A Transformerless D-STATCOM Based On A Multi-Voltage Cascade Converter Requiring No DC Sources
A Transformerless D-STATCOM Based On A Multi-Voltage Cascade Converter Requiring No DC Sources
A Transformerless D-STATCOM Based On A Multi-Voltage Cascade Converter Requiring No DC Sources
Abstract—This paper deals with a cascaded multilevel con- cascade converter, or hybrid multilevel converter) has been
verter which has multiple dc voltage values (multi-voltage cas- proposed in [5]–[7]. Different cells whose dc voltage ratio is
cade converter) for a 6.6-kV transformerless distribution static typically 2:1 or 3:1 are connected in series and controlled to-
synchronous compensator (D-STATCOM). A control method is
proposed to realize dc voltage regulation of series-connected gether to compose low-harmonic output voltage. It can reduce
three cells in the STATCOM operation, making it possible harmonic voltage comparing to the single-voltage cascade
to remove dc sources from all H-bridge cells. The simplified converter with the same number of cells.
configuration without the dc sources makes the STATCOM small On the other hand, the multi-voltage cascade converter has
and lightweight. A downscaled STATCOM model rated at 220 V difficulty in maintaining the dc voltage ratio to the prede-
and 10 kVA is built and a series of verification tests is executed.
Theoretical analysis and experimental results prove the stable termined value. Although it is confirmed that the dc sources
operating performance of the proposed method. consisting of isolated power supplies are effective to keep the
Index Terms—Cascade converter, dc voltage control, silicon dc voltages [5]–[7], the method needs power supplies in all
carbide device, STATCOM, transformerless converter. cells and its configuration becomes complex. High voltage
isolation of the power supplies also makes the converter bulky.
I. Introduction However, the dc sources are not essential for a STATCOM
In recent years, installed capacity of distributed generations application. Control methods have been proposed to remove
such as residential photovoltaic systems is increasing. They some dc sources by utilizing redundant switching patterns [8]
are often connected to the distribution grid. Since their output and all power supplies by disabling the PWM control [9],
power is affected by solar irradiance, the power flow may which may increase some amount of output voltage harmonics.
fluctuate and be bidirectional in the grids. As a result, voltage This paper proposes a new dc voltage control method
management of the grids may become difficult in the area for the multi-voltage cascade converter. The control method
where photovoltaic systems are densely installed [1]. realizes energy transfer between the series connected different
The STATCOM (static synchronous compensator) is a vital cells during STATCOM operation. Combining with feedback
solution to maintain grid voltages by supplying or consuming controller, it can maintain all dc voltages to the predetermined
reactive power. It has been installed in the transmission grids, reference value without dc sources. A downscaled STATCOM
and its use is spreading to the medium voltage distribution model rated at 220 V and 10 kVA is built and a series
grids as a D-STATCOM (distribution STATCOM). The exist- of verification tests is executed. Theoretical analysis and
ing D-STATCOM is equipped with a step-down transformer experimental results prove the stable operating performance
and an ac filter. In this case, the transformer and the filter of the proposed method.
