The modular multilevel converter (MMC) has been a subject of increasing importance for medium/high-power energy conversion systems. Over the past few years, significant research has been done to address the technical challenges associated with the operation and control of the MMC. In this paper, a general overview of the basics of operation of the MMC along with its control challenges are discussed, and a review of state-of-the-art control strategies and trends is presented. Finally, the applications of the MMC and their challenges are highlighted.

Operation, Control, and Applications of the Modular Multilevel Converter: A Review

Modular multilevel converters have several attractive features such as a modular structure, the capability of transformer-less operation, easy scalability in terms of voltage and current, low expense for redundancy and fault tolerant operation, high availability, utilization of standard components, and excellent quality of the output waveforms. These features have increased the interest of industry and research in this topology, resulting in the development of new circuit configurations, converter models, control schemes, and modulation strategies. This paper presents a review of the latest achievements of modular multilevel converters regarding the mentioned research topics, new applications, and future trends.

Circuit topologies, modeling, control schemes, and applications of modular multilevel converters

It is expected that in the near future the use of high-voltage dc (HVDC) transmission and medium-voltage dc (MVDC) distribution technology will expand. This development is driven by the growing share of electrical power generation by renewable energy sources that are located far from load centers and the increased use of distributed power generators in the distribution grid. Power converters that transfer the electric energy between voltage levels and control the power flow in dc grids will be key components in these systems. The recently presented modular multilevel dc converter (M2DC) and the three-phase dual-active bridge converter (DAB) are benchmarked for this task. Three scenarios are examined: a 15 MW converter for power conversion from an HVDC grid to an MVDC grid of a university campus, a gigawatt converter for feeding the energy from an MVDC collector grid of a wind farm into the HVDC grid, and a converter that acts as a power controller between two HVDC grids with the same nominal voltage level. The operation and degrees of freedom of the M2DC are investigated in detail aiming for an optimal design of this converter. The M2DC and the DAB converter are thoroughly compared for the given scenarios in terms of efficiency, amount of semiconductor devices, and expense on capacitive storage and magnetic components.

Comparison of the Modular Multilevel DC Converter and the Dual-Active Bridge Converter for Power Conversion in HVDC and MVDC Grids

Microgrids are a suitable, reliable and clean solution to integrate distributed generation into the mains grid. Microgrids can present both AC and DC distribution lines. The type of distribution conditions the performance of distribution line and implies different features, advantages and disadvantages in each case. This paper analyses, in detail, all this parameters for AC and DC microgrids in order to identify and describe the available alternatives for building and configuring a microgrid. Elements and issues involved in the implementation and development, such as protections, power converters, economic analysis, and availability are discussed and described. This analysis constitutes a tool for selecting a suitable configuration of a microgrid adapted to the needs in each situation. In addition, the paper provides a picture of the current situation of microgrids, and identifies and proposes future research lines.

AC and DC technology in microgrids: A review

Multilevel converters and battery energy storage systems are key components in present and future medium voltage networks, where an important integration of renewable energy sources takes place. The modular multilevel converter offers the capability of embedding such energy storage elements in a split manner, given the existence of several submodules operating at significantly lower voltages. This paper analyzes such a converter structure under different operating modes. In order to eliminate the low-frequency components of the submodule output currents, the latter are interfaced to the batteries by means of nonisolated dc/dc converters. Control algorithms are developed for the balancing of the battery state of charges and the respective gain limitations are established. Unbalanced grid conditions are also taken into account through the theory of symmetrical components and solutions are proposed. Finally, the development of a down-scaled prototype is described and experimental results are presented.

