High AC Power Research Articles

Synchronous Optimal Pulsewidth Modulation for High-Power AC Motor Drives: A Review

Synchronous Optimal Pulsewidth Modulation for High-Power AC Motor Drives: A Review

Design of Laser-Powered Opto-Electrical Current Transformer and Its Application in Electrical Automation of Substations

The novel power equipment represented by the Opto-Electrical Current Transformer (OECT) possesses unparalleled advantages compared to traditional Current Transformers (CTs), rendering it with vast potential in power systems. In the design of OECT, this study employs laser power supply and focuses on the overall perspective, particularly the design of the laser power supply module and the optical fiber digital transmission module. The laser power supply module selects a high-power semiconductor laser to provide power to the circuit, incorporating line filters, thermistor resistors, and a laser overcurrent protection circuit. An automatic temperature control circuit based on PI regulation is utilized to stabilize the working temperature of the laser diode (LD). The photoelectric conversion device PPC-6E achieves a maximum photoelectric conversion efficiency of 40%, and the MAX639 DC–DC conversion chip ensures stable output voltage. The optical fiber digital transmission module adopts a circuit composed of multiple NOR gate logic for electro-optical conversion, a low-power driving circuit based on the 74LVC1G07 chip, and the HFBR-2412 photoelectric converter to simplify the circuit board design. To achieve a higher communication baud rate, a quartz multimode optical fiber with a diameter of 62.5 μm is chosen. In the experimental phase, a simulation of high-power AC power with equal turns is conducted. The linearity/temperature test results demonstrate that the designed OECT in this study meets expectations. In the electrical automation test of substations, a comparison between traditional CTs and the designed OECT is carried out using traditional protection algorithms and optical differential protection algorithms. The results indicate that, compared to traditional protection algorithms, the optical differential algorithm using the designed OECT achieves faster protection times.

Speed Control of PMSM Based on Fuzzy Active Disturbance Rejection Control under Small Disturbances

Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs), with their simple design, small size, and high-power factor, are ideally suited for realizing high-power AC drives and are widely used in various industries. In this study, Fuzzy Active Disturbance Rejection Control (Fuzzy-ADRC) is used to control the speed of the PMSM. When a slight external disturbance occurs, this control strategy maintains the suppression characteristics of the self-excited control for the disturbance and enhances its ability to compensate for the disturbance. First, a mathematical model was developed to study the surface mount PMSM. Then, a motor control simulation model was created using PI control, vector control, and other control methods. The verification results indicate that the improved Fuzzy-ADRC system performs well under both internal and external minor disturbances. It exhibits a faster dynamic response and reduced regulation time (0.026 s to 0.017 s) compared to the traditional ADRC system. Furthermore, it shows less overshoot (reduced from 70% to 2.9%) compared to the Sliding Mode Observer (SMO). Taken together, the improved Fuzzy-ADRC system is characterized by small steady-state error, high load capacity, and control accuracy. With the assistance of this control strategy, the system can track speed with high accuracy and possesses stronger anti-interference capability to mitigate load disturbances.

Sub-GHz resolution line-by-line pulse shaper for driving superconducting circuits

We demonstrate a sub-GHz resolution, fully programmable Fourier-domain pulse shaper capable of generating arbitrary optical pulse patterns for superconducting circuit platforms. This high resolution allows line-by-line pulse shaping of a 1 GHz-spaced comb, and the pulse shaper can accommodate an optical bandwidth as large as 1 THz, which represents the highest resolution programmable line-by-line pulse shaping to our knowledge. Linear optical sampling with a dual-comb system confirms independent control of 1 GHz-spaced optical lines, and the low phase noise of the pulse shaper is characterized. We apply the pulse shaper as an optical drive for an array of Josephson junctions operating at a temperature of 4 K, where cryogenic photodetection of pulse doublets with user-defined separation characterizes the Josephson junction response. Furthermore, we demonstrate a pulse-density modulation pattern of 4 ps duration optical pulses that can serve as the high bandwidth drive of a quantum-based Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer. By leveraging the exquisite control, large bandwidth, and low noise of photonics, this represents an important advance toward the realization of high power and high spectral purity AC voltage standards at gigahertz frequencies without requiring 100 GHz bandwidth driving electronics.

