IP Library Granted Patent US 12,316,236
Granted Patent B2
US 12,316,236 · App. 18/280,115 · Granted May 27, 2025

Method for operating a converter, converter and computer program product

Inventor: Alexandre Christe (Bern, CH)
Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
H02M5/271H02M7/797
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,316,236
App. No.
18/280,115
Granted
May 27, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method is configured for operating a converter ( 10 ) which is implemented as a modular-multilevel converter and comprises a control arrangement ( 38 ) and a number M of phase-legs ( 21 to 29 ). The method comprises detecting whether the converter ( 10 ) has to be set into one mode of a group comprising a static synchronous compensator mode or a grid unbalance mode, generating mode control signals (MCS) depending on the detected mode, generating balance voltage reference signals (u bal,ref ) depending on a first side frequency (ω g ), a second side frequency (ωm), second side current reference signals (im,ref) and the mode control signals (MCS), generating a phase-leg control signal (u ref ), generating cell control signals ( 51 to S 4 ) and providing the cell control signals ( 51 to S 4 ) to semiconductor switches ( 41 to 44 ) of cells ( 31 ) of the phase-legs ( 21 to 29 ).

Claims (415)

1. A method for operating a converter,

wherein the converter is implemented as a modular-multilevel converter and comprises

a control arrangement and

a first side, a second side and a number M of phase-legs which are arranged between the first side and the second side, wherein each of the number M of phase-legs comprises at least a cell with a capacitor and semiconductor switches,

wherein the converter is realized as a direct AC/AC converter, and

wherein each of the number M of phase-legs comprises a number N of cells which are realized as full bridge cells,

the method comprising:

detecting whether the converter has to be set into one mode of a group comprising:

a static synchronous compensator mode in case a voltage of at least one terminal on the first side of the converter has constantly zero Volt and/or a machine coupled to the second side of the converter has a standstill, or

a grid unbalance mode,

generating mode control signals (MCS) depending on the detected mode,

generating balance voltage reference signals (u bal,ref ) depending on a first side frequency (ω g ), a second side frequency (ω m ), second side current reference signals (i m,ref ), measured phase-leg capacitor signals (u CΣ,yxn ) and the mode control signals (MCS) by the control arrangement,

generating a phase-leg control signal (u ref ) for each of the number M of phase-legs depending on first side voltage reference signals (u g,conv,ref ), second side voltage reference signals (u m,conv,ref ) and the balance voltage reference signals (u bal,ref ) by a reference generator of the control arrangement,

generating cell control signals by a modulator of the control arrangement as a function of the phase-leg control signals (u ref ), and

providing the cell control signals to the semiconductor switches of the cells.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the method comprises:

generating first side current reference signals (i g,ref ) depending on the mode control signals (MCS) by a first side control module of the control arrangement, and

generating the balance voltage reference signals (u bal,ref ) by a current control module of an inner control module of the control arrangement depending on the first side current reference signals (i g,ref ), the second side current reference signals (i m,ref ) and current balance reference signals (i bal,ref ).

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the method comprises generating the balance voltage reference signals (u bal,ref ) by a current control module of the inner control module of the control arrangement depending on first side current reference signals (i g,ref ), the second side current reference signals (i m,ref ), the mode control signals (MCS) and the current balance reference signals (i bal,ref ).

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the method comprises:

generating the current balance reference signals (i bal,ref ) by a decoupling matrix module of the inner control module depending on current balance signals (i bal ),

generating the current balance signals (i bal ) by a voltage control module of the inner control module depending on clock signals (u pll ) and measured phase-leg capacitor signals (u CΣ,yxn ) measured at the cells of the number M of phase-legs, and

generating the clock signals (u pll ) as a function of the first side frequency (ω g ) and the second side frequency (ω m ) by the inner module.

5. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein in case the converter is set to the static synchronous compensator mode, the mode control signals (MCS) are generated as a function of a first, a second and a third evaluated current balance signal (i bal,e1 , i bal,e2 , i bal,e3 ), wherein the first evaluated current balance signal (i bal,e1 ) depends on current balance signals (i bal ) of phase-legs which are connected to a first terminal (a) of the first side of the converter,

wherein the second evaluated current balance signal (i bal,e2 ) depends on current balance signals (i bal ) of phase-legs which are connected to a second terminal (b) of the first side of the converter, and

wherein the third evaluated current balance signal (i bal,e3 ) depends on current balance signals (i bal ) of phase-legs which are connected to a third terminal (c) of the first side of the converter.