inductors make the STATCOM bulky and heavy. For example,
II. Multi-Voltage Cascade Converters
the weight of a prototype D-STATCOM rated at 360 kVA
was 3,000 kg [2]. It is estimated that its transformer weighs A. System Configuration
1,000 kg, and its ac inductors weigh 400 kg. Therefore, further Fig. 1 represents a circuit configuration of multi-voltage
reduction of volume and weight is required for the practical cascade converters. The converter consists of three clusters
installation in the urban area. with star configuration, and each of the clusters consists of
Cascaded multilevel converters have been studied to realize three series connected H-bridge cells which have different dc
a small and lightweight STATCOM [3], [4]. A single-phase full voltages each other. These cells are described as “HV (high
bridge or “H-bridge” inverter is a fundamental building block voltage) cell”, “MV (medium voltage) cell”, and “LV (low
and it is called as a “cell.” The identical cells are connected voltage) cell” in descending order of their dc voltage. The cells
in series and the string composes a cascade converter (called having higher dc voltage share larger conversion power with
as “single-voltage cascade converter” in this paper). Since lower switching frequency. There are some options in the dc
the cascade converter realizes high blocking voltage and low- voltage ratio among vCHy , vCMy , and vCLy (subscript y is either
harmonic output voltage, it needs no step-down transformers u, v, or w) . One typical ratio is vCHy : vCMy : vCLy = 4 : 2 : 1
for medium voltage applications. [5], [8]–[10], and other ratios such as 9 : 3 : 1 and 6 : 2 : 1 are
A cascaded multilevel converter which has more than two also investigated in [11]–[13]. vCHy : vCMy : vCLy = 6 : 2 : 1
types of cells with different rated voltages (multi-voltage is an optimum dc voltage ratio to obtain maximum output
i i
t t
* ΔVHM > 0
vH
ΔVHM = 0
vH
vM vM ΔV ML > 0
*
ΔV ML = 0
v̄L v̄L
pH pH
ΔpH ΔpH
pM pM
Δp M Δp M
pL pL
ΔpL ΔpL
Fig. 4. Input power of each cell during energy transfer from the HV cell to Fig. 5. Input power of each cell during energy transfer from the MV cell to
the MV cell (ΔVHL = ΔV ML = 0). the LV cell (ΔVHM = ΔVHL = 0).
Fig. 5 shows the voltage and instantaneous power wave- 4) Energy Transfer among Three Cells: Energy transfer
forms in case ΔV ML = 0 (shown by dotted lines) and among three cells is also realized by giving two parameters
ΔV ML > 0 (shown by solid lines). Other parameters are set among ΔVHL , ΔVHM , and ΔV ML together. For example, control
as ΔVHM = ΔVHL = 0. of ΔVHL and ΔVHM realizes energy transfer among three cells
The theoretical analysis of PH , P M , and PL gives because the MV cell and the LV cell can transfer their energy
by way of the HV cell. Then, the range of v̄L is expressed by
PH = 0 (18) (9), (15), and the following equation.
4
PM = − ΔV ML I (19) −Vdc − |ΔVHL + ΔVHM | ≤ v̄L ≤ Vdc + |ΔVHL + ΔVHM |. (23)
3π
4 To prevent v̄L from saturation, the dc voltage of the LV cell
PL = ΔV ML I. (20)
3π vCL should be maintained to meet (10), (16), and the following
equation.
This result means that energy transfer from the MV cell to the
LV cell is controlled by ΔV ML . vCL ≥ Vdc + |ΔVHL + ΔVHM |. (24)
The range of v̄L is affected by ΔV ML as follows:
IV. Control Method for a STATCOM Based on a
−Vdc − |ΔV ML | ≤ v̄L ≤ Vdc + |ΔV ML |. (21) Multi-Voltage Cascade Converter
Fig. 6 shows an overall control block diagram for the
To prevent v̄L from saturation, the dc voltage of the LV cell proposed STATCOM based on a multi-voltage cascade con-
vCL should be maintained as verter. The fundamental architecture is based on three function
blocks developed for the cascade converters [4], [17], that is a
vCL ≥ Vdc + |ΔV ML |. (22) decoupled current control, a clustered balancing control, and
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vCHu , vCMu , vCLu , vCHv , vCMv , vCLv , vCHw , vCMw , vCLw ∗
+ p∗ 1 id +
ECHu , ECMu , ECLu
EC∗ KC KI
KI + sT
− vS d ∗ − I
Low ECHv , ECMv , ECLv EC 1
iq + KI
pass Eq.
q∗ KI + sT
filter (25) ECHw , ECMw , ECLw vS d − I
−
id + v∗u
iu ωLAC inverse
CH , C M , CL
+ −− v∗v
Eq. iv d-q d-q
(27) trans. iq trans. v∗w
∗
VCH
iw ωLAC
∗ ∗ ∗
∗ Eq. ECH , ECM , ECL +
VCM vS d
∗ (26) vS u
VCL Individual d-q
ECu , ECv , ECw vS v
balancing control
vS w trans. vS q
(Fig. 9)
Eq. Eq. Fig. 7. Decoupled current control for a three-phase converter.
