Multilevel Modular Capacitor Clamped Converter Research Articles

Start-Up and Dynamic Modeling of the Multilevel Modular Capacitor-Clamped Converter

This paper will present the analytical proof of concept of the multilevel modular capacitor-clamped converter (MMCCC). The quantitative analysis of the charge transfer mechanism among the capacitors of the MMCCC explains the start-up and steady-state voltage balancing. Once these capacitor voltages are found for different time intervals, the start-up and steady-state voltages at various nodes of the MMCCC can be obtained. This analysis provides the necessary proof that explains the stable operation of the converter when a load is connected to the low-voltage side of the circuit. In addition, the analysis also shows how the LV side of the converter is (1/N)th of the HV side excitation when the conversion ratio of the circuit is N. In addition to the analytical and simulation results, experimental results are included to support the analytical proof of concept.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Power Management Solutions Based on Isolated and Nonisolated Configurations of Multilevel Modular Capacitor-Clamped Converter

This paper presents the various configurations of a multilevel modular capacitor-clamped converter (MMCCC), and it reveals many useful and new formations of the original MMCCC for transferring power in either an isolated or nonisolated manner. The various features of the original MMCCC circuit are best suited for a multibus system in future plug-in hybrid or fuel-cell-powered vehicles' drive train. The original MMCCC is capable of bidirectional power transfer using multilevel modular structure with capacitor-clamped topology. It has a nonisolated structure, and it offers very high efficiency even at partial loads. This circuit was modified to integrate single or multiple high-frequency transformers by using the intermediate voltage nodes of the converter. On the other hand, a special formation of the MMCCC can exhibit dc outputs offering limited isolation without using any isolation transformer. This modified version can produce a high conversion ratio from a limited number of components and has several useful applications in providing power to multiple low-voltage loads in a hybrid or electric automobile. This paper will investigate the origin of generating ac outputs from the MMCCC and shows how the transformer-free version can be modified to create limited isolation from the circuit. In addition, this paper will compare various modified forms of the MMCCC topology with existing dc-dc converter circuits from compactness and component utilization perspectives.