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Vodden, John Alan (2012) Modulation techniques for the cascaded H-bridge multi-level converter. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

This thesis investigates space-vector modulation and one-dimensional modulation applied to the cascaded H-bridge multi-level converter as a model for one port of the UNIFLEX-PM power converter system. The UNIFLEX-PM converter is a modular system including galvanic isolation at medium frequency intended to replace transformers in future distribution and transmission systems. Power converters in this application must produce good quality voltage waveforms with low power loss.

In this work, modulation methods are developed using theoretical analyses and simulation studies, before being verified experimentally using a low voltage, laboratory-based power converter operating at the low switching frequencies applicable to high-power applications.

Using space-vector modulation, the relationship between the phase of the sampling process and the distortion of the line voltages is used to reduce the harmonic distortion of the output voltages. Different loads are attached to the cells of the cascaded H-bridge converter and limits are derived determining the range of loads for which it is possible to equalize the capacitor voltages. An algorithm which uses redundant states to balance the capacitor voltages without increasing the switching frequency is applied to space-vector modulation and one-dimensional modulation and its performance is compared to the derived limits.

The geometrical effect of capacitor voltage ripple on the space-vector diagram is used to derive the influence on the spectrum of the line-voltages. It is identified that second and fourth harmonics of the capacitor voltages contribute to fifth and seventh harmonics of the line voltages. A feed-forward scheme to compensate for the ripple of the capacitor voltage is derived and is shown to reduce the magnitude of un-wanted harmonics.

All the methods developed in this thesis can be applied to converters with any number of cells.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Clare, J.C. Wheeler, P.W.
Keywords:	Electric current converters, modulation (Electronics)
Subjects:	T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Engineering > Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Item ID:	14498
Depositing User:	EP, Services
Date Deposited:	26 Aug 2014 09:55
Last Modified:	15 Dec 2017 17:21
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/14498

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