Vector selection approach-based hexagonal hysteresis space vector current controller for a three phase diode clamped MLI with capacitor voltage balancing

The purpose of this study is to provide a broad idea about current control scheme and equilibrating voltages in DC-link capacitors of the neutral-point clamped multilevel inverter (NPC-MLI), using an innovative hexagonal space vector hysteresis current control (SVHCC) scheme. The main ideology is to force the literal current vector to reach the reference current vector through an appropriate voltage vector selection sequence. This proposed scheme defines two hexagonal hysteresis bands encompassing the error vector, as a first step. With respect to the error vector location, the selection of the adjacent vector is acted to minimise the error vector. In addition to the error vector selection, the capacitor voltage is also equilibrated by controlling the degree of freedom available in selecting the switching vectors. The SVHCC scheme is intelligent in performing modulation depth dependent selection of switching vectors between the groups namely closest three vector and preferred three vector (PTV). This scheme balances the DC-link capacitors’ voltages within a tolerance limit for any value of modulation index. The proposed scheme is asserted through MATLAB/Simulink software. The superiority of the proposed technique is validated through the 2 kW NPC-MLI supported with SPARTAN III 3AN –XC3S400 field programmable gate array.