As wide-bandgap devices continue to experience deeper penetration in commercial applications, there are still a number of factors which make the adoption of such technologies difficult. One of the most notable issues with the application of wide-bandgap technologies is meeting existing noise requirements and regulations. Due to the faster dv/dt and di/dt of SiC devices, more noise is generated in comparison to Si IGBTs. Therefore, in order to fully experience the benefits offered by this new technology, the noise must either be filtered or mitigated by other means. A survey of various DC/DC topologies was conducted in order to find a candidate for a battery interface in a UPS system. A three-level NPC topology was explored for its potential benefit in terms of noise, efficiency, and additional features. This converter topology was modeled, simulated, and a hardware prototype constructed for evaluation within a UPS system, although its uses are not limited to such applications. A UPS system is a good example of an application with strict noise requirements which must be fulfilled according to IEC standards. Based on a newly devised mode of operation, this converter was verified to produce no common-mode voltage under ideal conditions, and was able to provide a 6 dB reduction in common-mode voltage emissions in the UPS prototype. This was done while achieving a peak efficiency in excess of 99% with the ability to provide bidirectional power flow between the UPS and battery backup. The converter was verified to operate at the rated UPS conditions of 20 kW while converting between a total DC bus voltage of 800 V and a nominal battery voltage of 540 V. / Master of Science / As material advancements allow for the creation of devices with superior electrical characteristics compared to their predecessors, there are still a number of factors which cause these devices to see limited usage in commercial applications. These devices, typically referred to as wide-bandgap devices, include silicon carbide (SiC) transistors. These SiC devices allow for much faster switching speeds, greater efficiencies, and lower system volume compared to their silicon counterparts. However, due to the faster switching of these devices, there is more electromagnetic noise generated. In many applications, this noise must be filtered or otherwise mitigated in order to meet international standards for commercial use. Consequently, new converter topologies and configurations are necessary to provide the most benefit of the new wide-bandgap devices while still meeting the strict noise requirements. A survey of topologies was conducted and the modeling, design, and testing of one topology was performed for use in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). This converter was able to provide a noticeable reduction in noise compared to standard topologies while still achieving very high efficiency at rated conditions. This converter was also verified to provide power bidirectionally—both when the UPS is charging the battery backup, and when the battery is supplying power to the load.

This thesis project focuses on the simulation, design, hardware realization, and performance evaluation of a Three-phase Three-level (3-L) Sparse Neutral Point Clamped Converter (SNPCC) for Industrial Variable Speed Drives (VSDs). The basic operating principle of the SNPCC is briefly described based on switching functions. Accordingly, the modulation strategies as a combination of switching sequences are introduced. Three representative strategies are selected to be verified in this project. Afterward, active and passive components are selected based on analytical analysis mainly focusing on semiconductors losses, AC-side differential mode and common mode stresses. Meantime, the analytical analysis enables a straightforward performance comparison among the selected modulation strategies. Additionally, the reverse recovery process in the anti-parallel diode is identified, of which the energy losses are calculated. A calorimetric method is adopted in this project, which allows accurate temperature rise monitoring and provides a reliable way to measure the power losses generated by semiconductors. Eventually, an 800V 7.5kW prototype is constructed and put under test. The performance of the designed SNPCC is therefore evaluated and compared from losses and AC-side flux-linkage ripples perspectives, with the promising features highlighted and limits indicated. / Projektet fokuserar på simulering, konstruktion, hårdvarutillverkning och utvärdering av en trefas tre-nivå (3-L) Sparse Neutral Point Clamped Converter (SNPCC) för industriella varvtalsstyrda motordrifter (VSD). SNPCC:s grundläggandefunktionsprincip beskrivs kortfattat utifrån så kallade switchningsfunktioner. Därefter introduceras moduleringsstrategierna som en kombination av switchningssekvenser. Tre representativa strategier har valts ut för att verifieras i detta projekt. Därefter väljs aktiva och passiva komponenter på grundval av en analys som främst fokuserar på halvledarförluster och ledningsbundna störningar på växelsströmssidan. Analysen gör det möjligt att göra en enkel jämförelse av prestanda mellan de valda moduleringsstrategierna. Dessutom identifieras body-diodens återhämtningsprocess och energiförlusterna beräknas. I detta projekt används en kalorimetrisk förlustberäkning, som möjliggör noggrann övervakning av temperaturökningen och ger ett tillförlitligt sätt att mäta energiförlusterna i effekthalvledarna. Slutligen konstrueras och testas en 800V 7.5kW-prototyp. Prestandan hos den konstruerade SNPCC:n utvärderas med hänseende till förluster och flödesrippel på växelströmssidan. Fördelarna för den föreslagna tekniken lyfts fram och begränsningarna anges.

