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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
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    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.
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