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Title: A Generalized Precharging Strategy for Soft Startup Process of the Modular Multilevel Converter-Based HVDC Systems

Abstract

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) has become one of the most promising converter technologies for medium/high-power applications, specifically for highvoltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems. One of the technical challenges associated with the operation and control of the MMC-based system is to precharge the submodule (SM) capacitors to their nominal voltage during the startup process. In this paper, considering various SM circuits, a generalized precharging strategy is proposed for the MMC-based systems, which can implement soft stratup from dc or ac side. Furthermore, the proposed precharging strategy can be applicabe for various SM circuits and MMC configurations. The proposed startup strategy does not require extra measurements and/or auxiliary power supplies. The charging current is controlled by adjusting the changing rate of the number of blocked and bypassed SM capacitors. Based on the proposed startup strategy, the startup processes of MMC/MMC-HVDC systems based on various SM circuits are analyzed and a generalized startup procedure for various MMC-HVDC systems is proposed. In addition, the uncontrollable steady-state SM capacitor voltages of various MMC-based systems are analyzed and determined, potentially useful in SM design. Our performance of the proposed strategy for various MMC-HVDC systems is evaluated based on time-domain simulation studies in the PSCAD/EMTDCmore » software environment and experimental results based on a scaled-down prototype.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)
  2. Southwest Jiaotong Univ., Chengdu (China)
  3. Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
  4. Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1376632
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 53; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 0093-9994
Publisher:
IEEE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; modular multilevel converter (MMC); high voltage direct current (HVDC); soft startup precharging process; precharging the SM capacitors

Citation Formats

Zhang, Lei, Qin, Jiangchao, Wu, Xiajie, Debnath, Suman, and Saeedifard, Maryam. A Generalized Precharging Strategy for Soft Startup Process of the Modular Multilevel Converter-Based HVDC Systems. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1109/TIA.2017.2736958.
Zhang, Lei, Qin, Jiangchao, Wu, Xiajie, Debnath, Suman, & Saeedifard, Maryam. A Generalized Precharging Strategy for Soft Startup Process of the Modular Multilevel Converter-Based HVDC Systems. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIA.2017.2736958
Zhang, Lei, Qin, Jiangchao, Wu, Xiajie, Debnath, Suman, and Saeedifard, Maryam. Sun . "A Generalized Precharging Strategy for Soft Startup Process of the Modular Multilevel Converter-Based HVDC Systems". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIA.2017.2736958. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1376632.
@article{osti_1376632,
title = {A Generalized Precharging Strategy for Soft Startup Process of the Modular Multilevel Converter-Based HVDC Systems},
author = {Zhang, Lei and Qin, Jiangchao and Wu, Xiajie and Debnath, Suman and Saeedifard, Maryam},
abstractNote = {The modular multilevel converter (MMC) has become one of the most promising converter technologies for medium/high-power applications, specifically for highvoltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems. One of the technical challenges associated with the operation and control of the MMC-based system is to precharge the submodule (SM) capacitors to their nominal voltage during the startup process. In this paper, considering various SM circuits, a generalized precharging strategy is proposed for the MMC-based systems, which can implement soft stratup from dc or ac side. Furthermore, the proposed precharging strategy can be applicabe for various SM circuits and MMC configurations. The proposed startup strategy does not require extra measurements and/or auxiliary power supplies. The charging current is controlled by adjusting the changing rate of the number of blocked and bypassed SM capacitors. Based on the proposed startup strategy, the startup processes of MMC/MMC-HVDC systems based on various SM circuits are analyzed and a generalized startup procedure for various MMC-HVDC systems is proposed. In addition, the uncontrollable steady-state SM capacitor voltages of various MMC-based systems are analyzed and determined, potentially useful in SM design. Our performance of the proposed strategy for various MMC-HVDC systems is evaluated based on time-domain simulation studies in the PSCAD/EMTDC software environment and experimental results based on a scaled-down prototype.},
doi = {10.1109/TIA.2017.2736958},
journal = {IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications},
number = 6,
volume = 53,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Pre-charging Characteristics Analysis and Control Strategy of Full Bridge MMC-HVDC
journal, June 2019