Analysis and Control of Modular Multilevel Converters With Integrated Battery Energy Storage

In the future, new aspects from decentralized generation using different dc voltage levels are expected to influence the general concept of power exchange. Converter are needed to adapt the voltage between low voltage (LV), medium voltage (MV), and high voltage (HV). In this paper, a galvanic isolated bidirectional dc/dc converter based on the modular multilevel converter is studied, with a large potential for secure and flexible dc power flow control. The use of medium frequency transformation allows savings in copper and iron. A fundamental frequency modulation method is introduced for the presented converter, that enables variable stepup or step-down between primary and secondary dc voltage in discrete steps. The balancing mechanism of the internal power storage components is explained and verified by simulation and experiment.

Isolated DC/DC Structure Based on Modular Multilevel Converter

This paper presents an alternative way for the current regulation of single-phase voltage-source dc-ac converters in direct-quadrature (dq) synchronous reference frames. In a dq reference frame, ac (time varying) quantities appear as dc (time invariant) ones, allowing the controller to be designed the same as dc-dc converters, presenting infinite control gain at the steady-state operating point to achieve zero steady-state error. The common approach is to create a set of imaginary quantities orthogonal to those of the real single-phase system so as to obtain dc quantities by means of a stationary-frame to rotating-frame transformation. The orthogonal imaginary quantities in common approaches are obtained by phase shifting the real components by a quarter of the fundamental period. The introduction of such delay in the system deteriorates the dynamic response, which becomes slower and oscillatory. In the proposed approach of this paper, the orthogonal quantities are generated by an imaginary system called fictive axis, which runs concurrently with the real one. The proposed approach, which is referred to as fictive-axis emulation, effectively improves the poor dynamics of the conventional approaches while not adding excessive complexity to the controller structure.

Vector Control of Single-Phase Voltage-Source Converters Based on Fictive-Axis Emulation

This paper presents an alternative way for controlling the current of single-phase voltage source dc-ac inverters in a dq synchronous reference frame. In a dq reference frame, ac (time varying) quantities appear as dc (time invariant) quantities allowing the controller to be designed as for dc-dc converters presenting infinite control gain at the steady-state operating point to achieve zero steady state error. The common approach is to create a set of imaginary quantities orthogonal to those of the real single-phase system so as to obtain dc quantities by means of a stationary to rotating frame transformation. The orthogonal imaginary quantities in common approaches are obtained by phase shifting the real components by a quarter of the fundamental period. The introduction of such delay in the system deteriorates the dynamic response, which becomes slower and oscillatory. In the proposed approach of this paper, the orthogonal quantities are generated by an imaginary system called Fictive Axis, which runs concurrently with the real one. The proposed approach, which is referred to as Fictive Axis Emulation (FAE), effectively improves the poor dynamics of the conventional approaches while does not add excessive complexity to the controller structure.

Vector control of single-phase voltage source converters based on Fictive Axis Emulation

The drawbacks of conventional Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) are described in terms of short-circuits The configuration of MMC-transformer-MMC proves to handle short-circuits at the input and output without the need for additional DC or AC circuit breakers for protection The transformer can be operated with a higher frequency, reducing therefore the size of the transformer and the capacitors considerably A multitude of input and output configurations are possible, AC/AC, AC/DC and DC/DC In particular a DC/DC structure is analysed, serving as DC circuit breaker and voltage elevation interface at the same time The control strategy of the DC/DC converter is described and an experimental prototype validates the proposed structure and control

A versatile DC-DC converter for energy collection and distribution using the Modular Multilevel Converter

A topology based on the Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) is presented, using two MMC linked by a medium frequency transformer. The back to back structure proves to have effective circuit breaker properties and reduced passive components. Due to the adopted modulation, variable high voltage elevation ratios can be achieved.

Stephan Kenzelmann

Papers

Isolated DC/DC Structure Based on Modular Multilevel Converter

Vector Control of Single-Phase Voltage-Source Converters Based on Fictive-Axis Emulation

Vector control of single-phase voltage source converters based on Fictive Axis Emulation

A versatile DC-DC converter for energy collection and distribution using the Modular Multilevel Converter

A versatile dc/dc converter based on modular multilevel converter for energy collection and distribution