Hybrid Alternate-Common Arm Converter With High Power Capability: Potential and Limitations

This article studies a new hybrid converter that utilizes thyristors and full-bridge (FB) arms for achieving high-power capability with reduced semiconductor power rating compared to the FB modular multilevel converter. The study covers the theoretical analysis of the energy balancing, the dimensioning principles, the maximum power capability, and the limitations imposed by the discontinuous operation of the converter. Based on the analysis of these aspects, the theoretical analysis is concluded by identifying the operational constraints that need to be fulfilled for maximizing the power capability of the converter. It is concluded that the maximum power capability can be achieved for a certain range of modulation indices and is limited by both the commutation time of the thyristors and the power angle. Moreover, the P–Q capability of the hybrid converter is presented and discussed. Finally, simulation and experimental results that confirm the theoretical analysis and the feasibility of the studied converter are presented and discussed.

[1]  Staffan Norrga,et al.  On Energy Storage Requirements in Modular Multilevel Converters , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[2]  Konstantin Vershinin,et al.  Thyristor/Diode-Bypassed Submodule Power Groups for Improved Efficiency in Modular Multilevel Converters , 2019, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery.

[3]  Alireza Nami,et al.  Modular Multilevel Converters for HVDC Applications: Review on Converter Cells and Functionalities , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[4]  Timothy C. Green,et al.  The augmented trapezoidal alternate arm converter: a power-group augmented DC fault tolerant voltage source converter , 2016 .

[5]  M. Molinas,et al.  Transformer-Less Series Reactive/Harmonic Compensation of Line-Commutated HVDC for Offshore Wind Power Integration , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery.

[6]  Colin Oates,et al.  The augmented modular multilevel converter , 2014, 2014 16th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications.

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

[8]  Konstantin Vershinin,et al.  The Controlled Transition Bridge: Analysis and Benchmarking for the HVDC VSC Market , 2018, 2018 20th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE'18 ECCE Europe).

[9]  A. Ekstrom,et al.  Harmonic cancellation of a hybrid converter , 1998 .

[10]  Staffan Norrga,et al.  A Review of Hybrid Topologies Combining Line-Commutated and Cascaded Full-Bridge Converters , 2017, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[11]  Stephen J. Finney,et al.  Thyristor based modular multilevel converter with active full-bridge chain-link for forced commutation , 2016, 2016 IEEE 17th Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL).

[12]  Di Zhang,et al.  Modular Embedded Multilevel Converter for MV/HVDC Applications , 2018, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[13]  Shijie Cheng,et al.  Series VSC-LCC converter with self-commutating and dc fault blocking capabilities , 2014, 2014 IEEE PES General Meeting | Conference & Exposition.

[14]  Zheng Xu,et al.  Hybrid high-voltage direct current topology with line commutated converter and modular multilevel converter in series connection suitable for bulk power overhead line transmission , 2016 .

[15]  Geraint Chaffey,et al.  The Extended Overlap Alternate Arm Converter: A Voltage-Source Converter With DC Fault Ride-Through Capability and a Compact Design , 2018, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[16]  Staffan Norrga,et al.  Hybrid Alternate-Common-Arm Converter With Director Thyristors—Impact of Commutation Time on the Active-Power Capability , 2019, 2019 21st European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE '19 ECCE Europe).

[17]  Staffan Norrga,et al.  Comparison of cascaded multilevel converter topologies for AC/AC conversion , 2014, 2014 International Power Electronics Conference (IPEC-Hiroshima 2014 - ECCE ASIA).

[18]  Staffan Norrga,et al.  Design Considerations and Comparison of Hybrid Line-Commutated and Cascaded Full-Bridge Converters With Reactive-Power Compensation and Active Filtering Capabilities , 2019, 2019 21st European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE '19 ECCE Europe).

[19]  Staffan Norrga,et al.  Hybrid Converter With Alternate Common Arm and Director Thyristors for High-Power Capability , 2018, 2018 20th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE'18 ECCE Europe).

[20]  Neville R. Watson,et al.  Flexible power transmission--the HVDC options , 2007 .

[21]  Rubén Peña,et al.  Alternate Arm Converter with Thyristor-based Director Switches , 2018, 2018 IEEE International Conference on Automation/XXIII Congress of the Chilean Association of Automatic Control (ICA-ACCA).

[22]  Staffan Norrga,et al.  Analysis and Operation of Modular Multilevel Converters With Phase-Shifted Carrier PWM , 2015 .

[23]  Stephen J. Finney,et al.  Active-Forced-Commutated Bridge Using Hybrid Devices for High Efficiency Voltage Source Converters , 2017, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[24]  Konstantin Vershinin,et al.  Thyristor-Bypassed Submodule Power-Groups for Achieving High-Efficiency, DC Fault Tolerant Multilevel VSCs , 2018, IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery.

[25]  K. Vershinin,et al.  Filterless Line Commutated Converter for HVDC Transmission , 2019 .

[26]  Di Zhang,et al.  The modular embedded multilevel converter: A voltage source converter with IGBTs and thyristors , 2016, 2016 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE).

[27]  Barry W. Williams,et al.  Hybrid Multilevel Converter With Cascaded H-bridge Cells for HVDC Applications: Operating Principle and Scalability , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[28]  B. Qahraman,et al.  A VSC based series hybrid converter for HVDC transmission , 2005, Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2005..