Three-phase Three-level NPC Research Articles

Model Predictive Control for Three-Phase Three-Level NPC Inverter Based APF Interfacing Single Stage Photovoltaic System to the Grid

A finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) based controller has a fast dynamic response and robustness. furthermore, the presence of a cost function gives designers a degree of freedom to include system control targets, constraints and system non-linearities. On the other hand, Multilevel inverter (MI) topologies are becoming a strong alternative in distributed power generation system (DPGS), among these topologies is the three-phase three-level NPC (TTLNPC) inverter. Generally, to properly operate this topology, the applied current control ensures the achievement of two main objectives. First, the output current must be controlled to track its reference. Second, the two dc-link capacitor voltages have to be equal and balanced. In this paper, FCS-MPC is proposed to control the TTLNPC inverter based parallel active power filter (APF) adopted to connect a photovoltaic system (PVS) to the grid and perform a harmonic mitigation. The proposed FCS-MPC exploit the model of the system to predict the future values of the inverter currents by selecting the best voltage vector that aims to minimize a predefined cost function. Instead of using the popular redundant vectors algorithms to balance the two-split dc-link capacitor voltages, another term will be added to the expression of the cost function to achieve this goal. The PV panel is coupled directly to the inverter without DC/DC converter, the P&O MPPT algorithm is responsible to generate the capacitor reference voltage whatever the climatic conditions are. Simulations using Matlab/Simulink were performed to prove the efficiency of the proposed technique to mitigate the grid current harmonics, and to ensure a continuous power injection and perform a load power sharing.

Three-phase three-level four-leg NPC converters with advanced model predictive control

Three-phase three-level four-leg NPC converters with advanced model predictive control

Topology and Modulation Scheme for Three-Phase Three-Level Modified Z-Source Neutral-Point-Clamped Inverter

This paper presents the topology and modulation technique of a three-phase three-level modified Z-source neutral-point-clamped (MZS-NPC) inverter, which combines a modified Z-source impedance network and a three-phase three-level NPC inverter. The boost factor of the proposed MZS-NPC inverter is twice as high as the three existing representative topologies combing an impedance network with a three-level NPC inverter. A modulation scheme for the proposed topology, based on a maximum boost control method, is designed to achieve the maximum voltage gain with simple implementation and to balance the dc-link neutral-point voltage. A closed-loop control of the ac load voltage in the fuel-cell or photovoltaic applications based on the proposed inverter is realized, in order to supply a desired voltage to the critical load in islanding mode of a microgrid. The boosting ability and operation validity of the proposed topology and modulation technique are demonstrated with simulation and experimental results.

High Performance Multistring Converter Topology for Three-Phase Grid Tied 200 kW Photovoltaic Generating System

Under various external conditions, grid connected PV system performance is strongly affected by the topology that is used to connect a PV system with grid. This research aims to design a multistring based converter topology for three-phase grid connected 200 kW PV system that has a high performance in various operating conditions. Research was done by a simulation method using Matlab-Simulink with performance being evaluated including the generated power, efficiency, power quality in accordance with grid requirements, as well as the power flow. In the simulation, multistring converter topology was designed using two dc-dc boost multistring converters connected in parallel to a centralized of three-phase three-level NPC inverter with the size of the string being shorter and more parallel strings as well as the maximum voltage of the PV array of 273.5 V close to dc voltage reference of 500 V. Each dc-dc boost multistring converter have individual MPPT controllers. The simulation results showed that this multistring converter topology had a high performance in various operating conditions. This due to more power generated by the NPC inverter (> 190 kW) at the time of high power generation on the STC conditions (1000 W/m2, 25 oC), the lowest efficiency of the total system is 95.08 % and the highest efficiency of the total system is 99.4 %, the quality of the power generated in accordance with the requirements of grid, as well as the inverter put more active power to the grid and less reactive power to the grid. The response of the inverter slightly worse for loads with greater reactive power and unbalanced.

Harmonic Analysis and Controller Design of 15 kV SiC IGBT-Based Medium-Voltage Grid-Connected Three-Phase Three-Level NPC Converter

Cascaded converters are generally used for medium-voltage (MV) grid-connected applications due to the limitation in the voltage rating of available silicon (Si) power devices. These converters find application in active power filters, STATCOM or as the active front end converters for solid state transformers at the distribution voltage levels. The high voltage wide bandgap semiconductor devices have enabled the grid connected operation of noncascaded converters. This results in high power density, less number of switching devices, and high efficiency for three-phase MV grid interface. This also results in control simplicity without the need for complex dc bus balancing algorithms otherwise needed for cascaded converters. However, such noncascaded, grid-connected converters introduce challenges in maintaining power quality at low currents. This paper investigates the harmonic performance and current distortion of the grid-connected, three-level neutral point clamped converter using 15 kV silicon carbide Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBTs). A suitable control scheme for stable harmonic compensation is proposed. The challenges and control performance are explained through frequency domain analysis, simulations, and experimental validation on a developed prototype of the three-phase converter up to 4.16 kV, three-phase MV grid-connected operation.

New Operation Strategy for a Grid-Connected Three-Phase Three-Level NPC qZS Inverter Based on Power Losses

This paper proposes a new operation strategy for a three-phase three-level neutral-point-clamped quasi-impedance source inverter in a grid-connected mode. The strategy is intended for any inverter based on impedance source networks where the shoot-through states allow a wider input operation range. This feature is commonly requested in photovoltaic applications due to variations in the level of irradiance. Converters of that family have different control variables or degrees of freedom that can be used to boost the input voltage. In the first step, focus was on possible control variables for the design of the control strategy to regulate the active/reactive power. We used a power losses analysis to determine the most suitable variables in each input voltage interval. Our detailed description for the design of the control strategy is based on the well-known relationship in an electrical system between P - d and Q - V . Good performance of the full system was validated by simulations. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eie.22.3.15316

Model Based Adaptive Direct Power Control for Three-Level NPC Converters

In this work, a Model Based Adaptive Direct Power Control (MB-ADPC) with constant switching frequency for Three-Phase Three-Level Neutral Point Clamped (3L-NPC) converters is proposed. The rectifier and inverter operation mode are used to illustrate the flexibility of the proposed MB-ADPC controller. The control design process is based on the continuous averaged model of the system. Depending on the operation mode different control objectives have to be guaranteed. The proposed controller ensures the voltage regulation of the dc-link capacitors for the rectifier operation mode and to achieve voltage balance in the dc-link capacitors and the active and reactive power tracking for the rectifier and inverter operation modes. In addition, adaptive techniques are used to avoid system parameters uncertainties as smoothing inductors and grid frequency values. This work shows that the application of advanced control strategies based on the system model allows enhancing the performance of the overall system. The details of the controllers design process and the experimental results using a 50 kVA Three-Phase Three-Level NPC prototype are presented in this paper validating the proposed controllers.