Current source modular multilevel converter for HVDC and FACTS

A current source modular multilevel converter (MMC) is proposed for high voltage AC/DC power conversion applications, such as HVDC and FACTS. Current source converters possess the advantage of short-circuit fault tolerance, which is a pivotal feature for grid applications. By partially following the circuit duality transformations, the proposed converter is derived from the well-known voltage source MMC. Inductor-based current source cells are connected in parallel and form a current source arm that can synthesize a desired current waveform. By adding a reduced-energy capacitor in parallel to each current source arm, these arms can be further connected in series, thereby allowing voltage scaling. By using fully controllable switches, the converter is capable of providing full control on its active and reactive power. Protection schemes against open-circuit failures inside the inductor cells are also proposed. Simulation results show the operation of the current source MMC and its capability of DC fault tolerance.

[1]  Rainer Marquardt,et al.  An innovative modular multilevel converter topology suitable for a wide power range , 2003, 2003 IEEE Bologna Power Tech Conference Proceedings,.

[2]  Thomas A. Lipo,et al.  Synthesis of desired AC line currents in current-sourced DC-AC converters , 2004 .

[3]  T.A. Lipo,et al.  A decentralized protection scheme for converters utilizing a DC-link inductor , 2005, 31st Annual Conference of IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, 2005. IECON 2005..

[4]  S. Allebrod,et al.  New transformerless, scalable Modular Multilevel Converters for HVDC-transmission , 2008, 2008 IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference.

[5]  ZhiHong Bai,et al.  Conformation of Multilevel Current Source Converter Topologies Using the Duality Principle , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[6]  Yihui Zhang,et al.  A novel Voltage-Source Converter topology suitable for interface of renewable sources , 2009, 2009 International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems.

[7]  Hans-Peter Nee,et al.  On dynamics and voltage control of the Modular Multilevel Converter , 2009, 2009 13th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications.

[8]  S. Suroso,et al.  Review of novel multilevel current-source inverters with H-bridge and common-emitter based topologies , 2010, 2010 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition.

[9]  J. A. Barrena,et al.  Modulation of Modular Multilevel Converter for HVDC application , 2010, Proceedings of 14th International Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference EPE-PEMC 2010.

[10]  Lennart Harnefors,et al.  VSC-HVDC Transmission with Cascaded Two-Level Converters , 2010 .

[11]  Pierluigi Tenca,et al.  Fast acting autonomous and rugged shunt protection against open circuit faults in high power conversion , 2011, Proceedings of the 2011 14th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications.

[12]  Staffan Norrga,et al.  Dynamic modeling of modular multilevel converters , 2011, Proceedings of the 2011 14th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications.

[13]  Rainer Marquardt,et al.  Modular Multilevel Converter topologies with DC-Short circuit current limitation , 2011, 8th International Conference on Power Electronics - ECCE Asia.

[14]  Anders Blomberg,et al.  The Hybrid HVDC Breaker An innovation breakthrough enabling reliable HVDC grids , 2012 .

[15]  Bin Wu,et al.  Modular multilevel cascaded converter based on current source H-bridges cells , 2012, IECON 2012 - 38th Annual Conference on IEEE Industrial Electronics Society.