Ethernet Over Coaxial (EoC) Cable Telemetry Over High Voltage Dc And High Power Ac For Airborne Sonar Applications


 
 
 We have proposed a new passive component-based coupling scheme to simultaneously transmit high power AC, high voltage DC and high speed data through a long, single core coaxial cable, particularly for Airborne Sonar applications. This method is intended to replace the bulky multicore cables with single core coaxial cables that are compact and effective for transmitting data over long distances. This coupling scheme consists of three couplers to superimpose high power AC, high voltage DC and high speed data at the onboard end of the cable, and three decouplers to separate them at the remote end. The long cable, couplers, decouplers and the acoustic transducer are represented by their corresponding equivalent circuits that are cascaded together to construct the complete network. Power loss in the circuit is minimised by providing impedance matching networks in the form of a T-network transmission line and a tuning coil. The Ethernet over Coaxial (EoC) module can transmit high speed Ethernet data at the rate of 10/100 Mbps for telemetry from onboard to remote units and vice versa. DC voltages up to 300 V are coupled to the single core coaxial cable from the onboard unit and superimposed with high power AC signals and high-speed data. Passive filter-based coupling and decoupling schemes are demonstrated. Network simulation studies and experimental studies are carried out to verify and validate the equivalent circuit model. The transfer functions of each set of couplers and decouplers are determined independently as well as collectively and their effects on the underwater acoustic performance of the system are studied. The model resuls are found to agree with experiments. The proposed system is capable of generating an acoustic Source Level of about 195 dB with the supply of 125 V continuous wave (CW) AC signals, with simultaneous transmission of data at 10 Mbps and DC supply of 260 V from the on-board unit to the remote unit at the end of a coaxial cable of 200 m length. Introduction of impedance matching network is found to increase the source level by about 12 dB.
 
 

State of The Art In The Practical Implementation, Modeling Methods, and Control Approaches For Modular Multilevel Matrix Converters

The Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter (MMMC) is a novel power converter topology that is ideal for high-power AC applications. Studies have demonstrated that the converter offers various advantages, including modularity, power redundancy, and control flexibility. However, the topology and control system design can be challenging due to the large number of cells and floating capacitors. To maintain acceptable levels of capacitor voltage, multilayer nested control systems are required. There are no existing review papers that have discussed the MMMC's modelling, control systems, and applications. Thus, this paper seeks to provide a comprehensive review of the technology, focusing on the modelling and control strategies, to facilitate further research.

Impedance Matching Network of Passive Coupler with Coaxial Cable for Airborne Sonar Applications

A design methodology is proposed to implement an impedance-matching network in a high-power underwater acoustic transmitting system to minimize power loss through long cables. For this, a Lumped-parameter electrical equivalent circuit model has been developed to analyze the transmitting system along with various couplers and de-couplers introduced for simultaneous transmission of data and DC power along with high-power AC. The effects of these couplers on the end performance of the system have been studied and compensated for by suitably modifying the impedance matching lines (ML). The appropriate impedance matching lines significantly enhance the power by about 300 watts and improve the power factor to 100 %.

Research and Development of Adjustable Discontinuous Pulse Width Modulation Method for Three-Phase Voltage Source Inverter

Continuous pulse width modulation (CPWM) and discontinuous pulse width modulation (DPWM) strategies are used to control voltage source inverter operation. CPWM strategies allow for the reduction of total harmonic distortion values, while DPWM strategies provide a more effective reduction in inverter switching losses. The paper is devoted to the problem of improving the three-phase voltage source inverter efficiency by a controlled transition from CPWM to DPWM. The article proposes an adjustable discontinuous pulse width modulation (ADPWM) method, which means a transition from space vector PWM (refers to CPWM strategies) to DPWM in all inverter phases when the switches’ temperatures exceed the allowable value in at least one of the inverter phases. The method flowchart is presented and an algorithm for modifying the envelope curve within one sector is given. In order to test the ADPWM method a Simulink-model of a three-phase voltage source inverter and its control system were developed. A study of the proposed ADPWM method’s efficiency in comparison with CPWM, PCDPWM and NCDPWM methods was carried out using a Simulink-model. It was established that the proposed ADPWM method provides dynamic losses reduction in the inverter switches by 2.86 times compared to CPWM and by 1.89 times compared to PCDPWM and NCDPWM methods. Power supply systems for medium and high-power AC motors provide a promising area for application of the proposed ADPWM method.

ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ КОМПЕНСАЦИИ РЕАКТИВНОЙ МОЩНОСТИ В СЕТИ ПОСРЕДСТВОМ ВЫСОКОМОЩНОГО РЕКУПЕРАТИВНОГО ЭЛЕКТРОПРИВОДА ПЕРЕМЕННОГО ТОКА

Relevance At present, there is no complete understanding of the possibilities of reactive power compensation by means of high-power regenerative AC drives (RACD) with active frondend rectifiers (AFE), given the limitations and associated problems with electromagnetic compatibility. Aim of research The article is devoted to the issues of reactive power compensation and improvement of the voltage quality in the grid by high-power RACD with AFE. Research methods Methods of theoretical and experimental researches are applied in the work. Results It was noted that the smooth component of the first harmonic of the AFE output voltage is limited by the voltage in the DC link and the maximum allowable AFE current, and this affects the range of transmitted reactive power in the system «RACD with AFE – grid». Thus, there are restrictions for the generation of reactive power in the system «RACD with AFE – grid», which requires their special calculation in the synthesis of the control system. Power quality improving by powerful RACD with AFE is possible only with the correct choice of the grid connection, the switching frequency of semiconductor modules, resonance analysis, AFE control system parameters and thermal control of the power modules. The experimental curves of current consumption from the grid presented in the paper with two different PWM algorithms for the AFE demonstrates a decreasing of current total harmonic distortion. Keywords: active front-end rectifier, pre-programmed PWM, selective harmonic elimination, electromagnetic compatibility, power quality Acknowledgments: The work was supported by the Grant of the President of the Russian Federation for young scientists — candidates of sciences MK-3803.2022.4.

Effects of Axle Configuration on Third Type of Rolling Contact Fatigue of Wheels of High-power AC Locomotives

Effects of Axle Configuration on Third Type of Rolling Contact Fatigue of Wheels of High-power AC Locomotives

Elimination of Circulating Current in a Parallel PWM Rectifier Using an Interface Circuit

Parallel pulsewidth modulation rectifiers are a good solution for high-power ac–dc applications, which enhance quality and reliability. However, the main and inevitable shortcoming of parallel structures is a generation of circulating current. Various methods are proposed to reduce or eliminate circulating current, most of which tend to change or limit the switching pattern of parallel converters. This article presents an interfacing circuit with low rating elements, which eliminates the circulating current without any limitation for the switching pattern of parallel converters. Therefore, voltage and current waveforms are in high quality. Moreover, unlike previous methods that had complex control and high mathematical computations, the presented method has simple control. Therefore, multiple modules can be implemented in a modular fashion with a fast dynamic response. Simulation and Laboratory results are presented to validate the analysis.

Design of a Biomimetic BLDC Driven Robotic Arm for Teleoperation & Biomedical Applications

For many years, robotics research and development has been held back from the high-power AC motors of industrial automation, locked to low-power, bulky Stepper motors and simple DC Servos. As of a few years ago, Brushless DC motors started seeing use in high-end quadrupedal designs such as Boston Dynamics Cheetah, and Spot. Whilst these used expensive, proprietary control systems that were closed source and out of the reach of many small-scale researchers, developers, and hobbyists, they did demonstrate the potential of a motor-class previously only commonly thought suitable for high-RPM applications like drones and quadcopters. In 2016, an open-source custom driver platform named ODrive was started, which is now in its 3rd iteration. As of 2021, it provides all of the basic hardware and software needed to control 2 closed loop Brushless DC motors per board, using off the shelf encoders and at a reasonable, hobbyist level price point. This technology is, on paper, a huge development for plenty of low-budget robotics research applications. In this project, we design, build, and evaluate a 4 DOF robotic arm using 4 BLDC motors with ODrive control, using 3D printed parts and other components available at a low price point. This arm will be used in the future for testing tele-operative control and so it is designed to be biomimetic, modelled at 2/3 scale with similar proportions and motion capabilities to a real human arm to the elbow. The extremely small, cheap, and lightweight motors selected for this project are shown to output superior speed and torque to stepper motors multiple times their size and weight, albeit at a very significant power draw requirement. The speed and power of a BLDC through a high reduction gearbox allows extremely fast and responsive movement such that it can easily execute complex movements easily in pace with a human arm. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-04-03 Full Text: PDF

