A hybrid modular multilevel converter for medium-voltage variable-speed motor drives

Binbin Li; Shaoze Zhou; Dianguo Xu; Stephen J. Finney; Barry W. Williams

doi:10.1109/TPEL.2016.2598286

A hybrid modular multilevel converter for medium-voltage variable-speed motor drives

Binbin Li, Shaoze Zhou, Dianguo Xu, Stephen J. Finney, Barry W. Williams

Electronic And Electrical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

69 Citations (Scopus)

555 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Modular multilevel converters (MMC) have revolutionized the voltage-sourced converter-based high-voltage direct current transmission, but not yet got widespread application in medium-voltage variable-speed motor drives, because of the large capacitor voltage ripples at low motor speeds. In this paper, a novel hybrid MMC topology is introduced, which significantly reduces the voltage ripple of capacitors, particularly at low motor speeds. Moreover, this topology does not introduce any motor common-mode voltage; as a result, there are no insulation and bearing current problems. Additionally, the current stress can remain at rated value throughout the whole speed range; thus, no device needs to be oversized and converter efficiency can be ensured. Operating principle of this hybrid topology is explained, and control schemes are also developed. Validity and performance of the proposed topology are verified by simulation and experimental results.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4619 - 4630
Number of pages	11
Journal	IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
Volume	32
Issue number	6
Early online date	4 Aug 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2016.2598286
Publication status	Published - 30 Jun 2017

Keywords

capacitors
topology
integrated circuits
switches
converters
motor drives
DC motors

Access to Document

10.1109/TPEL.2016.2598286

Li-etal-TPE-2017-A-hybrid-modular-multilevel-converterAccepted author manuscript, 1.99 MB

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title = "A hybrid modular multilevel converter for medium-voltage variable-speed motor drives",

abstract = "Modular multilevel converters (MMC) have revolutionized the voltage-sourced converter-based high-voltage direct current transmission, but not yet got widespread application in medium-voltage variable-speed motor drives, because of the large capacitor voltage ripples at low motor speeds. In this paper, a novel hybrid MMC topology is introduced, which significantly reduces the voltage ripple of capacitors, particularly at low motor speeds. Moreover, this topology does not introduce any motor common-mode voltage; as a result, there are no insulation and bearing current problems. Additionally, the current stress can remain at rated value throughout the whole speed range; thus, no device needs to be oversized and converter efficiency can be ensured. Operating principle of this hybrid topology is explained, and control schemes are also developed. Validity and performance of the proposed topology are verified by simulation and experimental results.",

keywords = "capacitors, topology, integrated circuits, switches, converters, motor drives, DC motors",

author = "Binbin Li and Shaoze Zhou and Dianguo Xu and Finney, {Stephen J.} and Williams, {Barry W.}",

note = "(c) 2017 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, 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 components of this work in other works.",

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AU - Li, Binbin

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AU - Finney, Stephen J.

AU - Williams, Barry W.

N1 - (c) 2017 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, 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 components of this work in other works.

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N2 - Modular multilevel converters (MMC) have revolutionized the voltage-sourced converter-based high-voltage direct current transmission, but not yet got widespread application in medium-voltage variable-speed motor drives, because of the large capacitor voltage ripples at low motor speeds. In this paper, a novel hybrid MMC topology is introduced, which significantly reduces the voltage ripple of capacitors, particularly at low motor speeds. Moreover, this topology does not introduce any motor common-mode voltage; as a result, there are no insulation and bearing current problems. Additionally, the current stress can remain at rated value throughout the whole speed range; thus, no device needs to be oversized and converter efficiency can be ensured. Operating principle of this hybrid topology is explained, and control schemes are also developed. Validity and performance of the proposed topology are verified by simulation and experimental results.

AB - Modular multilevel converters (MMC) have revolutionized the voltage-sourced converter-based high-voltage direct current transmission, but not yet got widespread application in medium-voltage variable-speed motor drives, because of the large capacitor voltage ripples at low motor speeds. In this paper, a novel hybrid MMC topology is introduced, which significantly reduces the voltage ripple of capacitors, particularly at low motor speeds. Moreover, this topology does not introduce any motor common-mode voltage; as a result, there are no insulation and bearing current problems. Additionally, the current stress can remain at rated value throughout the whole speed range; thus, no device needs to be oversized and converter efficiency can be ensured. Operating principle of this hybrid topology is explained, and control schemes are also developed. Validity and performance of the proposed topology are verified by simulation and experimental results.

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KW - integrated circuits

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