confirm the theory and the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an integrated algorithm to identify a cutset for a large power system for the application of a slow coherency based controlled islanding scheme. Controlled islanding is employed as a corrective measure of last resort to prevent cascading outages caused by large disturbances. The large scale power system is represented as a graph and a simplification algorithm is used to reduce the complexity of the system. Generators belonging to the same slowly coherent group are collapsed into a dummy node, and a graph partition library is used to split the graph into a given number of parts. Some extra islands formed by the partition library are merged into their adjacent large islands and the original cutset of the actual power system is recovered from the highly simplified graph. A software package was developed to test the efficiency of the algorithm, and dynamic simulations were run on the WECC system to verify the effectiveness of the cutset obtained. The WECC system has more than 15 000 buses and 2300 generators. Detailed steps to develop an islanding strategy for a specified contingency for a large system are described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the voltage notches in ac/dc converters and the problems that they create. Voltage notch disturbs the voltage's waveform and excites the natural frequencies of the system. In some systems, these excisions create considerable high- frequency oscillations in the voltages of the converter and the adjacent buses; this can damage capacitor banks, create parallel resonance, and generate radio disturbances. This paper analyzes the effect of snubber circuits on the voltage oscillations that arise from commutation. It also presents the theoretical foundation and analytical derivation that are used to calculate notch depth and the frequency of oscillations. To achieve accurate and applicable results, various loads of the converter, the dc current ripple, and the characteristic impedance of the system are considered. Several experimental results are shown in order to illustrate the effects of changes in the system and converter parameters on the voltage waveform of the converter. Computer simulations and experimental results indicate the accuracy of the theoretical relations. The proposed equations make it possible to effectively study the harmonic and power quality in networks that include high-power converters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new solution for filtering current harmonics in three-phase four-wire networks. The original four-branch star (FBS) filter topology presented in this paper is characterized by a particular layout of single-phase inductances and capacitors, without using any transformer or special electromagnetic device. Via this layout, a power filter, with two different and simultaneous resonance frequencies and sequences, is achieved-one frequency for positive-/negative-sequence and another one for zero-sequence components. This filter topology can work either as a passive filter, when only passive components are employed, or as a hybrid filter, when its behavior is improved by integrating a power converter into the filter structure. The paper analyzes the proposed topology, and derives fundamental concepts about the control of the resulting hybrid power filter. From this analysis, a specific implementation of a three-phase four-wire hybrid power filter is presented as an illustrative application of the filtering topology. An extensive evaluation using simulation and experimental results from a DSP-based laboratory prototype is conducted in order to verify and validate the good performance achieved by the proposed FBS passive/hybrid power filter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a multilevel cascaded converter fed with a single dc source has been presented. An analysis of the steady-state working limits of this type of converter is presented in this paper. Limits of the maximum output voltage and the minimum and maximum loading conditions for stable operation of the converter are addressed. In this paper, a way to achieve any dc voltage ratio (inside the stable operation area of the converter) between the H-bridges of the single-dc-source cascaded H-bridge converter is presented. The proposed dc-voltage-ratio control is based on a time-domain modulation strategy that avoids the use of inappropriate states to achieve the dc-voltage-ratio control. The proposed technique is a feedforward-modulation technique which takes into account the actual dc voltage of each H-bridge of the converter, leading to output waveforms with low distortion. In this way, the dc voltage of the floating H-bridge can be controlled while the output voltage has low distortion independently of the desired dc voltage ratio. Experimental results from a two-cell cascaded converter are presented in order to validate the proposed dc-voltage-ratio control strategy and the introduced concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a simple voltage balancing scheme for m-level diode-clamped multilevel converters (DCMC). This paper first introduces a novel and simple current flow model for general m-level DCMCs. The superiority of the proposed model is its independence from the modulation scheme and its simplicity. It also provides a new perspective for voltage sharing accessibility among the dc link capacitors. The proposed current flow model, a cost function, and a space vector modulation (SVM) switching strategy are then used to balance the capacitors' voltages of the DCMCs in a very simple and optimized manner. Such a voltage balancing scheme was not developed for converters of five levels or greater due to the complexity of the converter and its modeling approaches. To validate the feasibility of the proposed voltage balancing scheme, this paper presents