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Multilevel Voltage-Source-Converter Topologies for Industrial Medium-Voltage Drives

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Abstract:

This paper presents a technology review of voltage-source-converter topologies for industrial medium-voltage drives. In this highly active area, different converter topo...Show More

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Abstract:

This paper presents a technology review of voltage-source-converter topologies for industrial medium-voltage drives. In this highly active area, different converter topologies and circuits have found their application in the market. This paper covers the high-power voltage-source inverter and the most used multilevel-inverter topologies, including the neutral-point-clamped, cascaded H-bridge, and flying-capacitor converters. This paper presents the operating principle of each topology and a review of the most relevant modulation methods, focused mainly on those used by industry. In addition, the latest advances and future trends of the technology are discussed. It is concluded that the topology and modulation-method selection are closely related to each particular application, leaving a space on the market for all the different solutions, depending on their unique features and limitations like power or voltage level, dynamic performance, reliability, costs, and other technical specifications.

Published in: IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics ( Volume: 54, Issue: 6, December 2007)

Page(s): 2930 - 2945

Date of Publication: 31 December 2007

ISSN Information:

DOI: 10.1109/TIE.2007.907044

JosÉ Rodriguez

Electronics Engineering Department, Universidad Tècnica Federico Santa María, Valparaiso, Chile

José Rodríguez (M'81–SM'94) received the Engineer's degree in electrical engineering from the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa Maria (UTFSM), Valparaíso, Chile, in 1977 and the Dr.Ing. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany, in 1985.

Since 1977, he has been a Professor with the UTFSM, where from 2001 to 2004, he was appointed as Director of the Electronics Engineering Departme...Show More

Since 1977, he has been a Professor with the UTFSM, where from 2001 to 2004, he was appointed as Director of the Electronics Engineering Departme...View more

Steffen Bernet

Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Power Electronics Group, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany

Steffen Bernet (M'97) received the Diploma degree in electrical engineering from Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany, in 1990 and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany, in 1995.

From 1995 and 1996, he held a Postdoctoral position with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison. In 1996, he was with ...Show More

From 1995 and 1996, he held a Postdoctoral position with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison. In 1996, he was with ...View more

Bin Wu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ONT, Canada

Bin Wu (S'89–M'92–SM'99) received the M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, in 1989 and 1993, respectively.

Jorge O. Pontt

Electronics Engineering Department, Universidad Tècnica Federico Santa María, Valparaiso, Chile

Jorge O. Pontt (M'00–SM'04) received the Engineer's and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa Maria (UTFSM), Valparaíso, Chile, both in 1977.

Samir Kouro

Electronics Engineering Department, Universidad Tècnica Federico Santa María, Valparaiso, Chile

Samir Kouro (S'04) was born in Valdivia, Chile, in 1978. He received the Engineer's and M.Sc. degrees in electronics engineering from the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (UTFSM), Valparaíso, Chile, in 2004, where he is currently working toward the Ph.D. degree.

In 2004, he was with the Electronics Engineering Department, UTFSM, as a Research Assistant. In 2004, he was distinguished as the youngest researcher of Ch...Show More

In 2004, he was with the Electronics Engineering Department, UTFSM, as a Research Assistant. In 2004, he was distinguished as the youngest researcher of Ch...View more

Contents

I. Introduction

The field of high-power drives has been one of the most active areas in research and development of power electronics in the last decades. Several industrial processes have increased their power-level needs, driven mainly by economy of scale (production levels and efficiency), triggering the development of new power semiconductors, converter topologies, and control methods. The development of high-power converters and medium-voltage (MV) drives started in the mid-1980s when 4500-V gate-turn-off (GTO) thyristors became commercially available [1]. The GTO was the standard for the MV drive until the advent of high-power insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and gate-commutated thyristors (GCTs) in the late 1990s [2], [3]. These switching devices are now extensively used in high-power drives due to their superior switching characteristics, reduced power losses, ease of gate control, and snubberless operation.

