Hybrid multilevel converter with cascaded H-bridge cells for HVDC applications: operating principle and scalability

G.P. Adam, Ibrahim Abdallah Abdelsalam, Khaled Hani Ahmed, Barry W. Williams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

114 Citations (Scopus)
264 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Hybrid multilevel converters are contemplated in an attempt to optimize the performance of voltage source converters in terms of magnitude of semiconductor losses and converter footprint, and to achieve additional features such as dc short circuit proof, which is essential for a high integrity multiterminal HVDC grid. Therefore, this paper considers an emerging hybrid cascaded converter that offers the dc side short circuit proof feature at reduced loss and footprint compared to the existing multilevel and other hybrid converters. Its operating principle, modulation, and capacitor voltage balancing strategies are described in detail. Furthermore, hybrid converter scalability to high voltage applications is investigated. The validity of the modulation and capacitor voltage strategy presented are confirmed using simulation and experimentation. The hybrid cascaded converter is extendable to a large number of cells, making it applicable to high voltage applications, and operation is independent of modulation index and power factor. On these ground, the converter is expected to be applicable for both real and reactive power applications.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)65-77
Number of pages13
JournalIEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
Volume30
Issue number1
Early online date26 Aug 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jan 2015

Keywords

  • power capacitors
  • bridge circuits
  • reactive power
  • HVDC power convertors
  • capacitor voltage balancing strategy
  • semiconductor loss
  • voltage source converter
  • hybrid multilevel converters

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