analytical and simulation results obtained from a five-level DCMC. In particular, this paper introduces a stability region within which the voltage balancing strategy converges. The impact of the cost function on the stability margins and converter performance is examined and discussed by means of comparison with different cost functions, and it is shown that the proposed cost function will improve the stability margins. The performance of the strategy for unbalanced and polluted loads shows that, unexpectedly, in some specific cases output current harmonics will improve the stability margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been demonstrated that modulating the switching frequency of a power converter is a valuable way for reducing the electromagnetic interference (EM!)' due to the switching process. Since we are considering a signal whose frequency content varies with time, wavelets are well suited to analyze the performance of such techniques. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of spread spectrum frequency modulation (SSFM) applied to the EM! reduction of a real power converter that uses periodic pattern switching frequency modulation. The performance of the converter under investigation includes the analysis of the switching voltage spectrum (as the main source of EM!) and the output voltage ripple. This evaluation is performed with two coefficients, i.e., maximum energy ratio (MER) and energy dispersion ratio (EDR), which are figures of merit defined in this paper using time-dependent energy density distribution in frequency, obtained from the scalograms of the analyzed signals. Such figures of merit allow comparison in the time-frequency domain of different modulation techniques and the choice of the best solution for each case in terms of reduction of the peak of noise spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a gradient-based nonlinear optimization wrapper for an electromagnetic transient simulation program to assist in the design of hardware and control parameters of flexible ac transmission system (FACTS) apparatus. A new second-order sensitivity analysis method is introduced that quantifies the sensitivity of the optimal solution to parameter uncertainties. Using this approach, the sensitivity of the harmonic elimination capability of a pulsewidth-modulated voltage-source converter to variations in switching angles is investigated. This paper also adapts the method of Pareto optimization to the simulation-based design of FACTS apparatus when multiple design objectives are to be satisfied. The developed Pareto optimization tool generates a Pareto frontier plot to visualize the design tradeoffs between the multiple objectives. The effectiveness of the tool is demonstrated through a design example that selects optimal values for the dc-bus capacitor and the control settings of a STATCOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the issue of balancing the inter- mediate inductor currents of a multilevel current source inverter (CSI). The paper begins by identifying that single-phase multi-cell CSIs and flying capacitor voltage source inverters (FCVSIs) form a topological dual pair. This allows the established understanding of the natural balance process of the FCVSI intermediate capacitor voltages to suggest that the intermediate inductor currents of the CSI should also settle to their target balance values when phase-shifted carrier (PSC) pulse width modulation (PWM) is used. This concept is confirmed by full switched simulations. Next, an analytic model is developed to explore the dynamic response and robustness of the balancing process, using a double Fourier series representation of the converter switching signals to linearise a nonlinear transient circuit model. The model is verified against simulations, and predicts that the resistance of the intermediate inductors can perturb the steady state balancing point. The model further predicts that the resistance of the inductance must be small compared to the load resistance to minimize this effect. Results obtained on a five-level experimental CSI precisely match the theoretical model and hence support these conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to propose a new method to detect the rise of equivalent series resistor in order to realize the online failure prediction of the electrolytic capacitor for LC filter of switching-mode power converter. Characteristics of electrolytic capacitors are introduced in this paper. Different experimental measurements are conducted and shown to illustrate the properties of electrolytic capacitors. The proposed online failure prediction method has the merits of low cost and circuit simplicity. It can be integrated within the package of the electrolytic capacitor to improve its reliability. Hardware experimental results are shown to verify the performance of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the dynamic behavior of a 21-level (line-to-line) back-to-back (BTB) system based on series connection of 16 converter cells under a single-line-to-ground (SLG) fault condition. The BTB system is an ac-dc-ac power conversion system intended for achieving asynchronous power-flow control between transmission networks. When the SLG fault happens, an imbalance in the supply voltage brings an amount of negative-sequence current to the BTB system. The negative-sequence current should be mitigated because it would result in an increased supply current and a dc-capacitor voltage fluctuation. This paper intends for reducing both the negative-sequence current and the dc-voltage fluctuation to acceptable levels. A laboratory system rated at 200 V and 20 kW confirms the validity of the reduction scheme. In addition, this paper addresses the issue of magnetic saturation in the 16 three-phase converter-transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]