6. The method of claim 5 ,

wherein the method comprises:

generating the mode control signals (MCS) as a function of rescaled signals and clock signals (u pll ) by a multiplication module of the rescale module, and

generating the clock signals (u pll ) as a function of the first side frequency (ω g ) and the second side frequency (ω m ) by the inner control module.

7. The method of one of claim 1 ,

wherein in case the converter is set to the static synchronous compensator mode, the mode control signals (MCS) are generated as a function of common mode voltage signals, and wherein the common mode voltage signals are generated by a processing module of the control arrangement as a function of measured signals and comprise a common mode voltage amplitude (û G 0 ) and a common mode voltage angle (ϕ uG 0 ).

8. The method of claim 7 ,

wherein the method comprises calculating a value of the common mode voltage angle (ϕ uG 0 ) and a value of the common mode voltage amplitude (û G 0 ) by:

ϕ

u

G

0

=

a

tan

k

6

k

1

-

k

3

k

4

k

3

k

5

-

k

6

k

2

u

^

G

0

=

{

-

k

3

k

1

cos

ϕ

u

G

0

+

k

2

sin

ϕ

u

G

0

or

-

k

6

k

4

cos

ϕ

u

G

0

+

k

5

sin

ϕ

u

G

0

wherein k1 to k6 are values of a first to a sixth parameter which are calculated as a function of the measured signals.

9. The method of claim 5 ,

wherein in case the converter is set to the static synchronous compensator mode, the mode control signals (MCS) are generated as a function of:

rescaled signals and

common mode voltage signals,

with a weighting factor.

10. The method claim 1 ,

wherein in case the converter is set to the grid unbalance mode, the mode control signals (MCS) are generated as a function of a first and a second circulating current signal.

11. The method of claim 10 ,

wherein the method comprises calculating the first circulating current signal and the second circulating current signal by:

i

^

α

α

M

=

i

^

α

β

M

=

-

i

^

G

N

S

u

^

G

P

S

cos

(

ϕ

i

G

N

S

-

ϕ

u

G

P

S

)

+

i

^

G

P

S

u

^

G

N

S

cos

(

ϕ

i

G

P

S

-

ϕ

u

G

N

S

)

2

u

ˆ

M

i

^

β

α

M

=

i

^

β

β

M

=

i

^

G

N

S

u

^

G

P

S

sin

(

ϕ

i

G

N

S

-

ϕ

u

G

P

S

)

-

i

^

G

P

S

u

^

G

N

S

sin

(

ϕ

i

G

P

S

-

ϕ

u

G

N

S

)

2

u

ˆ

M

ϕ

α

α

M

=

ϕ

u

M

+

π

ϕ

α

β

M

=

ϕ

u

M

+

3

π

/

2

ϕ

β

α

M

=

ϕ

u

M

ϕ

β

β

M

=

ϕ

u

M

+

π

/

2

wherein î G NS is a value of a negative-sequence grid current magnitude,

û G PS is a value of a positive-sequence grid voltage magnitude,

ϕ iG NS is a value of a negative-sequence grid current angle,

ϕ uG PS is a value of a positive-sequence grid voltage angle,

{circumflex over (ι)} G PS is a value of a positive-sequence grid current magnitude,

û G NS is a value of a negative-sequence grid voltage magnitude,

ϕ iG PS is a value of a positive-sequence grid current angle,

ϕ uG NS is a value of a negative-sequence grid voltage angle,

{circumflex over (ι)} αα M is a value of a first circulating current amplitude of the first circulating current signal,

{circumflex over (ι)} βα M is a value of a second circulating current amplitude of the second circulating current signal,

ϕ αα M is a value of a first circulating current angle of the first circulating current signal,

ϕ αβ M is a value of a third circulating current angle,

ϕ Bα M is a value of a second circulating current angle of the second circulating current signal,

ϕ ββ M is a value of a fourth circulating current angle and

ϕ uM is a value of a second side voltage magnitude.

12. The method of claim 9 ,

wherein in case the converter is set to the grid unbalance mode, the mode control signals (MCS) are generated as a function of:

the first and the second circulating current signal and

the rescaled signals and/or the common mode voltage signals,

with a weighting factor.

