<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> In low power distributed generation systems low cost together with the energy quality requirements are a key element. It is known that quality of voltage waveforms generated from multilevel converters is better in comparison with those from two-level. Due to advancements in power electronics and microcontrollers, multilevel converters are being built with the use of integrated power modules thus this type of converters are getting more compact in size. This paper investigates performance of a derivation from the most popular multilevel topology - a neutral point clamped converter (NPC). Applying the idea for simplifying the topology by reducing the number of switches (what came from drives) this NPC converter is capable of bidirectional AC/DC/AC operation. For the AC/DC part two schemes are tested: Direct Torque Control Space Vector Modulated and Field Oriented Control but for the DC/AC part a control scheme utilizing the proportional-resonant controller was chosen. Laboratory setup was based on a permanent magnet synchronous generator with control and acquisition completed with the help of dSpace 1005 control box. Experimental verification shows that system operates properly.</p></abstract>

In low power distributed generation systems low cost together with the energy quality requirements are a key element. It is known that quality of voltage waveforms generated from multilevel converters is better in comparison with those from two-level. Due to advancements in power electronics and microcontrollers, multilevel converters are being built with the use of integrated power modules thus this type of converters are getting more compact in size. This paper investigates performance of a derivation from the most popular multilevel topology - a neutral point clamped converter (NPC). Applying the idea for simplifying the topology by reducing the number of switches (what came from drives) this NPC converter is capable of bidirectional AC/DC/AC operation. For the AC/DC part two schemes are tested: Direct Torque Control Space Vector Modulated and Field Oriented Control but for the DC/AC part a control scheme utilizing the proportional-resonant controller was chosen. Laboratory setup was based on a permanent magnet synchronous generator with control and acquisition completed with the help of dSpace 1005 control box. Experimental verification shows that system operates properly.

Application of Simplified Neutral Point Clamped Multilevel Converter in a Small Wind Turbine

Doctoral Student, Warsaw University of Technology - WUT

Electrical, Control and Communication Engineering

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

In low power distributed generation systems low cost together with the energy quality requirements are a key element. It is known that quality of voltage...

Application of Simplified Neutral Point Clamped Multilevel Converter in a Small Wind Turbine

Published Online: May 17, 2014

Page range: 5 - 10

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ecce-2014-0001

Keywords
AC-DC power converters, Power conversion harmonics, Wind energy generation, Bidirectional power flow

© Riga Technical University

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Application of Simplified Neutral Point Clamped Multilevel Converter in a Small Wind Turbine

Published Online: May 17, 2014

Page range: 5 - 10

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ecce-2014-0001

KeywordsAC-DC power converters, Power conversion harmonics, Wind energy generation, Bidirectional power flow

© Riga Technical University

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords
AC-DC power converters, Power conversion harmonics, Wind energy generation, Bidirectional power flow