DC-Link Capacitor Voltage Balancing Control of a Five-Level Regenerative AC Electronic Load Using One-Cycle Control

High voltage electric power equipment requires rigorous regulation testing to specific standards which ensure proper and safe operation in the grid. Manufacturers conduct these tests in order to prove standard compliance and product liability. Variable linear or nonlinear loads are necessary for testing medium voltage (MV) high power AC power converters. Generally, those AC power converters or power supplies require performance validation, burn-in and/or lifetime testing under different load conditions, defined by the end-user or standards for the given applications. For flexible and efficient MV verification testing, this paper presents a five-level multilevel converter-based MV regenerative AC electronic load with one-cycle control (OCC), which is based on five-level diode-clamped multilevel converters with back-to-back structure and can emulate any impedance load. In this paper, especially the dc-link capacitor voltage balance of the proposed multilevel MV regenerative AC load is deeply analyzed. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the dc-link voltage balance performance of the proposed multilevel MV regenerative AC electronic load.

An Advanced Antislip Control Algorithm for Locomotives Under Complex Friction Conditions

Abstract The locomotive wheelsets configured with high-power AC traction motors are very prone to slip under poor friction conditions, which usually impair traction/braking efficiency. To avoid the adverse consequence caused by the conspicuous slipping behaviors of wheels, the antislip control modules are consequently equipped on high-power locomotives. This paper presents an advanced antislip control algorithm for heavy-haul locomotives traveling by complex wheel/rail friction conditions. The proposed antislip control model is implemented in a three-dimensional (3D) heavy-haul train-track coupled dynamics model, in which the real-time estimation of wheel/rail adhesion conditions and relevant optimization adjustment of control threshold values are considered. The wheel/rail dynamic interactions of the heavy-haul locomotive under traction/braking conditions and multifarious friction conditions are investigated. The control effects of the antislip controllers with changeable and constant threshold values are compared. It is shown that the traction/braking loads and friction conditions have a significant effect on wheel/rail interactions. The optimal traction/braking efficiency can be realized by adopting the antislip controller with alterable threshold values.

Research on sensorless control system of low speed and high power PMSM based on improved high frequency signal injection

With more and more applications of high-power PMSM in low-speed applications, the accuracy of the control system has also become more demanding. It is difficult to detect the position and control the speed of the motor according to the counter EMF because its amplitude is small. This paper adopts an improved high frequency signal injection method and the filtering method of single synchronous shafting filter and PLL, a set of high-power sensorless AC speed regulating system is designed based on the NPC three-level back-to-back converter with IGBTs which improves the robustness and control accuracy of low-speed high-power PMSM. The experimental and simulation results show that the control system meets the design requirements of engineering application.

WITHDRAWN: Circulating current harmonics suppression with fuzzy controller in modular multi-level inverter

Abstract This paper describes the MMCs useful for HV high power AC to DC conversion. The MMCs with increased number of sub module levels provide quasi sine processing with less THD on the AC side. Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) have become prominent among emerging topologies of medium& higher voltage applications in the near future. However, one of the demerit of MMCs is the occurrence of circulating nature of flow of electrons, which has a dc portion with ac harmonics of even-order less frequency signals. If not eliminated or reduced, This harmonics allow the arm currents to increase the loss of power and have a higher effect on solid state portions of the current. This paper executes a novel rotating current scheme based on fuzzy logic to track the dc component and limit low-frequency harmonics. The fuzzy system modelling methodologies and stabilising parameter analysis are brought together. The feasibility of the scheme proposed was carried out by simulation.

