IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i5p1819-d761997.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Design, Control and Testing of a Modular Multilevel Converter with a Single Cell per Arm in Grid-Forming and Grid-Following Operations for Scaled-Down Experimental Platforms

Author

Listed:
  • Jaume Girona-Badia

    (CITCEA-UPC, Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Oriol Gomis-Bellmunt

    (CITCEA-UPC, Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Tomàs Lledó-Ponsati

    (CITCEA-UPC, Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Macià Capó-Lliteras

    (CITCEA-UPC, Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Carlos Collados-Rodriguez

    (CITCEA-UPC, Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Nicolaos Antonio Cutululis

    (Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 115, S29, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark)

  • Oscar Saborío-Romano

    (Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 115, S29, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark)

  • Daniel Montesinos-Miracle

    (CITCEA-UPC, Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Marc Pagès

    (TeknoCEA, C/Roca Umbert, nº 16, Baixos G., L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Daniel Heredero-Peris

    (CITCEA-UPC, Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Eduardo Prieto-Araujo

    (CITCEA-UPC, Department of Electrical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Modular multilevel converters (MMC) can be used in several applications, especially (but not only) in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and STATCOM. In order to develop experimental scaled-down test benches for lab validation, several projects have developed MMCs with a limited number of cells, but they need to use pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques to achieve acceptable power quality (because nearest level modulation (NLM), common in HVDC applications with hundreds of levels, cannot achieve sufficient power quality unless the number of cells is high enough). The present paper proposes a new concept which is based on designing arms with a single cell. This allows to have the simplest possible converter that maintains the structure of an MMC. While all the inner controllers of large-scale HVDC MMCs are included, the only remarkable difference is that PWM is used and NLM cannot be implemented. As this is also a limitation for other low voltage MMC, the proposed concept is suggested for scaled-down low voltage applications. The paper includes the design and construction of the converter, the definition and implementation of the converter controllers, and the converter testing, with detailed dynamic simulations and an experimental setup.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaume Girona-Badia & Oriol Gomis-Bellmunt & Tomàs Lledó-Ponsati & Macià Capó-Lliteras & Carlos Collados-Rodriguez & Nicolaos Antonio Cutululis & Oscar Saborío-Romano & Daniel Montesinos-Miracle & Marc, 2022. "Design, Control and Testing of a Modular Multilevel Converter with a Single Cell per Arm in Grid-Forming and Grid-Following Operations for Scaled-Down Experimental Platforms," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:5:p:1819-:d:761997
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/5/1819/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/5/1819/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wen Wu & Xuezhi Wu & Jingyuan Yin & Long Jing & Shuai Wang & Jinke Li, 2017. "Characteristic Analysis and Fault-Tolerant Control of Circulating Current for Modular Multilevel Converters under Sub-Module Faults," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Qian Cheng & Chenchen Wang & Jian Wang, 2020. "Analysis on Displacement Angle of Phase-Shifted Carrier PWM for Modular Multilevel Converter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Shuren Wang & Fahad Saeed Alsokhiry & Grain Philip Adam, 2020. "Impact of Submodule Faults on the Performance of Modular Multilevel Converters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    4. Zhe Wang & Hua Lin & Yajun Ma, 2019. "A Control Strategy of Modular Multilevel Converter with Integrated Battery Energy Storage System Based on Battery Side Capacitor Voltage Control," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-21, June.
    5. Zhijie Liu & Kejun Li & Yuanyuan Sun & Jinyu Wang & Zhuodi Wang & Kaiqi Sun & Meiyan Wang, 2018. "A Steady-State Analysis Method for Modular Multilevel Converters Connected to Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator-Based Wind Energy Conversion Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-31, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gianluca Brando & Efstratios Chatzinikolaou & Dan Rogers & Ivan Spina, 2021. "Electrochemical Cell Loss Minimization in Modular Multilevel Converters Based on Half-Bridge Modules," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Qinyue Zhu & Wei Dai & Lei Guan & Xitang Tan & Zhaoyang Li & Dabo Xie, 2019. "A Fault-Tolerant Control Strategy of Modular Multilevel Converter with Sub-Module Faults Based on Neutral Point Compound Shift," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-22, March.
