Abstract:

Multilevel power electronic converters allow increased voltage levels to be managed without requiring higher rated switching devices. Modular multilevel converters offer advantages of improved flexibility and reliability, compared to consolidated inverter designs, but little work has been done to date to explore how they can be best controlled in a distributed sense to match their topological structure. This project will investigate how multilevel voltage source converters built from identical modules can be optimally controlled for current control with both open loop and closed loop operation. The project will first develop appropriate theoretical algorithms for both open and closed loop control, and will then experimentally confirm the viability of these algorithms under various operating conditions.

This seminar will outline state of the art of multilevel inverter topologies, modulation method and current regulation method.  The planned research on distributed controller for multilevel inverters, and preliminary research into DC-DC converters for the multilevel inverter will be described.