A Modular Multilevel Converter with Integrated Shared Capacitor Sub-Module for MV Motor Drives Incorporating Symmetrical Six-Phase Machines

Mohamed S. DIab, Barry W. Williams, Ahmed M. Massoud, Shehab Ahmed

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper proposes a new modular multilevel converter (MMC) configuration as a medium-voltage drive for variable-speed applications incorporating symmetrical six-phase machines. The proposed topology employs six MMC phase-legs feeding two isolated groups of three-phase machine windings, each with 60° spatial phase-displacement. A novel concept of sharing one capacitor between each pair of adjacent-arm submodules (SMs) of MMC phase-legs, while feeding machine windings in a spatial phase-opposition, is realized through a new integrated SM arrangement. The integrated SM allows the shared capacitor to absorb and release the same energy amount in a consecutive switching scheme, where the capacitor is experiencing both charging and discharging arm currents, one after another. This results in a limited voltage variation across the SM shared capacitor, independent of the operating frequency. Also, the proposed approach allows the MMC to utilize half the number of the SM capacitors, compared to a traditional MMC topology, while further diminishes the SM capacitance requirement, reducing the volume of the MMC system and its stored energy. The proposed configuration can efficiently operate at near zero frequency, therefore a machine speed-range from zero speed to the rated speed is possible under rated torque operating condition. The proposed MMC topology is elucidated in detail, and its effective performance is verified using simulation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2018 IEEE 19th Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2018
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Print)9781538655412
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 10 2018
Event19th IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2018 - Padova, Italy
Duration: Jun 25 2018Jun 28 2018

Publication series

Name2018 IEEE 19th Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2018

Conference

Conference19th IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2018
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityPadova
Period06/25/1806/28/18

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 IEEE.

Keywords

  • Medium-voltage drives
  • modular multilevel converter (MMC)
  • shared capacitor
  • six-phase machines
  • submodule (SM) capacitor voltage ripple

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Control and Optimization

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