The high penetration of renewable energy and the emerging concept of micro-grid system raises challenges to the high power conversion techniques. Multilevel converter plays the key role in such applications and is studied in detail in the dissertation. The topologies and modulation techniques for multilevel converter are categorized at first by a thorough literature survey. The pros and cons for various multilevel topologies and modulation techniques are discussed. The 3-level neutral point clamped (NPC) topology is selected to build a 200kVA, 20 kHz power conversion system. The modularized phase leg building block of the converter is carefully designed to achieve low loss and stress for high frequency and high power operation. The switching characteristics for all the commutation loops of 3-level phase leg are evaluated by double pulse tests. The switching performance is optimized for loss and stress tradeoff. A detailed loss model is built for system loss distribution and loss breakdown calculation. Loss and stress for the phase leg and 3-phase system are quantified at all power factors. The space vector modulation (SVM) for 3-level NPC converter is investigated to achieve loss reduction, neutral voltage balance and noise reduction. The loss model and simulation model provides a quantitative analysis for loss and neutral voltage ripple tradeoff. An improved SVM method is proposed to reduce NP imbalance and switching loss simultaneously. This method also ensures an evenly distributed device loss in each phase leg and gives a constant system efficiency under different power factors. Based on the improved modulation strategy, a new modulation scheme is then proposed with largely reduced conduction loss and switching stress. Moreover, the device loss and stress distribution on a phase leg is more even. This scheme also features on the simplified implementation. The improved switching characteristics for the proposed method are verified by double pulse tests. Also the system loss breakdown and the phase leg loss distribution analysis shows the loss reduction and redistribution result. The harmonic filter for the grid interface converter is designed with LCL topology. A detailed inductor current ripple analysis derives the maximum inductor current ripple and the ripple distribution in a line cycle. The inverter side inductor is designed with the optimum loss and size trade-off. The grid side inductor is designed based on grid code attenuation requirement. Different damping circuits for LCL filter are evaluated in detail. The filter design is verified by both simulation and hardware experiment. The average model for the 3-level NPC converter and its equivalent circuit is derived with the consideration of damping circuit in both ABC and d-q frame. The modeling and control loop design is verified by transfer function measurement on real hardware. The control loops design is also tested and verified on real hardware. The interleaved DC/DC chopper is introduced at last. The different interleaving methods and their current ripple are analyzed in detail with the coupled and non-coupled inductor. An integrated coupled inductor based on 3-dimentional core structure is proposed to achieve high power density and provide both CM and DM impedance for the inductor current and output current. / Ph. D.

Cette thèse vise à élaborer de nouvelles stratégies de commande basées sur la commande prédictive pour le système de génération d’énergie éolienne. La topologie des systèmes de production éolienne basées sur le Générateur Asynchrone à Double Alimentation (GADA) qui convient à des plateformes de génération dans la gamme de puissance de 1.5 à 6 MW est abordée. Du point de vue technologique, le convertisseur à trois niveaux et clampé par le neutre (3L-NPC) est considéré comme une bonne solution pour une puissance élevée en raison de ses avantages: capacité à réduire la distorsion harmonique de la tension de sortie et du courant, et augmentation de la capacité du convertisseur grâce à une tension réduite appliquée à chaque semi-conducteur de puissance. Une description détaillée de la commande prédictive à ensemble de commande fini (FCS-MPC) avec un horizon de prédiction de deux pas est présentée pour deux boucles de régulation: celle liée au convertisseur connecté au réseau et celle du convertisseur connecté au GADA. Le principe de la commande repose sur l’utilisation d’un modèle de prédiction permettant de prédire le comportement du système pour chaque état de commutation du convertisseur. La minimisation d’une fonction de coût appropriée prédéfinie permet d’obtenir la commutation optimale à appliquer au convertisseur. La thèse étudie premièrement les problèmes liées à la compensation du temps de calcul de la commande et au choix et aux pondérations de la fonction de coût. Ensuite, le problème de stabilité de la commande FCS-MPC est abordé en considérant une fonction de Lyapunov dans la minimisation de la fonction de coût. Finalement, une étude sur la compensation des effets des temps morts du convertisseur est présentée. / This thesis aims to elaborate new control strategies based on Model Predictive control for wind energy generation system. We addressed the topology of doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) based wind generation systems which is suitable for generation platform power in the range in 1.5-6 MW. Furthermore, from the technological point of view, the three-level neutral-point clamped (3L-NPC) inverter configuration is considered a good solution for high power due to its advantages: capability to reduce the harmonic distortion of the output voltage and current, and increase the capacity of the converter thanks to a decreased voltage applied to each power semiconductor.In this thesis, we presented a detailed description of finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) with two step horizon for two control schemes: grid and DFIG connected 3L-NPC inverter. The principle of the proposed control scheme is to use system model to predict the behaviour of the system for every switching states of the inverter. Then, the optimal switching state that minimizes an appropriate predefined cost function is selected and applied directly to the inverter.The study of issues such as delay compensation, computational burden and selection of weighting factor are also addressed in this thesis. In addition, the stability problem of FCS-MPC is solved by considering the control Lyapunov function in the design procedure. The latter study is focused on the compensation of dead-time effect of power converter.