Suppressing Voltage Spikes of MOSFET in H-Bridge Inverter Circuit

Power electronics devices are made from semiconductor switches such as thyristors, MOSFETs, and diodes, along with passive elements of inductors, capacitors, and resistors, and integrated circuits. They are heavily used in power processing for applications in computing, communication, medical electronics, appliance control, and as converters in high power DC and AC transmission in what is now called harmonized AC/DC networks. A converter’s operation is described as a periodic sequencing of different modes of operation corresponding to different topologies interfaced to filters made of passive elements. The performance of converters has improved considerably using high switching frequency, which leads to a significant improvement in a power converter’s performance. However, the high dv/dt through a fast-switching transient of the MOSFET is associated with parasitic components generating oscillations and voltage spikes having adverse effects on the operation of complementary switches, thereby affecting the safe operation of the power devices. In this paper, the MOSFET gate-driver circuit performance is improved to suppress the H-Bridge inverter’s voltage spikes. The proposed technique is a simple improvement to the gate driver based on the IR2112 driver (IC) by adding a capacitor to attenuate the effect of parasitic components and the freewheeling current, suppressing the negative voltage spikes. This paper’s main contribution is to improve the gate driver circuit’s capability for suppressing the voltage spikes in the H-Bridge inverter. The improved gate driver circuit is validated experimentally and is compared with the conventional gate driver. The experimental results show that the proposed technique can effectively suppress the MOSFET’s voltage spikes and oscillations.

Power Decoupling Control for Single-Phase Grid-Tied PEMFC Systems With Virtual-Vector-Based MPC

The fuel cell grid-tied power generation system usually includes a dc-dc converter and a dc-ac inverter. In a single-phase system, inherent low-order current pulsations are introduced into the system, which can have harmful effects on the fuel cell stack. For example, reducing the output voltage and output efficiency, a reduction in service life, and even accelerates the degradation rate of the membrane electrode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In addition, dc/ac coupling power can cause distortion in the dc input current and ac grid current. To eliminate the input ripple and ensure high ac power quality on the grid side, this paper proposes a novel power decoupling control for single-phase grid-tied PEMFC systems, which uses an improved model predictive control (MPC) algorithm. With the help of the virtual vector methods, which are realized by a two-stage optimization method, excellent tracking effect and robustness can be ensured. Simulations and experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can not only completely eliminate the input current ripple and reduce the total harmonic distortion (THD) of ac current on the grid side, but also improve the transient performance of the system.

High Precision Wide Bandwidth DC Current Transducer Based on the Platiše Flux Sensor

In the last decade, we observed a noticeable increase in direct-current systems (DC), particularly in solar power generation, grid storage systems, and electric mobility. Some of these systems may require high-voltage isolation and peak currents in excess of kA. The existing standard compact and lower cost current sensing solutions hardly ever achieve an overall measurement uncertainty below 1% mainly due to offsets and hysteresis; their typical bandwidth is about 250 kHz, and they may also be noisy. This article presents a new method of isolated DC and AC current measurement based on a single gapless core and the innovative Platiše Flux Sensor. After verification in a mixed-signal simulator, the method was implemented in a functional prototype of a DC current transducer (CT) and thoroughly tested in a reference setup. The performance tests showed a low offset and hysteresis, a bandwidth in the MHz range, low power consumption, and low noise operation. Furthermore, the low current transducer achieved a typical uncertainty of less than 0.2% and a linearity of less than 200 ppm, which indicates an overall superior performance compared to representative comparable CTs based on alternative technologies. In addition to the areas of application mentioned above, the new type of DC-CT can be used for general purpose metering, measurement instrumentation, and high power DC and AC systems.

Effects of axle load transfer on wheel rolling contact fatigue of high-power AC locomotives with oblique traction rods

Severe wheel rolling contact fatigue (RCF) has been observed on two types of high-power AC locomotives with CO-CO axle arrangement and running in complicated environments in China. This RCF occurs as continuous lateral surface cracks in the zone approximately centered at the nominal rolling circle of wheels and can propagate downward up to 14.5 mm deep. To figure out the causes, field observations, monitoring tests and numerical simulations have been conducted in the past years together with systematic comparisons between two types of locomotives. Statistics have shown an interesting phenomenon, among others, that wheels on axles 3 and 4 are most susceptible to RCF cracks on Type B locomotives, but not so on Type A. It has been found that complicated running environments such as sharp curves and large slopes are the root causes of RCF. The axle load transfer among axles, which is aggravated by oblique traction rods, and inappropriate electrical compensation, and the curving behavior determine the axle preference of RCF on Type B locomotives. This explains the phenomenon that similar RCF damage has not been reported on Type B locomotives running in mild environments. At the end, the electrical compensation is optimized numerically with a purpose of easing RCF damage of Type B locomotives.