A broad range of frequency control for the modular multilevel cascade converter based on triple-star bridge-cells (MMCC-TSBC)

This paper focuses on an application of the modular multilevel cascade converter based on triple-star bridge-cells (MMCC-TSBC) to adjustable-speed motor drives. The TSBC is one of direct ac-to-ac power converters capable of bidirectional power flow with three-phase sinusoidal input and output currents. Therefore, it is suitable to medium-voltage high-power motor drives requiring regenerative braking. This paper designs, constructs, and tests a three-phase 400-V, 15-kW, downscaled model with four bridge-cells per cluster, adopting the so-called “phase-shifted PWM” to produce multilevel waveforms at both sides. Good operating performance is verified by some experimental results obtained from the downscaled model. On the other hand, the TSBC suffers from such a serious problem that capacitor-voltage fluctuation becomes larger as the motor (output) frequency is closer to the supply (input) frequency. This paper also has an intensive discussion on how to control the TSBC intended for achieving a broad range of frequency control. Theoretical analysis and computer simulation confirm the effectiveness and viability of the proposed control method.

[1]  Hirofumi Akagi,et al.  Analysis and design of a DC voltage-controlled static VAr compensator using quad-series voltage-source inverters , 1996 .

[2]  C. Oates,et al.  DC circulating current for capacitor voltage balancing in modular multilevel matrix converter , 2011, Proceedings of the 2011 14th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications.

[3]  R.W. Erickson,et al.  Capacitor voltage balancing control for a modular matrix converter , 2006, Twenty-First Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, 2006. APEC '06..

[4]  Makoto Hagiwara,et al.  A Medium-Voltage Motor Drive With a Modular Multilevel PWM Inverter , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[5]  Hirofumi Akagi.  Classification, Terminology, and Application of the Modular Multilevel Cascade Converter (MMCC) , 2011 .

[6]  H. Akagi,et al.  Control of the modular multilevel cascade converter based on triple-star bridge-cells (MMCC-TSBC) for motor drives , 2012, 2012 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE).

[7]  R.W. Erickson,et al.  A new family of matrix converters , 2001, IECON'01. 27th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (Cat. No.37243).

[8]  M. Braun,et al.  Fully decoupled current control and energy balancing of the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter , 2012, 2012 15th International Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference (EPE/PEMC).

[9]  J. W. Kolar,et al.  Direct modular multi-level converter for gearless low-speed drives , 2011, Proceedings of the 2011 14th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications.

[10]  R.W. Erickson,et al.  Control and implementation of a new modular matrix converter , 2004, Nineteenth Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, 2004. APEC '04..

[11]  Y. Miura,et al.  Modular multilevel matrix converter for low frequency AC transmission , 2013, 2013 IEEE 10th International Conference on Power Electronics and Drive Systems (PEDS).