Proposed an improved method for capacitor voltage grouping measurement and open circuit fault detection for modular multilevel converter
Subject Areas : Smart Inverters
Mahdiyeh Eslami
1
,
Abouzar Ahmadi
2
1 - کرمان. دانشگاه ازاد. گروه برق
2 - دانشکده مهندسي برق، واحد کرمان، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، کرمان، ايران
Keywords: Modular Multi-Level Converter, Fault Detection, Capacitor Voltage, Semiconductor Switches, Reduction of Voltage Sensors.,
Abstract :
The application of renewable energies in power electronics converters has increasingly led to a preference for these converters. Among them, Multi-Level Converters (MLCs), particularly Modular Multi-Level Converters (MMCs), are suitable options for high and medium power applications due to their desirable power quality at the output, low switching losses, component replace ability, and reduction or elimination of output filters. MMCs, in addition to the mentioned features, have characteristics such as no need for multiple DC sources, modular structure, and no need for transformers, making these converters a suitable option for Direct Current (DC) energy transfer applications. In these converters, as the number of sub-modules increases, the usage of other electrical devices, including capacitors and switches, also increases in the converter structure. On the other hand, error occurrence is probable in the modules due to the presence of these components. This reduces the reliability of MMCs. The extensive use of voltage sensors in the MMC structure necessitates the balancing of capacitor voltages. This issue increases hardware complexity, system costs, and converter reliability. To increase the serviceability of the converter and reduce the number of voltage sensors, we need to locate defective modules and quickly detect the occurrence of open circuit faults. In this project, an attempt has been made to provide a new open circuit fault detection configuration using an improved method for group measurement of capacitor voltages and reducing the number of voltage sensors. The proposed method has been implemented on an MMC with 12 sub-modules in MATLAB Simulink software, and the simulation results have been presented.
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