This paper presents the design and control of 12 kW medium voltage Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) prototype, providing a general overview on both the component and system levels. A top level functional overview of the sub-module (SM) converter design including features like semiconductor temperature monitoring and protections for over-voltage, overcurrent, and over-temperature to enhance reliability. The paper also offers a comprehensive system overview, utilizing OPALRT as a high-level controller. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design, a 12-kW, three-phase MMC prototype was constructed, consisting of four full-bridge (FB) SMs in each converter arm. The paper explains communication management and the integration of analog and digital signals between the physical system and the user interface controller. Finally, the system's output under various operating conditions is analyzed and presented.

A degaussing system can be used to reduce the detectability of the magnetic signature of a ship. Commonly, a degaussing system consists of a set of onboard copper coils that produce a magnetic field to compensate for the magnetic signature. High-temperature superconductive degaussing coils are considered an alternative to copper degaussing coils because of a reduction in energy losses, weight, volume, and costs. The losses of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) degaussing system can be reduced even further by powering it with a cryocooled converter with parallel mosfets. A low-duty cycle and smaller current leads can be used. These solutions eliminate most of the power source losses. This article investigates such a cryocooled converter. The effect of the low switching frequency on the converter performance is tested. A prototype that can operate at cryogenic temperatures was built. The converter powers an HTS coil. It was found that a load current of 50 A can be achieved with a duty cycle of just 0.025 at an input voltage of 3.5 V while still meeting the requirement of a maximum current ripple of 0.5%. At a switching frequency higher than 100 Hz, the converter's performance deteriorates. Also, oscillations were observed in the circuit. This is a problem due to the low blocking voltage of the mosfets. The parasitic inductances in the circuit have a high impact on the performance because the resistance in the circuit is very low.

To test high-voltage (HV) equipment with increasingly complex transients obtained from various power system studies, this article demonstrates a hardware implementation of a medium-voltage (MV) submodule (SM) to be used in a modular multilevel converter (MMC)-based HV arbitrary wave shape generator (AWG). The MV SM is scalable with its own onboard auxiliary power supply (APS), and it is constructed by connecting three full-bridge SMs in series from the commercially available component. The designed MV SM can be operated for a wide voltage range of 0.8-2.7 kV to incorporate different test objects ranging from HV insulation material to MV equipment and generate a wide output range of 0.12-1.2 kV. Considering the hardware nonidealities in the APS, gate driver, and switches, the series operation of three SMs is ensured using an arm energy controller. Based on the current-based model of APS, SM capacitance design criteria are updated for variable-frequency output waveform, and the minimum dc-link voltage is calculated for the proper start-up of this scalable MMC module. Apart from the variable voltage per SM, the HV AWG application poses different conditions, such as a low value of SM capacitance value and the HV dc sources with a current rating of a few tens of milliamperes. Hence, this article proposes exclusive design guidelines for the proper start-up, steady-state, and shutdown operation of the MMC-based AWG. In addition, this article dives deeper analytically into the soft start-up algorithm to understand its working principle and to design the average charging current within the limit for any number of SMs of the arm. In the end, their performance is showcased with a single MV SM per arm, operating at a different voltage (0.8-2.7 kV) and frequency levels (1-600 Hz) and generating different wave shapes, such as triangular, sinusoidal with different harmonics, and pulse waveforms. In addition, the fault ride-through capability is verified for the MMC-based HV AWG.

The transition from the conventional electrical power distribution system to ones that incorporate more stochastic electrical sources is resulting in a need for more robust and dynamic forms of power delivery. One solution to the various issues of power balancing and control is the utilization of additional frequencies within the distribution network. By having a greater variety of operational frequencies, the resulting decoupled power flow enables the system to have a higher degree of flexibility and functionality. This paper presents a controller for load-interfacing power electronic converters that operate within a system consisting of several ac frequencies as well as a superposed dc offset. The power exchange capabilities of this multifrequency converter, such as the decoupled power transfer between different operating frequencies are analyzed and demonstrated. Likewise, the underlying control structure is easily modifiable for a wide range of frequency combinations. The resulting increased level of active and reactive power control can then be utilized by the distribution network to ensure a more enhanced and stable transition to an electrically diverse and smarter microgrid. Simulation results for several different operating points are presented.

Medium voltage dc microgrids seeks to compete with conventional ac systems by providing various benefits regarding electrical power availability and efficiency. One method of achieving this goal is to provide a more effective and reliable interface to renewable energy sources and es pecially electrical storage devices. This paper presents a multilevel, cascaded converter topology that allows for the integration of various low voltage power sources and storage units into a single string of series connected half-bridge submodules. The resulting topology allows the system to function as medium-voltage dc voltage source. By implementing an additional, nestled current loop, guided by passive tuned filters, the converter controls the power flow between the submodules and the system, thus achieving power balance in all operating modes. This paper presents the underlying converter control principle for configurations containing electrical battery interfacing devices. Simulation and experimental results from a scaled prototype demonstrate the converters capabilities for a wide range of output power delivery.

This paper presents a multilevel, cascaded converter topology that allows for integrations of combined photovoltaic and battery storage units. The modular features of the system enable the series connection of PV panels that, in turn, have a parallel connection to a specified voltage level. These voltage levels stem from a series string of power electronic submodules. Likewise, low voltage energy storage units are interfaced to the upper arm of the system via identical converter modules and provide various directions of dc and ac active power flow, depending on the mode of operation. By implementing additional, nestled current loops, guided by passive filters, the system controls the power flow between the photo-voltaic string, batteries and the low voltage dc terminal. The enhanced level of power flow allows the converter to achieve both a controlled energy exchange as well as various auxiliary services in the DC system. This paper demonstrates three distinct types of power flow that are achievable with by combining the multilevel topology along with multifrequency operations. Simulation results from a representative system model are utilised to demonstrate the three possible modes of operation.

This paper reviews the currently available dc micro-grids and dc grids. Currently, commonly existing and proposed dc microgrids are designed to provide sufficeint energy during system disturbance as in ac grid and, are mainly voltage stiff systems. It also compares the voltage stiff systems to a low energy system, which represents voltage weak dc system, from systems point of view. First, the definition of voltage weak dc systems is provided from a system perspective. Comparisons of both dc systems are reviewed on stability complexity, fault detection and isolation strategies and devices, and power management approaches. Various challenges and opportunities of voltage weak dc systems are briefly addressed. And also several architectures and topologies for voltage weak dc distribution systems are reviewed. Finally, this paper identifies a comparative advantage of such systems from a control, protection and system operation standpoints.

Distributed Generation has created the need for new types of smart dc grids developments. The multiple generation sources, bi-directional power flow, power flow time co-ordination and management bring significant benefits as well as challenges for current ac electrical grids and emerging dc microgrids. In particular, the effect of voltage weak distribution systems on protection concepts and approaches needs to be understood, investigated, and accounted for. This paper describes principles of protection of voltage weak dc grid concepts. New alternative protection designs are proposed and their benefits and challenges are discussed. Likewise, special circuit configurations are proposed to improve fault discrimination. Fault-induced voltage transients are used to detect and isolate faulty part of the dc distribution grid.