A Novel Seven-Level Active Neutral Point Clamped Converter with Reduced Active Switching Devices and DC-link Voltage

ABSTRACT:

 This paper presents a novel seven-level inverter topology for medium-voltage high-power applications. It consists of eight active switches and two inner flying-capacitor units forming a similar structure as in a conventional Active Neutral Point Clamped (ANPC) inverter. This unique arrangement reduces the number of active and passive components. A simple modulation technique reduces cost and complexity in the control system design without compromising reactive power capability. In addition, compared to major conventional 7-level inverter topologies such as the Neutral Point Clamped (NPC), Flying Capacitor (FC), Cascaded H-bridge (CHB) and Active NPC (ANPC) topologies, the new topology reduces the dc-link voltage requirement by 50%. This recued dc-link voltage makes the new topology appealing for various industrial applications. Experimental results from a 2.2 kVA prototype are presented to support the theoretical analysis presented in this paper. The prototype demonstrates a conversion efficiency of around 97.2% ± 1% for a wide load range.

KEYWORDS:

1.      Multilevel Inverter

2.      7-level inverter

3.      Active Neutral Point Clamped (ANPC) inverter

4.      Flying Capacitor

5.      Voltage Source Converter

SOFTWARE: MATLAB/SIMULINK

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

Fig. 1. Proposed seven-level three-phase inverter circuit

 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS:

Fig. 2. Some key simulated waveforms of the proposed seven-level inverter: (a) input voltage, flying capacitors voltages, phase voltage (with and without filter), and (b) voltage stress on switches, (c) current stress on switches, and (d) harmonic spectrum of the output voltage.

Fig. 3. Operation of the inverter during: (a) lagging power factor of φ𝑝𝑓 = −450 (RL load of 60 Ω + 200 mH), and (b) leading power factor of φ𝑝𝑓 = +450 (RC load of 60 Ω + 50 μF).

Fig. 4. Dynamic performance of the converter under several changes in the active power (a step change in load from no load to full load (30 Ω ), b step change in load from full load (30 Ω) to half load (60 Ω), and c step change in load from half load (60 Ω) to full load (30 Ω)).

CONCLUSION:

In this paper, a novel eight-switch seven-level Active Neutral Point Clamped inverter is proposed. Modulation techniques are explored and operation under both active and reactive power factor conditions are systematically analyzed. A comparative analysis and a set of design guidelines are presented and followed by simulation and experimental verification. Compared to conventional seven-level inverter topologies, the ANPC inverter topology requires only eight power devices for a single-phase design and halves the dc-link voltage required to produce a given ac voltage output magnitude when compared to similar circuits. For applications such as for a grid-connected PV system, this may help eliminate additional power conversion stages (boost converters) and therefore increase the efficiency and reliability of the system. Further, this reduces the voltage stress on the dc-link capacitor, which reduces the cost and size of the system design. The inverter can operate at any power factor (leading or lagging) without requiring any changes to the modulation scheme. Compared with other seven-level configurations, the performance demonstrated by the new inverter is highly competitive, potentially making it an appropriate topology choice for a wide-range of power conversion applications, e.g. variable-speed drives, electric vehicles (V2G/G2V technologies), grid-connected renewable energy systems.

REFERENCES:

[1] M. Schweizer, T. Friedli, and J. W. Kolar, “Comparative Evaluation of Advanced Three-Phase Three-Level Inverter/Converter Topologies Against Two-Level Systems,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 60, no. 12, pp. 5515-5527, Dec. 2012.

[2] H. Tian, Y. Li, Y. W. Li, “A Novel Seven-Level Hybrid-Clamped (HC) Topology for Medium Voltage Motor Drives,” IEEE Trans. Power Electron., vol. 33, no. 7, pp. 5543-5547, Jul. 2018.

