This work is devoted to review and analyze the most relevant characteristics of multilevel converters, to motivate possible solutions, and to show that we are in a decisive instant in which energy companies have to bet on these converters as a good solution compared with classic two-level converters. This article presents a brief overview of the actual applications of multilevel converters and provides an introduction of the modeling techniques and the most common modulation strategies. It also addresses the operational and technological issues.

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The age of multilevel converters arrives

This paper presents a review of advanced control techniques for microgrids. This paper covers decentralized, distributed, and hierarchical control of grid-connected and islanded microgrids. At first, decentralized control techniques for microgrids are reviewed. Then, the recent developments in the stability analysis of decentralized controlled microgrids are discussed. Finally, hierarchical control for microgrids that mimic the behavior of the mains grid is reviewed.

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Advanced Control Architectures for Intelligent Microgrids—Part I: Decentralized and Hierarchical Control

Current regulators for AC inverters are commonly categorized as hysteresis, linear PI, or deadbeat predictive regulators, with a further sub-classification into stationary ABC frame and synchronous d-q frame implementations. Synchronous frame regulators are generally accepted to have a better performance than stationary frame regulators, as they operate on DC quantities and hence can eliminate steady-state errors. This paper establishes a theoretical connection between these two classes of regulators and proposes a new type of stationary frame regulator, the P+Resonant regulator, which achieves the same transient and steady-state performance as a synchronous frame PI regulator. The new regulator is applicable to both single-phase and three phase inverters.

Stationary frame current regulation of PWM inverters with zero steady-state error

This paper gives an overview of medium-voltage (MV) multilevel converters with a focus on achieving minimum harmonic distortion and high efficiency at low switching frequency operation. Increasing the power rating by minimizing switching frequency while still maintaining reasonable power quality is an important requirement and a persistent challenge for the industry. Existing solutions are discussed and analyzed based on their topologies, limitations, and control techniques. As a preferred option for future research and application, an inverter configuration based on three-level building blocks to generate five-level voltage waveforms is suggested. This paper shows that such an inverter may be operated at a very low switching frequency to achieve minimum on-state and dynamic device losses for highly efficient MV drive applications while maintaining low harmonic distortion.

Medium-Voltage Multilevel Converters—State of the Art, Challenges, and Requirements in Industrial Applications

Current regulators for AC inverters are commonly categorised as hysteresis, linear PI or deadbeat predictive, with a further subclassification into stationary ABC frame and synchronous DQ frame implementations. Synchronous frame controllers are generally accepted to have a better performance than stationary frame controllers do, as they operate on DC quantities and hence can eliminate steady state errors. This paper establishes a theoretical connection between these two classes of regulators and proposes a new type of stationary frame controller, which achieves the same steady state performance as a synchronous frame controller. The new controller is applicable to both single phase and three phase inverters.

Stationary frame current regulation of PWM inverters with zero steady state error

The aim of this paper is to present a review of current control techniques for three-phase voltage-source pulsewidth modulated converters. Various techniques, different in concept, have been described in two main groups: linear and nonlinear. The first includes proportional integral (stationary and synchronous) and state feedback controllers, and predictive techniques with constant switching frequency. The second comprises bang-bang (hysteresis, delta modulation) controllers and predictive controllers with on-line optimization. New trends in current control-neural networks and fuzzy-logic-based controllers-are discussed, as well. Selected oscillograms accompany the presentation in order to illustrate properties of the described controller groups.

L. Malesani

Papers

Current control techniques for three-phase voltage-source PWM converters: a survey

Guest Editorial Special Section On PWM Converter Current Control