Abstract As a novel high-voltage high-power topology, modular multilevel converter (MMC) is not only widely concerned in the field of HVDC, but also in the field of motor drive applications. Compared with traditional medium-voltage motor drive topologies, MMC presents a series of distinctive features, such as high flexibility, high reliability, high voltage quality, easy input transformer design, high available voltage and power capacity. To popularize this new motor drive topology, this paper introduces its circuit characteristics, sub-module structure, modulation, capacitor voltage balancing, harmonic analysis, circulating current suppression, start-up precharge, fault tolerance, reliability and low-frequency operation. The state-of-the-art methods are evaluated. Finally, the existing difficulties and challenges of the MMC motor drive technology are discussed.
Xu Dianguo,Li Binbin,Zhou Shaoze. Overview of the Modular Multilevel Converter Based High Voltage Motor Drive[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2017, 32(20): 104-116.
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