Capacitor Balancing Controller Voltage Sorting Statistics in Modular Multilevel Converters

Theodor Heath; Peter Green; Mike Barnes; Paul Coventry

doi:10.1109/SPEC.2017.8333550

Capacitor Balancing Controller Voltage Sorting Statistics in Modular Multilevel Converters

Theodor Heath, Peter Green, Mike Barnes, Paul Coventry

National Grid UK

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

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Abstract

Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) are made up of many submodules (SMs) connected in series. In order to avoid semiconductor over-voltages, SM capacitors should be kept within strict voltage limits. The capacitor balancing controller (CBC) is used to sort SM capacitor voltages prior to modulation. This paper investigates the variation in sorting complexity at steady state and transient conditions for a brute-force and past-position methodology based on the bubble sort algorithm. A focus is placed on the potential for ‘worst-case’ sorting, requiring increased computational effort. This paper forms part of on-going research to analyze the hardware constraints on MMCs with very large numbers of SMs. Simulation results based on a PSCAD/EMTDC detailed equivalent model are used for analysis and conclusions.

Original language	English
Pages	1-8
Number of pages	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/SPEC.2017.8333550
Publication status	Published - 4 Dec 2017
Event	Southern Power Electronics Conference 2017 - Patagonico, Puerto Varas, Chile Duration: 4 Dec 2017 → 7 Dec 2017 Conference number: 3 http://spec17.utalca.cl/

Conference

Conference	Southern Power Electronics Conference 2017
Abbreviated title	SPEC 17
Country/Territory	Chile
City	Puerto Varas
Period	4/12/17 → 7/12/17
Internet address	http://spec17.utalca.cl/

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10.1109/SPEC.2017.8333550Licence: CC BY-NC-SA

Capacitor Balancing Controller Voltage Sorting Statistics in Modular Multilevel ConvertersAccepted author manuscript, 1.04 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-SA

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title = "Capacitor Balancing Controller Voltage Sorting Statistics in Modular Multilevel Converters",

abstract = "Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) are made up of many submodules (SMs) connected in series. In order to avoid semiconductor over-voltages, SM capacitors should be kept within strict voltage limits. The capacitor balancing controller (CBC) is used to sort SM capacitor voltages prior to modulation. This paper investigates the variation in sorting complexity at steady state and transient conditions for a brute-force and past-position methodology based on the bubble sort algorithm. A focus is placed on the potential for {\textquoteleft}worst-case{\textquoteright} sorting, requiring increased computational effort. This paper forms part of on-going research to analyze the hardware constraints on MMCs with very large numbers of SMs. Simulation results based on a PSCAD/EMTDC detailed equivalent model are used for analysis and conclusions.",

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doi = "10.1109/SPEC.2017.8333550",

language = "English",

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T1 - Capacitor Balancing Controller Voltage Sorting Statistics in Modular Multilevel Converters

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AU - Barnes, Mike

AU - Coventry, Paul

N1 - Conference code: 3

PY - 2017/12/4

Y1 - 2017/12/4

N2 - Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) are made up of many submodules (SMs) connected in series. In order to avoid semiconductor over-voltages, SM capacitors should be kept within strict voltage limits. The capacitor balancing controller (CBC) is used to sort SM capacitor voltages prior to modulation. This paper investigates the variation in sorting complexity at steady state and transient conditions for a brute-force and past-position methodology based on the bubble sort algorithm. A focus is placed on the potential for ‘worst-case’ sorting, requiring increased computational effort. This paper forms part of on-going research to analyze the hardware constraints on MMCs with very large numbers of SMs. Simulation results based on a PSCAD/EMTDC detailed equivalent model are used for analysis and conclusions.

AB - Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) are made up of many submodules (SMs) connected in series. In order to avoid semiconductor over-voltages, SM capacitors should be kept within strict voltage limits. The capacitor balancing controller (CBC) is used to sort SM capacitor voltages prior to modulation. This paper investigates the variation in sorting complexity at steady state and transient conditions for a brute-force and past-position methodology based on the bubble sort algorithm. A focus is placed on the potential for ‘worst-case’ sorting, requiring increased computational effort. This paper forms part of on-going research to analyze the hardware constraints on MMCs with very large numbers of SMs. Simulation results based on a PSCAD/EMTDC detailed equivalent model are used for analysis and conclusions.

U2 - 10.1109/SPEC.2017.8333550

DO - 10.1109/SPEC.2017.8333550

M3 - Paper

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EP - 8

T2 - Southern Power Electronics Conference 2017

Y2 - 4 December 2017 through 7 December 2017

ER -

Capacitor Balancing Controller Voltage Sorting Statistics in Modular Multilevel Converters

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