Switching Loss Balancing Technique for Modular Multilevel Converters Operated by Model Predictive Control Method

The sorting algorithm is the most widely accepted capacitor voltage balancing strategy for a modular multilevel converter. This strategy offers to keep the balance among submodule capacitor voltages under all of the modular multilevel converter working conditions. However, this method generates unnecessary switching transitions in submodules, which results in high switching frequency and switching loss, and uneven distribution of switching transitions and switching loss among submodules (SMs). In this paper, a simplified switching loss balancing control strategy was proposed in order to handle these issues. The proposed approach adjusted the submodule selection process of the sorting algorithm by taking into consideration the number of switching transitions in addition to the capacitor voltages. Even distribution of switching transitions and switching loss was achieved, and the average switching loss was reduced at the cost of slightly increasing the capacitor voltage fluctuations. The effectiveness of the proposed approach was verified through both simulation and experimental results.