A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters

Ezequiel Rodriguez; Glen G. Farivar; Josep Pou; Hossein Dehghani Tafti; Christopher D. Townsend; Sergio Vazquez

doi:10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648

A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters

Ezequiel Rodriguez
, Glen G. Farivar
, Josep Pou
, Hossein Dehghani Tafti
, Christopher D. Townsend
, Sergio Vazquez

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The use of an inter-cell voltage balancing scheme to evenly distribute the total dc-link voltage among the multiple floating capacitors is crucial in modular multilevel cascaded converters (MMCs). This paper presents an intuitively simple and computationally efficient sorting-based modulation algorithm for capacitor voltage balancing applicable to any MMC. The proposed modulation stage is inherently decoupled from the upper-level control scheme and it is able to both generate the required converter output voltage and balance the capacitor voltages suitably. Furthermore, it maintains a constant harmonic performance even as the number of switching transitions is varied to achieve voltage balance under different loading conditions with minimum incurred switching losses. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated on an experimental seven-level 350-VA single-phase cascaded H-bridge working as a static compensator. In addition, a simulated 350-VA system is used to obtain complimentary results. © 2019 IEEE.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE)
Publisher	IEEE
Pages	214-218
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-7281-0395-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648
Publication status	Published - 2019
Externally published	Yes
Event	11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE 2019) - Baltimore, United States Duration: 29 Sept 2019 → 3 Oct 2019

Publication series

Name	IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE

Conference

Conference	11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE 2019)
Abbreviated title	IEEE ECCE 2019
Place	United States
City	Baltimore
Period	29/09/19 → 3/10/19

Funding

VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work was supported by the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 1 under Grant No: 2017-T1-001-213 (RG 90/17).

Research Keywords

Capacitor voltage balancing
Cascaded H-bridge (CHB)
Multilevel converters
Static synchronous compensator (STATCOM)
Virtual voltages

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10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648

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Rodriguez, E., Farivar, G. G., Pou, J., Tafti, H. D., Townsend, C. D., & Vazquez, S. (2019). A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters. In 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE) (pp. 214-218). Article 8912648 (IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648

@inproceedings{3d7472f6cd3f4f908a5b84315786a5da,

title = "A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters",

abstract = "The use of an inter-cell voltage balancing scheme to evenly distribute the total dc-link voltage among the multiple floating capacitors is crucial in modular multilevel cascaded converters (MMCs). This paper presents an intuitively simple and computationally efficient sorting-based modulation algorithm for capacitor voltage balancing applicable to any MMC. The proposed modulation stage is inherently decoupled from the upper-level control scheme and it is able to both generate the required converter output voltage and balance the capacitor voltages suitably. Furthermore, it maintains a constant harmonic performance even as the number of switching transitions is varied to achieve voltage balance under different loading conditions with minimum incurred switching losses. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated on an experimental seven-level 350-VA single-phase cascaded H-bridge working as a static compensator. In addition, a simulated 350-VA system is used to obtain complimentary results. {\textcopyright} 2019 IEEE.",

keywords = "Capacitor voltage balancing, Cascaded H-bridge (CHB), Multilevel converters, Static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), Virtual voltages",

author = "Ezequiel Rodriguez and Farivar, \{Glen G.\} and Josep Pou and Tafti, \{Hossein Dehghani\} and Townsend, \{Christopher D.\} and Sergio Vazquez",

year = "2019",

doi = "10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648",

language = "English",

series = "IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE",

publisher = "IEEE",

pages = "214--218",

booktitle = "2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE)",

address = "United States",

note = "11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE 2019), IEEE ECCE 2019 ; Conference date: 29-09-2019 Through 03-10-2019",

}

Rodriguez, E, Farivar, GG, Pou, J, Tafti, HD, Townsend, CD & Vazquez, S 2019, A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters. in 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE)., 8912648, IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE, IEEE, pp. 214-218, 11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE 2019), Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 29/09/19. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912648

A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters. / Rodriguez, Ezequiel; Farivar, Glen G.; Pou, Josep et al.
2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE). IEEE, 2019. p. 214-218 8912648 (IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters

AU - Rodriguez, Ezequiel

AU - Farivar, Glen G.

AU - Pou, Josep

AU - Tafti, Hossein Dehghani

AU - Townsend, Christopher D.

AU - Vazquez, Sergio

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - The use of an inter-cell voltage balancing scheme to evenly distribute the total dc-link voltage among the multiple floating capacitors is crucial in modular multilevel cascaded converters (MMCs). This paper presents an intuitively simple and computationally efficient sorting-based modulation algorithm for capacitor voltage balancing applicable to any MMC. The proposed modulation stage is inherently decoupled from the upper-level control scheme and it is able to both generate the required converter output voltage and balance the capacitor voltages suitably. Furthermore, it maintains a constant harmonic performance even as the number of switching transitions is varied to achieve voltage balance under different loading conditions with minimum incurred switching losses. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated on an experimental seven-level 350-VA single-phase cascaded H-bridge working as a static compensator. In addition, a simulated 350-VA system is used to obtain complimentary results. © 2019 IEEE.

AB - The use of an inter-cell voltage balancing scheme to evenly distribute the total dc-link voltage among the multiple floating capacitors is crucial in modular multilevel cascaded converters (MMCs). This paper presents an intuitively simple and computationally efficient sorting-based modulation algorithm for capacitor voltage balancing applicable to any MMC. The proposed modulation stage is inherently decoupled from the upper-level control scheme and it is able to both generate the required converter output voltage and balance the capacitor voltages suitably. Furthermore, it maintains a constant harmonic performance even as the number of switching transitions is varied to achieve voltage balance under different loading conditions with minimum incurred switching losses. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated on an experimental seven-level 350-VA single-phase cascaded H-bridge working as a static compensator. In addition, a simulated 350-VA system is used to obtain complimentary results. © 2019 IEEE.

KW - Capacitor voltage balancing

KW - Cascaded H-bridge (CHB)

KW - Multilevel converters

KW - Static synchronous compensator (STATCOM)

KW - Virtual voltages

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M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

T3 - IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE

SP - 214

EP - 218

BT - 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE)

PB - IEEE

T2 - 11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE 2019)

Y2 - 29 September 2019 through 3 October 2019

ER -

A Generalized Voltage Balancing Algorithm for Modular Multilevel Cascaded Converters

Abstract

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