Voltage-Balancing Method for Modular Multilevel Converters Switched at Grid Frequency

Abstract

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) becomes attractive for high-voltage and high-power applications due to its high modularity, availability, and power quality. The voltage balance issue of capacitors is very important in the MMC, and balancing of the capacitor voltage is increasingly difficult as the switching frequency is reduced. In this paper, a voltage-balancing method is proposed for the MMC switched at grid frequency with reduced losses and does not rely on the arm current. By assigning the low-frequency pulses with different pulsewidths, the capacitor charge transfer in the MMC can be controlled for keeping the capacitor voltage balancing in the MMC. Simulations and experimental studies of the MMC are conducted, and the results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed capacitor voltage-balancing method.