In this thesis, a compact and light primary switched conversion system for AC-fed railway propulsion is investigated. It is characterized by soft switching of all converter stages and a source commutated primary converter comprising series connected valves. Both weight and volume of the conversion system are reduced significantly compared to a conventional system with a low frequency transformer. The conversion system is made up of N isolated AC/DC conversion cells, each comprising a cycloconverter and a voltage source converter (VSC) coupled by a medium frequency transformer. The cells are series connected on the AC side and connected to a common DC-link. Thus, 2N+1 voltage levels can be synthesized at the AC terminal and the voltage stress on the transformer and line filter is reduced compared to a one cell solution. Series connection of semiconductor valves allows independent choice of blocking voltage and number of converter cells. Choosing two converter cells is an attractive compromise. Five level output reduces the harmonic distortion and simplify transformer and line filter design while keeping the complexity of the conversion system low. The mutually commutated converter (MCC) allows a transformer frequency in the range of 4 to 8 kHz without derating the line side converter due to zero voltage switching of the VSC. Modern magnetic materials, like high silicon steel, amorphous and noncrystalline materials allow design of the transformer with high efficiency at elevated frequencies. In a 15 kV system, the peak voltage at the catenary is typically beyond 32 kV which is far beyond the voltage capability of currently available semiconductors. Therefore, several semiconductors are connected in series. Favourable commutation conditions and a new gate drive arrangement allow snubberless commutation of the primary converter stage. Thus, the primary converter can be highly integrated, reducing both weight and volume. The conversion system can be placed on the roof or in the underframe without compromising efficiency or vehicle performance. The feasibility of the conversion concept has been demonstrated by means of a down-scaled prototype. Snubberless commutation of series connected valves is demonstrated. / QC 20100723

Ce travail concerne l'étude théorique,l’analyse numérique et la validationexpérimentale d'une topologie de convertisseurd’électronique de puissance basée sur unconvertisseur multiniveau modulaire entrelacéavec transformateur moyenne fréquence.L’architecture est adaptée pour l’étage deconversion AC-DC dans les applications detransformateur d'électronique de puissance pourla connexion entre un réseau alternatif moyennetension et un réseau continu basse tension.L’entrelacement réduit les pertes par conductiondans les interrupteurs. Le transformateurmoyenne fréquence 10 kHz assure une isolationgalvanique et connecte le convertisseurmultiniveau modulaire entrelacé à unconvertisseur pont complet. Avec comme pointde départ la structure, le principe defonctionnement, la modélisation, la technique demodulation et le schéma de commande sontdiscutés. Une caractéristique du convertisseur estla génération simultanée de la tension du réseaubasse fréquence et de la tension primaire dutransformateur moyenne fréquence.L'équilibrage de la tension des condensateurs etla minimisation du courant de circulation sontcombinés dans un seul algorithme. La commanderégule le courant alternatif et la tension du buscontinu, du côté haute tension, ainsi que latension continue et le flux de puissance, du côtébasse tension. La validation expérimentale duconvertisseur est réalisée avec un prototype de720 W monophasé à l’échelle réduite. Lesrésultats démontrent la stabilité du système decommande lors d'opérations en régimepermanent et dynamiques (pas de charge,inversion du flux de puissance). / This work aims to present thetheoretical study, the numerical analysis and theexperimental validation of a power electronicsconverter topology based on an interleavedmodular multilevel converter with mediumfrequencytransformer. The architecture issuitable for the AC-DC stage in solid-statetransformer applications for the connectionbetween a medium-voltage AC grid and a lowvoltageDC grid. The interleaving reduces theswitch conduction losses. The 10 kHz mediumfrequencytransformer provides galvanicisolation and connects the interleaved modularmultilevel converter to a full-bridge converter.From the converter structure, the principle ofoperation, the modeling, the modulationtechnique, and the control scheme are discussed.One feature of the converter is the simultaneousgeneration of the low-frequency grid voltageand the medium-frequency transformer primaryvoltage. The capacitor voltage balancing and thecirculating currents minimization are combinedtogether in a single algorithm. The controlsystem regulates the AC current and the DC busvoltage, on the high-voltage side, and the DCvoltage and power flow, on the low voltage side.The experimental validation of the converter ismade with a scaled-down single-phase 720 Wprototype. The results demonstrate the controlsystem stability in steady-state and dynamic(load step, power flow inversion) operations.

In this thesis, a new HVDC-based converter system for wind farms is investigated. It is based on a mutually commutated soft-switching converter system and provides a unique integrated solution for the wind turbine generator drive systems, the wind turbine interconnection, and the power conversion for HVDC transmission. In a wind farm, the mutually commutated converter system is a distributed system. A medium-frequency collection grid connects the converter station, equipped with a single-phase voltage source converter and a medium-frequency transmission transformer, with the wind turbines, each containing a cycloconverter and a medium-frequency distribution transformer. In this thesis, various system aspects regarding the application of a distributed mutually commutated converter system in a wind farm are investigated. Special attention is paid to the design of a medium-frequency collection grid that has an acceptable level of transient overvoltages, the design of medium-frequency transformers with suitable magnetic, electric and thermal properties, and the development of a strategy to commutate the voltage source converter during low power generation. In order to adapt the mutually commutated converter system for an application in a wind farm, it had to be further developped. Different carrier-based and space-vector oriented modulation methods have been investigated. It turns out that for any load angle there is a quasi-discontinuous pulse width modulation strategy that can produce the same pulse patterns as space vector modulation. In addition, a modulation strategy has been developed that allows to replace the IGBTs in the cycloconverter with cheap, robust, and reliable fast thyristors, despite their absence of turn-off capability. The feasibility of different modulation strategies for mutually commutated converter systems has been verified on a down-scaled prototype converter system with both IGBT- and thyristor-based cycloconverters. Finally, a feasible wind farm layout is proposed, which considerably reduces the energy generation costs for large winds farms distant to a strong grid connection point. As a consequence, the proposed solution may facilitate the establishment of remotely located wind farms. / QC 20100802