Finite Control Set - Model Predictive Control applied to multicell rectifiers

Abstract

Multi-cell converters allow the use of AC motor drives for medium and high voltage level applications using low voltage semiconductors. This type of converter has a multi-pulse transformer which performs the cancellation of the low frequency harmonics generated by the three-phase diode rectifiers. Despite this advantage, the multi-pulse transformer is bulky, heavy, expensive, and must be designed according to the number of power cells, making the transformer topology dependent. This work proposes to reduce the complexity of the transformer in multi-cell converters using Active Front End rectifiers in combination with a Finite Control Set - Model Predictive Control strategy. This is achieved by the strategy as it emulates the multi-pulse transformer harmonic cancellation thanks to the predictive algorithm and the generation of input current references with a phase shift angle for each Active Front End rectifier.