Indirect thermal control for improved reliability of Modular Multilevel Converter by utilizing circulating current

Mohammadkazem Bakhshizadeh Dowlatabadi, Ke Ma, Poh Chiang Loh, Frede Blaabjerg

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) has recently become a popular multilevel topology for high-power applications, where the reliability performance is a crucial design consideration. In this paper the impacts of the circulating current in the MMC to the loss and thermal loading of power semiconductor devices are comprehensively investigated. Also a novel control strategy by utilizing the circulating current is proposed to enhance the reliability performance of MMC in order to limit the amplitude of thermal cycles. It is concluded that the circulating current may change the losses and thermal loading of the power devices, and by proper controlling the amount of circulating current, the temperature fluctuation or thermal cycling in the power device can be relieved, and thereby contributing to improved reliability performance according to many lifetime models/testing results for power devices.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 30th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2015
Number of pages7
PublisherIEEE Press
Publication dateMar 2015
Pages2167-2173
ISBN (Print)978-1-4799-6735-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2015
Event30th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2015 - Charlotte, United States
Duration: 15 Mar 201519 Mar 2015

Conference

Conference30th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCharlotte
Period15/03/201519/03/2015
SeriesI E E E Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition. Conference Proceedings
ISSN1048-2334

Keywords

  • Active Thermal Control
  • Reliability
  • Power Electronics
  • Modular Multilevel Converter
  • Circulating Current

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