Voltage balancing in three-level neutral-point-clamped converters via Luenberger observer

This paper addresses the problems associated with the dc-link capacitor voltages of the three-level neutral-point-clamped power converter: the imbalance of the capacitor voltages as well as the presence of an ac-voltage low-frequency oscillation in the dc link of the converter. In order to cope with...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Umbría Jiménez, Francisco, Gordillo Álvarez, Francisco, Gómez‐Estern Aguilar, Fabio, Salas Gómez, Francisco, Portillo Guisado, Ramón Carlos, Vázquez Pérez, Sergio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/23372
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11441/23372
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conengprac.2013.12.003
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Multilevel power converter
neutral-point-clamped (NPC) converter
voltage balancing
disturbance rejection
Luenberger observer
Descripción
Sumario:This paper addresses the problems associated with the dc-link capacitor voltages of the three-level neutral-point-clamped power converter: the imbalance of the capacitor voltages as well as the presence of an ac-voltage low-frequency oscillation in the dc link of the converter. In order to cope with them, a mathematical analysis of the capacitor voltage difference dynamics, based on a direct average continuous model, is carried out, considering a singular perturbation approach. The analysis leads to a final expression where a sinusoidal disturbance appears explicitly. Consequently, the two problems can be handled together using the ordinary formulation of a problem of regulating the output of a system subject to sinusoidal disturbances, applying classical control theory to design the controller. In this way, the controller is designed including the disturbance estimate provided by a Luenberger observer to asymptotically cancel the disturbance, while keeping also balanced the capacitor voltages. Experiments for a synchronous three-level neutral-point-clamped converter prototype are carried out to evaluate the performance and usefulness of the converter working as a grid-connected inverter under the proposed control law.