[3] S. Kouro, M. Malinowski, K. Gopakumar, J. Pou, L. G. Franquelo, B. Wu, J. Rodriguez, M. A. Perez, and J. I. Leon, “Recent Advances and Industrial Applications of Multilevel Converters,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 57, no. 8, pp. 2553-2580, Aug. 2010.

[4] J. Rodríguez, J. S. Lai, and F. Z. Peng, “Multilevel Inverters: A Survey of Topologies, Controls, and Applications,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 724-738, Aug. 2002.

[5] J. I. Leon, S. Vazquez, and L. G. Franquelo, “Multilevel Converters: Control and Modulation Techniques for their Operation and Industrial Applications,” Proc. of the IEEE, vol. 105, no. 11, pp. 2066-2081, Nov. 2017.

Improved MPPT method to increase accuracy and speed in photovoltaic systems under variable atmospheric conditions

ABSTRACT:

The changes in temperature and radiation cause visible fluctuations in the output power produced by the photovoltaic (PV) panels. It is essential to keep the output voltage of the PV panel at the maximum power point (MPP) under varying temperature and radiation conditions. In this study, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method has been developed which is based on mainly two parts: the first part is adapting calculation block for the reference voltage point of MPPT and the second one is Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) block to adjust the duty cycle of PWM applied switch (Mosfet) of the DC-DC converter. In order to evaluate the robustness of the proposed method, Matlab/Simulink program has been used to compare with the traditional methods which are Perturb & Observe (P&O), Incremental Conductance (Inc. Cond.) and FLC methods under variable atmospheric conditions. When the test results are observed, it is clearly obtained that the proposed MPPT method provides an increase in the tracking capability of MPP and at the same time reduced steady state oscillations. The accuracy of the proposed method is between 99.5% and 99.9%. In addition, the time to capture MPP is 0.021 sec. It is about four times faster than P&O and five times faster than for Inc. Cond. and, furthermore, the proposed method has been compared with the conventional FLC method and it has been observed that the proposed method is faster about 28% and also its efficiency is about 1% better than FLC method.

KEYWORDS:

1.      PV

2.      MPPT methods

3.      FLC based MPPT

4.      DC-DC converter

SOFTWARE: MATLAB/SIMULINK

BLOCK DIAGRAM:

Fig. 1. Block diagram of the designed system.

 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS:

Fig. 2. The PV power with four MPPT algorithm.

Fig. 3. The speed of MPPT algorithms.

Fig. 4. The PV voltage with four MPPT algorithm.

Fig. 5. The generated PV current with four MPPT methods.

Fig. 6. The reference voltage produced by the MPPT algorithm.

Fig. 7. PV array current and load current.

Fig. 8. Fuzzy logic controller output (D).

Fig. 9. PV array voltage and load voltage.

Fig. 10. PV power for four different MPPT techniques under variable irradiance (fixed temperature).

Fig. 11. PV currents for proposed MPPT technique.

Fig. 12. PV voltages for proposed MPPT technique under variable irradiance (fixed temperature).

Fig. 13. PV power for four different MPPT techniques under variable temperature (fixed irradiance).

Fig. 14. PV currents for proposed MPPT technique.

Fig. 15. PV voltages for proposed MPPT technique under variable temperature (fixed irradiance).

Fig. 16. (a) P-V characteristics curve, (b) Tracking global peak point for proposed MPPT technique.

CONCLUSION:

This study proposes a novel MPPT method and the detailed performance comparison with commonly used methods such as P&O, Incremental conductance and FLC techniques is achieved. Under sudden change in atmospheric operating conditions, the proposed MPPT method performs better performance than other methods to determine MPP. The efficiency of proposed MPPT method is between 99.5% and 99.9%, while P&O is between 91% and 98%, Inc. Cond. Is between 96% and 99% and FLC is between 98.8% and 99.4% for all case studies. The proposed MPPT method has achieved the lowest oscillation rate at the MPP compared to commonly used methods. This brings the method to the forefront in terms of efficiency. The duration of the proposed MPPT technique to reach a steady state has been measured as 0.021 sec. It is about four times faster than P&O and five times faster than for Inc. Cond. and, furthermore, the proposed method has been compared with the conventional FLC method and it has been observed that the proposed method is faster about 28% than FLC method this means the speed of proposed MPPT technique is the best. At the same time, the amount of oscillation is very low compared to conventional methods. The accuracy of the algorithm is high (%99.9 in many study cases) and also the proposed method is easy to implement in the system.

