Optimal Design of a Submodule Capacitor in a Modular Multilevel Converter for Medium Voltage Motor Drives

Nguyen Van-Thang, Ji-Won Kim, Jae-Woon Lee and Byoung-Gun Park ()
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Nguyen Van-Thang: Department of Energy and Power Conversion Engineering, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
Ji-Won Kim: Department of Energy and Power Conversion Engineering, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
Jae-Woon Lee: Electric Machines and Drives Research Center, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Changwon 51543, Republic of Korea
Byoung-Gun Park: Department of Energy and Power Conversion Engineering, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: This paper proposes an algorithm for determining the optimal capacitance by utilizing a mathematical model of a submodule (SM) capacitor in a modular multilevel converter (MMC) specifically for medium voltage motor drives (MVDs). By approximating the voltage fluctuation of the SM capacitor during low-frequency operation, it is feasible to ascertain the minimum capacitance required for the SM capacitor, ensuring that its voltage fluctuations remain within an acceptable limit that is predefined as a specified value. Moreover, the study considered the injection of both a high-frequency common-mode voltage (CMV) and a circulating current to alleviate the SM voltage fluctuation during the acceleration of motor drives. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through verification using time-domain simulation results obtained using the MATLAB/SIMULINK software and real-time simulation results acquired using the OPAL-RT simulator platform.

Keywords: modular multilevel converter (MMC); optimal sizing of submodule (SM) capacitor; SM capacitor voltage ripple limit; high frequency injection (HFI); variable speed motor drives (VMD) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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