    3. Dante Mora & Ciro Núñez & Nancy Visairo & Juan Segundo & Eugenio Camargo, 2019. "Control for Three-Phase LCL-Filter PWM Rectifier with BESS-Oriented Application," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Castilla Manuel V. & Martin Francisco, 2021. "A Powerful Tool for Optimal Control of Energy Systems in Sustainable Buildings: Distortion Power Bivector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    5. Guilherme V. Hollweg & Shahid A. Khan & Shivam Chaturvedi & Yaoyu Fan & Mengqi Wang & Wencong Su, 2023. "Grid-Connected Converters: A Brief Survey of Topologies, Output Filters, Current Control, and Weak Grids Operation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-31, April.
    6. Mauricio Muñoz-Ramírez & Hugo Valderrama-Blavi & Marco Rivera & Carlos Restrepo, 2019. "An Approach to Natural Sampling Using a Digital Sampling Technique for SPWM Multilevel Inverter Modulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-16, July.
    7. Massimiliano Luna, 2022. "High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-6, August.
    8. Yiqi Liu & Danhua Li & Yu Jin & Qingbo Wang & Wenlong Song, 2018. "Research on Unbalance Fault-Tolerant Control Strategy of Modular Multilevel Photovoltaic Grid-Connected Inverter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, May.
    9. Subhashree Choudhury & Mohit Bajaj & Taraprasanna Dash & Salah Kamel & Francisco Jurado, 2021. "Multilevel Inverter: A Survey on Classical and Advanced Topologies, Control Schemes, Applications to Power System and Future Prospects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-48, September.
    10. Murthy Priya & Pathipooranam Ponnambalam, 2022. "Circulating Current Control of Phase-Shifted Carrier-Based Modular Multilevel Converter Fed by Fuel Cell Employing Fuzzy Logic Control Technique," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-26, August.
    11. Stefano Farnesi & Mario Marchesoni & Massimiliano Passalacqua & Luis Vaccaro, 2019. "Solid-State Transformers in Locomotives Fed through AC Lines: A Review and Future Developments," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-29, December.
    12. Jinke Li & Jingyuan Yin, 2019. "Fault-Tolerant Control Strategies and Capability without Redundant Sub-Modules in Modular Multilevel Converters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, May.
    13. Songda Wang & Danyang Bao & Gustavo Gontijo & Sanjay Chaudhary & Remus Teodorescu, 2021. "Modeling and Mitigation Control of the Submodule-Capacitor Voltage Ripple of a Modular Multilevel Converter under Unbalanced Grid Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, January.
    14. Phu Cong Nguyen & Quoc Dung Phan & Dinh Tuyen Nguyen, 2022. "A New Decentralized Space Vector PWM Method for Multilevel Single-Phase Full Bridge Converters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-25, January.
    15. Dae-Seak Cha & Jung-Sik Choi & Seung-Yeol Oh & Hyun-Jin Ahn & Young-Cheol Lim, 2018. "Hot-Swappable Modular Converter System Control for Heterogeneous Batteries and ESS," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-19, February.
    16. Jingyuan Yin & Wen Wu & Tongzhen Wei & Xuezhi Wu & Qunhai Huo, 2018. "A Novel Fault-Tolerant Control of Modular Multilevel Converter under Sub-Module Faults Based on Phase Disposition PWM," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    17. Mustafa F. Mohammed & Mohammed A. Qasim, 2022. "Single Phase T-Type Multilevel Inverters for Renewable Energy Systems, Topology, Modulation, and Control Techniques: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-24, November.
    18. Luyun Jiao & Dongyuan Qiu & Bo Zhang & Yanfeng Chen, 2019. "A Hybrid Nine-Arm High-Voltage Inverter with DC-Fault Blocking Capability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-15, October.
    19. José Genaro González-Hernández & Rubén Salas-Cabrera, 2021. "Wind Power Extraction Optimization by Dynamic Gain Scheduling Approximation Based on Non-Linear Functions for a WECS Based on a PMSG," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(17), pages 1-19, August.
    20. Chuanping Wu & Yu Liu & Tiannian Zhou & Shiran Cao, 2022. "A Multistage Current Charging Method for Energy Storage Device of Microgrid Considering Energy Consumption and Capacity of Lithium Battery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:5:p:1819-:d:761997. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.