REFERENCES:

[1] Luo HY, Wen HQ, Li XS, Jiang L, Hu YH. Synchronous buck converter based low cost and high-efficiency sub-module DMPPT PV system under partial shading conditions. Energy Convers Manage 2016;126:473–87.

[2] Babaa SE, Armstrong M, Pickert V. Overview of maximum power point tracking control methods for PV systems. J Power Energy Eng 2014;2:59–72.

[3] Dolara AFR, Leva S. Energy comparison of seven MPPT techniques for PV systems. J Electromagn Anal Appl 2009;3:152–62.

[4] Ngan MS, Tan CW. A study of maximum power point tracking algorithms for standalone photovoltaic systems. Applied Power Electronics Colloquium (IAPEC): IEEE. 2011. p. 22–7.

[5] Liu JZ, Meng HM, Hu Y, Lin ZW, Wang W. A novel MPPT method for enhancing energy conversion efficiency taking power smoothing into account. Energy Convers Manage 2015;101:738–48.

SVM–DTC Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Driven Electric Vehicle with Bidirectional Converter

ABSTRACT:

Electric Vehicle (EV) technology provides an effective solution for achieving better performance compared to conventional vehicles. This paper highlights the use of a bidirectional buck-boost converter for a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) driven EV. The bidirectional buck–boost converter interfaces the low-voltage battery with a high-voltage dc bus and maintains a bidirectional power flow. The batteries are at low voltage to obtain higher volumetric efficiencies, and the dc link is at higher voltage to have higher efficiency on the motor side. PMSMs are known as a good candidate for EV due to their superior properties such as high torque/volume ratio, power factor and high efficiency. This paper also includes Space Vector Modulation (SVM) based Direct Torque Control (DTC) which controls the PMSM to reduce the ripples in both torque and speed. A closed loop control system with a Proportional Integral (PI) controller in the speed loop has been designed to operate in constant torque and flux weakening regions. Extensive simulation work was carried out using Matlab/ Simulink, and the results established shows that the performance of the controller both in transient as well as in steady state is quite satisfactory.

KEYWORDS:

1.      Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM)

2.      Electric vehicle

3.      Simulation

4.       SVM

5.      DTC bidirectional converter

SOFTWARE: MATLAB/SIMULINK

BLOCK DIAGRAM:

Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of the proposed system

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS:

Fig. 2: Response of reference torque and generated torque

Fig. 3: Response of reference Speed and generated Speed

Fig. 4: Stator Flux

Fig. 5: Stator Flux Trajectory

Fig. 6: Velocity of traction system

Fig. 7: Response of dc link voltage

Fig. 8: Transient state of dc link voltage

Fig. 9: Phase Current of PMSM

CONCLUSION:

The present paper has presented a bidirectional buck boost converter for a PMSM drive controlled by SVM based DTC. This controller determinates the desired amplitude of torque hysteresis band. It is shown that the proposed scheme results in improved stator flux and torque responses under steady state condition. The main advantage is the improvement of torque and flux ripple characteristics at any speed region; this provides an opportunity for motor operation under minimum switching loss and noise. So this produces the required torque with minimum torque ripples. A speed controller has been designed successfully for closed loop operation of the PMSM drive system so that the motor runs at the commanded or reference speed. The simulated system has a fast response with zero steady state error thus validating the design method of the speed controller.

REFERENCES:

[1] D. Sandalow, Ending Oil Dependence. Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution, Jan. 2007

[2] A. Emadi, Y. J. Lee, and K. Rajashekara, “Power electronics and motor drives in electric, hybrid electric, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 55, no. 6, pp. 2237–2245, Jun. 2008.

