The authors discuss high-voltage power conversion. Conventional series connection and three-level voltage source inverter techniques are reviewed and compared. A novel versatile multilevel commutation cell is introduced: it is shown that this topology is safer and more simple to control, and delivers purer output waveforms. The authors show how this technique can be applied to either choppers or voltage-source inverters and generalized to any number of switches.<<ETX>>

Multi-level conversion : high voltage choppers and voltage-source inverters

In this paper, two new topologies are proposed for multilevel inverters. The proposed topologies consist of a combination of the conventional series and the switched capacitor inverter units. The proposed topologies reduce the number of switches and isolated dc voltage sources, the variety of the dc voltage source values, and the size and cost of the system in comparison with the conventional topologies. In addition, the proposed topologies can double the input voltage without a transformer. There is no need for complicated methods to balance the capacitor voltage. The simulation and experimental results of single-phase 25- and 17-level inverters are given to prove the correct operation of the proposed topologies.

Hybrid Multilevel Inverter Using Switched Capacitor Units

In this paper, a simplified nearest level control balancing method for modular multilevel converter is presented. The proposed method neither requires individual sorting of the submodule voltages nor the redundancy of the switching states. Once the sorting of the submodules is done on the basis of the number of the submodules to be switched on, the identifications of the submodules can be carried out throughout the stages of the implementation of the this method. The proposed method also does not require the individual submodule status in the gate pulse generation stage. The gate logic in the presented method can be implemented with the help of the switching states of the voltage levels. Those simplifications and removing of the some of the stages by the proposed balancing method may ease and lead to the less processor time at the implementation level. The pictorial presentation further helps in consolidating the understanding of the different stages of the method. Rigorous simulations are carried out for open and one of the prominent closed-loop applications, i.e., modular multilevel converter-based high-voltage direct current to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed simplified balancing method under normal and emergency conditions.

A Simplified Nearest Level Control (NLC) Voltage Balancing Method for Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC)

In this paper, a new mode of operation has been introduced for packed U-cell (PUC) inverter. A sensor-less voltage control based on redundant switching states is designed for the five-level packed U-cell (PUC5) inverter, which is integrated into switching process. The sensor-less voltage control is in charge of fixing the dc capacitor voltage at half of the dc source value results in generating symmetric five-level voltage waveform at the output with low harmonic distortion. The sensor-less voltage regulator reduces the complexity of the control system, which makes the proposed converter appealing for industrial applications. An external current controller has been applied for grid-connected application of the introduced sensor-less PUC5 to inject active and reactive power from inverter to the grid with arbitrary power factor, while the PUC auxiliary dc bus is regulated only by sensor-less controller combined with new switching pattern. Experimental results obtained in stand-alone and grid-connected operating modes of proposed PUC5 inverter prove the fast response and good dynamic performance of the designed sensor-less voltage control in balancing the dc capacitor voltage at desired level.

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Sensor-Less Five-Level Packed U-Cell (PUC5) Inverter Operating in Stand-Alone and Grid-Connected Modes

A new cascade topology for multilevel converter is introduced in this paper which comprises series connection of several submultilevel units. To determine the magnitudes of the dc sources, two new methods are described. The proposed topology is optimized to generate any levels with minimum number of components and peak voltage on switches. The presented topology can be used in high-voltage applications due to using the switches with low voltage rating. To indicate the merits of the proposed structure, comparison studies are provided with other topologies in terms of the number of elements and peak voltage on switches. The comparison results prove that the presented cascade multilevel converter requires fewer components. Moreover, it is shown that the total peak voltage on switches in the proposed topology is less than other structures. Experimental work is presented to demonstrate the performance of the presented multilevel converter.

A New General Multilevel Converter Topology Based on Cascaded Connection of Submultilevel Units With Reduced Switching Components, DC Sources, and Blocked Voltage by Switches

In this paper, a new three-phase, five-level inverter topology with a single-dc source is presented. The proposed topology is obtained by cascading a three-level flying capacitor inverter with a flying H-bridge power cell in each phase. This topology has redundant switching states for generating different pole voltages. By selecting appropriate switching states, the capacitor voltages can be balanced instantaneously (as compared to the fundamental) in any direction of the current, irrespective of the load power factor. Another important feature of this topology is that if any H-bridge fails, it can be bypassed and the configuration can still operate as a three-level inverter at its full power rating. This feature improves the reliability of the circuit. A 3-kW induction motor is run with the proposed topology for the full modulation range. The effectiveness of the capacitor balancing algorithm is tested for the full range of speed and during the sudden acceleration of the motor.

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A Five-Level Inverter Topology with Single-DC Supply by Cascading a Flying Capacitor Inverter and an H-Bridge

This paper proposes a new 3 level common mode voltage eliminated inverter using an inverter structure formed by cascading a H-Bridge with a three-level flying capacitor inverter. The three phase space vector polygon formed by this configuration and the polygon formed by the common-mode eliminated states have been discussed. The entire system is simulated in Simulink and the results are experimentally verified. This system has an advantage that if one of devices in the H-Bridge fails, the system can still be operated as a normal 3 level inverter mode at full power. This inverter has many advantages like use of single DC-supply, making it possible for a back to back grid-tied converter application, improved reliability etc.

Common-mode voltage eliminated three-level inverter using a three-level flying-capacitor inverter and cascaded H-Bridge

In the present paper, a novel topology for generating a 17-level inverter using three-level flying capacitor inverter and cascaded H-bridge modules with floating capacitors. The proposed circuit is analyzed and various aspects of it are presented in the paper. This circuit is experimentally verified and the results are shown. The stability of the capacitor balancing algorithm has been verified during sudden acceleration. This circuit has many pole voltage redundancies. This circuit has an advantage of balancing all the capacitor voltages instantaneously by switching through the redundancies. Another advantage of this topology is its ability to generate all the 17 pole voltages from a single DC link which enables back to back converter operation. Also, the proposed inverter can be operated at all load power factors and modulation indices. Another advantage is, if one of the H-bridges fail, the inverter can still be operated at full load with reduced number of levels.

P. Roshankumar

Papers

A Five-Level Inverter Topology with Single-DC Supply by Cascading a Flying Capacitor Inverter and an H-Bridge

Common-mode voltage eliminated three-level inverter using a three-level flying-capacitor inverter and cascaded H-Bridge

A seventeen-level inverter with a single DC-link for motor drives