Experiment on Nearest Level Modulation algorithm for FPGA based Modular Multilevel Converters

Experiment on Nearest Level Modulation algorithm for FPGA based Modular Multilevel Converters

Authors

  • Van Son Nguyen Hanoi Open University (HOU)
  • Cuong Tran Hung Thuy Loi University
  • Pham Viet Phuong University of  Science and Technology
  • Dung Hoang Anh Hanoi Open University (HOU)
  • Giang Nguyen Hoai Hanoi Open University (HOU)
  • Nghĩa Hoang Trong Hanoi Open University (HOU)

Abstract

Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) has been applied to medium and high - voltage power systems recently because it has many advantages over other multilevel converters. This paper will present the algorithms of Nearest Level Modulation (NLM) and capacitor voltage balancing to greatly reduce the switching frequency as well as producing an output voltage at the AC side with very low harmonic distortion. The experimental system for the MMC converter requires a large amount of I/O signals ports. However, Digital Signal Processor (DSP) only provides up to 24 I/O signals ports while the experimental system of the MMC converter needs more than that. In this paper, the experimental system used FPGA to embed the proposed methods and applied to an MMC with 12 Sub-Modules (SM) to generate a 13-level  AC voltage waveform. In this case, FPGA is the most suitable choice to develop the control circuit for the experimental system of MMC. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm was verified by simulations and tested using a laboratory – scale prototype.

Author Biographies

Van Son Nguyen, Hanoi Open University (HOU)

Van Son Nguyen  are with Faculty of  Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hanoi Open University(HOU), Ha Noi 100000, Viet Nam 

Cuong Tran Hung, Thuy Loi University

Cuong Tran Hung is with Faculty of  Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Thuy Loi University, Ha Noi 100000, Viet Nam

Pham Viet Phuong, University of  Science and Technology

Pham Viet Phuong is with Department of Automation Engineering Hanoi University of  Science and Technology, Ha Noi 100000, Viet Nam

Dung Hoang Anh, Hanoi Open University (HOU)

Dung Hoang Anh are with Faculty of  Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hanoi Open University(HOU), Ha Noi 100000, Viet Nam

Giang Nguyen Hoai, Hanoi Open University (HOU)

Giang Nguyen Hoai  are with Faculty of  Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hanoi Open University(HOU), Ha Noi 100000, Viet Nam

Additional Files

Published

2025-03-26

Issue

Section

Applied Informatics