13. A converter, comprising:

a control arrangement and

a number M of phase-legs, wherein each of the number M of phase-legs comprises at least a cell with a capacitor and semiconductor switches,

wherein the converter is realized as a modular-multilevel converter and is configured to execute-detecting whether the converter has to be set into one mode of a group comprising:

a static synchronous compensator mode in case a voltage of at least one terminal on the first side of the converter has constantly zero Volt and/or a machine coupled to the second side of the converter has a standstill, or

a grid unbalance mode,

generating mode control signals (MCS) depending on the detected mode,

generating balance voltage reference signals (u bal,ref ) depending on a first side frequency (ω g ), a second side frequency (ω m ), second side current reference signals (i m,ref ), measured phase-leg capacitor signals (u CΣ,yxn ) and the mode control signals (MCS) by the control arrangement,

generating a phase-leg control signal (u ref ) for each of the number M of phase-legs depending on first side voltage reference signals (u g,conv,ref ), second side voltage reference signals (u m,conv,ref ) and the balance voltage reference signals (u bal,ref ) by a reference generator of the control arrangement,

generating cell control signals by a modulator of the control arrangement as a function of the phase-leg control signals (u ref ), and

providing the cell control signals to the semiconductor switches of the cells.

14. A non-transitory computer program product, comprising instructions to cause a converter to execute:

detecting whether the converter has to be set into one mode of a group comprising:

a static synchronous compensator mode in case a voltage of at least one terminal on the first side of the converter has constantly zero Volt and/or a machine coupled to the second side of the converter has a standstill, or

a grid unbalance mode,

generating mode control signals (MCS) depending on the detected mode,

generating balance voltage reference signals (u bal,ref ) depending on a first side frequency (ω g ), a second side frequency (ω m ), second side current reference signals (i m,ref ), measured phase-leg capacitor signals (u CΣ,yxn ) and the mode control signals (MCS) by the control arrangement,

generating a phase-leg control signal (u ref ) for each of the number M of phase-legs depending on first side voltage reference signals (u g,conv,ref ), second side voltage reference signals (u m,conv,ref ) and the balance voltage reference signals (u bal,ref ) by a reference generator of the control arrangement,

generating cell control signals by a modulator of the control arrangement as a function of the phase-leg control signals (u ref ), and

providing the cell control signals to the semiconductor switches of the cells.

15. The method of claim 7 ,

wherein in case the converter is set to the static synchronous compensator mode, the mode control signals (MCS) are generated as a function of:

rescaled signals and

the common mode voltage signals,

with a weighting factor.

16. The method of claim 8 ,

wherein in case the converter is set to the grid unbalance mode, the mode control signals (MCS) are generated as a function of:

the first and the second circulating current signal and

rescaled signals and/or the common mode voltage signals,

with a weighting factor.

17. The method of claim 11 ,

wherein in case the converter is set to the grid unbalance mode, the mode control signals (MCS) are generated as a function of:

the first and the second circulating current signal and

rescaled signals and/or common mode voltage signals,

with a weighting factor.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
Reel/Frame 065548/0918 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2023
From: CHRISTE, ALEXANDRE
To: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 064779/0820 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 1, 2023
From: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 064780/0330 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240162828A1 · May 16, 2024
References Cited (17)
US 8130102B1 · Nguyen · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20140103887A1 · Akagi et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20200235675A1 · Dallmer-Zerbe · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20230318474A1 · Vasiladiotis · 2023 [cited by examiner]
CN 103280820A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 108432108A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 110198046A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 3363090A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017064478A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
Kammerer et al: “Fully decoupled current control and energy balancing of the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter”, Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference (EPE/ PEMC), 2012 15th International, IEEE, Sep. 4, 2012… [cited by applicant]
Li et al: “Investigation of MMC-HVDC operating region by circulating current control under grid imbalances”, Electric Power Systems Research, Elsevier, Amsterdam, NL, vol. 152, Jul. 22, 2017 (Jul. 22, 2017), pp. 211-222… [cited by applicant]
Liu et al: “DC Voltage Ripple Optimization of a Single-Stage Solid State Transformer Based on the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter”, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Eng… [cited by applicant]
Liu et al: “Analysis and Control of the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter Under Unbalanced Grid Conditions”, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, IEEE, Piscataway, NJ, USA, vol. 6, No. 4,… [cited by applicant]
Liu et al: “Voltage Fluctuation and Comprehensive Control of Multilevel Power Conditioner for Railway Traction System”, 2018 IEEE International Power Electronics and Application Conference and Exposition (PEAC), IEEE, N… [cited by applicant]
Liu et al., “Analysis and Control of the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter Under Unbalanced Grid Conditions” IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, vol. 6, No. 4, Dec. 2018, pp. 1979-1989. [cited by applicant]
Wang et al., “Circulating Current Suppression for MMC-HVDC under Unbalanced Gnd Conditions”, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, IEEE Service Center, Piscataway, NJ, US, vol. 53, No. 4, Jul. 1, 2017 (Jul. 1, 201… [cited by applicant]
Yue et al “Closed-Loop Decoupled Control and Implementation of the Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter in Similar/Equal Frequency Operation”, 2020 IEEE 9th International Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference (… [cited by applicant]