A Half-Bridge Modular Multilevel Converter Topology with DC Fault Tolerance Capability

Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) are extensively used in high-voltage and high-power applications such as HVDC transmission systems due to their unique advantages, in terms of modularity and power quality in particular. In such systems, DC short-circuit fault is a common and severe fault. A Half-...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Saleki, Araz, Pordanjani, Bahram Jahanbakhshi, Rezazade, Saman, Gupta, Mahima, Bina, Mohammad Tavakoli
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
DC Fault
Fault tolerance
Fault tolerant systems
Fault-tolerant
HVDC transmission
Limiting
Modular Multilevel Converter
Multilevel converters
Network topology
Protection
Rectifiers
Stability
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Summary:Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) are extensively used in high-voltage and high-power applications such as HVDC transmission systems due to their unique advantages, in terms of modularity and power quality in particular. In such systems, DC short-circuit fault is a common and severe fault. A Half-Bridge (HB) based MMC converter behaves similar to an uncontrolled rectifier under a DC fault condition, resulting in high fault currents. This paper proposes a pole-to-pole DC fault-tolerant half-bridge MMC converter suitable for HVDC systems. In the proposed converter, each of the arms feature the conventional HB sub-module in series with the proposed fault-tolerant sub-modules. The approach is capable of the blocking mode of operation to block the AC grid from feeding into the DC fault. Further, the work proposes a limiting mode of operation to maintain the AC grid stability while limiting the fault current during non-permanent faults thus improving the converter reliability. Together with detailed analytical results, the paper also presents simulation and experimental results.
ISSN:2329-3748
DOI:10.1109/ECCE50734.2022.9947627