Inherent SM voltage balance for multilevel circulant modulation in modular multilevel DC-DC converters
File(s) Final Manuscript_for Early Access.pdf (2.87 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The modularity of a modular multilevel dc converter (MMDC) makes it attractive for medium-voltage distribution systems. Inherent balance of submodule (SM) capacitor voltages is considered as an ideal property, which avoids a complex sorting process based on many measurements thereby reducing costs and enhancing reliability. This article extends the inherent balance concept previously shown for square-wave modulation to a multilevel version for MMDCs. A switching duty matrix dU is introduced: it is a circulant matrix of preset multilevel switching patterns with multiple stages and multiple durations. Inherent voltage balance is ensured with a full-rank dU . Circulant matrix theory shows that this is equivalent to a simplified common factor criterion. A nonfull rank dU causes clusters of SM voltage rather than a single common value, with the clusters indicated by the kernel of the matrix. A generalized coprime criterion is developed into several deductions that serve as practical guidance for design of multilevel circulant modulation. The theoretical development is verified through full-scale simulations and downscaled experiments. The effectiveness of the proposed circulant modulation in achieving SM voltage balance in an MMDC is demonstrated.
Date Issued
2022-02-01
Date Acceptance
2021-08-13
Citation
IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2022, 37 (2), pp.1352-1368
ISSN
0885-8993
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Start Page
1352
End Page
1368
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
Volume
37
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2021 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-08-18