[3] F. Caricchi, F. Crescimbini, G. Noia, and D. Pirolo, “Experimental study of a bidirectional DC–DC converter for the DC link voltage control and the regenerative braking in PM motor drives devoted to electrical vehicles,” in Proc. IEEE APEC, Orlando, FL, Feb. 1994, vol. 1, pp. 381–386

[4] Enrique L. Carrillo Arroyo, “Modeling and simulation of permanent magnet synchronous motor drive system,” M.S Thesis 2006.

[5] J. Rais, M. P. Donsión, “Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM). Parameters influence on the synchronization process of a PMSM,” Articel

Implementation of Solar Photovoltaic System with Universal Active Filtering Capability

ABSTRACT:

In this work, a novel technique based on second order sequence filter and proportional resonant controller is proposed for control of universal active power filter integrated with PV array (UAPF-PV). Using a second order sequence filter and sampling it at zero crossing instant of the load voltage, the active component of distorted load current is estimated, which is used to generate reference signal for shunt active filter. The proposed method has good accuracy in extracting fundamental active component of distorted and unbalanced load currents with reduced mathematical computations. Along with power quality improvement, the system also generates clean energy through the PV array system integrated to its DC-link. The UAPF-PV  integrates benefits of power quality improvement and distributed generation. The system performance is experimentally evaluated on a prototype in the laboratory under a variety of disturbance conditions such as PCC voltage fall/rise, load unbalancing and variation in solar irradiation.

KEYWORDS:

1.      Power quality

2.      Universal active power filter

3.      Adaptive filtering

4.      Photovoltaic array

5.      Maximum power point tracking

6.      Sequence filter

SOFTWARE: MATLAB/SIMULINK

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

Fig.1. System configuration of UAPF-PV System

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS:

Fig. 2. Simulated Performance of UAPF-PV under Sags and Swells in

Voltages at the PCC

Fig. 3. Simulated Performance of UAPF-PV System under load unbalance

Condition

Fig. 4. Simulated Performance of UAPF-PV System under irradiation

Variation

      (a) Harmonic Spectra and THD of Grid Current                              (b) Harmonic Spectra and THD of

                                                                         Load Current

Fig. 5. Steady State Performance of UAPF-PV System

CONCLUSION:

The performance of a novel control technique for solar PV system with universal active filtering, has been evaluated. The fundamental positive sequence components of nonlinear load currents are extracted using a second order sequence filter along with a zero cross detection technique. The series active filter is controlled using a proportional resonant controller implemented in α − β domain along with feedforward component. The system performs satisfactorily under disturbances such as PCC voltage dip/rise, changes in solar radiation and load disturbances. Apart from improving power quality, the system also supplies power from a PV array into the grid. A comparison of the proposed control shows that the system has improved performance as compared to conventional control techniques with low computational burden. The system integrates distributed generation along with enhancing power quality of distribution system.

REFERENCES:

[1] S. J. Pinto, G. Panda, and R. Peesapati, “An implementation of hybrid control strategy for distributed generation system interface using Xilinx system generator,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 2735–2745, Oct 2017.           

[2] B. Singh, A. Chandra, K. A. Haddad, Power Quality: Problems and Mitigation Techniques. London: Wiley, 2015.

[3] S. Singh, B. Singh, G. Bhuvaneswari, and V. Bist, “A power quality improved bridgeless converter-based computer power supply,” IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 52, no. 5, pp. 4385–4394, Sept 2016.

[4] M. Peterson and B. N. Singh, “Multipulse controlled ac-dc converters for harmonic mitigation and reactive power management,” IET Power Electronics, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 443–455, July 2009.

[5] B. Singh, M. Kandpal, and I. Hussain, “Control of grid tied smart pv dstatcom system using an adaptive technique,” IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 3986–3993, Sept 2018.