JosÉ Rodriguez

Electronics Engineering Department, Universidad Tècnica Federico Santa María, Valparaiso, Chile

Since 1977, he has been a Professor with the UTFSM, where from 2001 to 2004, he was appointed as Director of the Electronics Engineering Department, from 2004 to 2005, he was a Vice Rector of academic affairs, and since 2005, he has been a Rector. During his sabbatical leave in 1996, he was responsible for the Mining Division, Siemens Corporation, Santiago, Chile. He has a large consulting experience in the mining industry, particularly in the application of large drives like cycloconverter-fed synchronous motors for SAG mills, high-power conveyors, controlled ac drives for shovels, and power-quality issues. His main research interests include multilevel inverters, new converter topologies, and adjustable speed drives. He has directed over 40 R&D projects in the field of industrial electronics, he has coauthored over 50 journal and 130 conference papers, and contributed with one book chapter. His research group has been recognized as one of the two centers of excellence in engineering in Chile in the years 2005 and 2006.

Prof. Rodríguez has been an active Associate Editor with the IEEE Power Electronics and Industrial Electronics Societies since 2002. He has served as Guest Editor of IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics in four opportunities [Special Sections on the following: matrix converters (2002), multilevel inverters (2002), modern rectifiers (2005), and high-power drives (2007)].

Steffen Bernet

Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Power Electronics Group, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany

From 1995 and 1996, he held a Postdoctoral position with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison. In 1996, he was with ABB Corporate Research, Heidelberg, Germany, where he led the Electrical Drive Systems Group. From 1999 to 2000, he was responsible for the ABB research worldwide in the areas “power-electronics systems,” “drives,” and “electric machines.” From 2001 to 2007, he was a Professor of power electronics with Berlin University of Technology, Berlin, Germany. Since June 2007, he has been a Professor with Dresden University of Technology. During the past 17 years, he has conducted comprehensive research on power semiconductors, static-power converters, and ac motor drives. He has published more than 70 papers in the field of power electronics.

Dr. Bernet was the recipient of the 2005 Second Prize Paper Award of the IEEE-Power Electronics Specialists Conference (PESC) and the IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting (IAS) Committee Second Prize Paper Awards from the industrial power-converter committee and the power-electronic devices and components committee.

Bin Wu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ONT, Canada

Bin Wu (S'89–M'92–SM'99) received the M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, in 1989 and 1993, respectively.

He was with Rockwell Automation Canada, Cambridge, ON, as a Senior Engineer. He is currently with Ryerson University, Toronto, where he is currently a Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and NSERC/Rockwell Industrial Research Chair in power electronics and electric drives. He has published more than 130 technical papers, authored a Wiley–IEEE Press book, and published more than ten patent disclosures in the area of power electronics, energy systems, advanced controls, and adjustable speed drives.

Dr. Wu was the recipient of the Gold Medal of the Governor General of Canada, the Premier's Research Excellence Award, the Ryerson Sarwan Sahota Distinguished Scholar Award, the Ryerson Research Chair Award, and the NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario, Canada, and an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

Bin Wu (S'89–M'92–SM'99) received the M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, in 1989 and 1993, respectively.

Jorge O. Pontt

Electronics Engineering Department, Universidad Tècnica Federico Santa María, Valparaiso, Chile

Jorge O. Pontt (M'00–SM'04) received the Engineer's and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa Maria (UTFSM), Valparaíso, Chile, both in 1977.

Since 1977, he has been a Professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Department of Electronics Engineering, UTFSM, with R&D and Graduate Program of Power Electronics. He is the Cofounder of the spin-off company ETT Ltda., Chile, related with instrumentation for large grinding mills. He leads the Laboratory for Reliability and Power Quality, UTFSM, and he is currently the Director of Millennium Nucleus Industrial Electronics and Mechatronics, UTFSM. He is a Consultant in the mining industry, particularly in the design and application of power electronics, drives, instrumentation systems, and power-quality issues, with management of more than 80 consulting and R&D projects. He has had scientific stays at the Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany, from 1979 to 1980, the University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany, in 1990, and the University of Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany, from 2000 to 2001. He is the coauthor of the software Harmonix that is used in harmonic studies in electrical systems. He has more than 100 refereed journal and conference papers.

Jorge O. Pontt (M'00–SM'04) received the Engineer's and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa Maria (UTFSM), Valparaíso, Chile, both in 1977.

Samir Kouro

Electronics Engineering Department, Universidad Tècnica Federico Santa María, Valparaiso, Chile

In 2004, he was with the Electronics Engineering Department, UTFSM, as a Research Assistant. In 2004, he was distinguished as the youngest researcher of Chile in being granted with a governmental funded research project (FONDECYT) as Principal Researcher. His research interests include power converters and adjustable speed drives.

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