(29) (28) Clustered
balancing control
EC∗
ΔVHMw , ΔVHLw
EC
ΔVHMu , ΔVHLu
ΔVHMv , ΔVHLv
(Fig. 8) where ECHy , ECMy , and ECLy are the energy stored in the HV,
q ∗ i d , iq MV, and LV cell. The clustered balancing control regulates
v∗0 ECu , ECv , and ECw to balance them each other.
vS u + v∗Hu Total energy stored in the converter EC is given by
v∗u v∗out−u Comparator v∗Mu
vS v v∗Lu
+ (Table I)
vS w Decoupled
v∗v
+ v∗Hv EC = ECu + ECv + ECw . (28)
current control v∗out−v Comparator
iu v∗Mv
iu
(Fig. 7) +
+
(Table I) v∗Lv Reference of the energy stored in the converter EC∗ is calculated
v∗w v∗out−w Comparator v∗Hw
iu v∗Mw
by the values from (26) as follows:
+ (Table I)
v∗Lw
EC∗ = 3(ECH
∗ ∗
+ ECM ∗
+ ECL ). (29)
The decoupled current control regulates EC to be equal to its
Fig. 6. Control block diagram for the STATCOM based on a multi-voltage reference value EC∗ .
cascade converter.
B. Decoupled Current Control
Fig. 7 shows a block diagram of the decoupled current
an individual balancing control. Main differences for a multi-
control [17], [18]. The decoupled current control regulates
voltage cascade converter are as follows:
instantaneous active and reactive power by considering a
• Energy stored in the dc capacitors is calculated and used set of three clusters as a three-phase converter. The total
for control values instead of the dc capacitor voltages. stored energy in the converter is also regulated in this block.
• Individual balancing control is modified to accommodate Output currents iu , iv , iw and ac line voltages vS u , vS v , vS w
multi-voltage cascade converters. are transformed to the d-q rotating coordinate as id , iq , vS d ,
Each block is explained in detail below. and vS q . A proportional controller calculates the reference of
instantaneous active power p∗ based on the deviation between
A. Control Scheme Based on the Energy Stored in the Dc EC and its reference EC∗ . A reference of instantaneous reactive
Capacitors power q∗ is given by a system operator from the outside of
Balancing controls are constructed based on the energy this control block. Dividing p∗ and q∗ by the ac line voltage
stored in the dc capacitor. As a result, deviations from the vS d gives the output current references i∗d and i∗q . Proportional
reference values can be quantitatively compared among cells and integral controller decides the output voltages from the
having different capacitances and voltages, which is effective deviation between the references i∗d , i∗q and the actual currents
for multi-voltage cascade converters. id , iq . The ac line voltage and voltage across the ac inductor
Energy stored in the dc capacitor ECxy is given by LAC are added to the output voltage reference in the feed-
forward manner. The values are transformed to the three-phase
1 voltage references v∗u , v∗v , v∗w by an inverse d-q transformation.
ECxy = C x VCxy
2
, (25)
2
C. Clustered Balancing Control
where C x is the capacitance and VCxy is the sensed dc capacitor
voltage (subscript x is either H, M, or L). On the other hand, Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of the clustered balancing
a reference of the stored energy ECx ∗
is calculated from its control proposed in [19], [20]. This control block operates to
∗
voltage reference VCx by balance the energy stored in each cluster by considering a
set of HV, MV and LV cells as a single-phase converter. It
∗ 1 ∗ 2 injects a fundamental-frequency zero-sequence voltage v0 to
ECx = C x VCx . (26)
2 the voltage references v∗u , v∗v , v∗w [19]. Although the injection
The individual balancing control regulates the stored energy of zero-sequence voltage v0 causes no change in the line-to-
∗
ECxy to be equal to its reference value ECx . line voltage and line currents, it allows to transfer active power
Total energy stored in the cluster is given by among clusters. Here, ΔECu , ΔECv , and ΔECw are the degree of
imbalance of the energy stored in the cluster, and their three-
ECy = ECHy + ECMy + ECLy , (27) phase to two-phase transformation gives ΔECα and ΔECβ . K0
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− ΔECu TABLE II
ECu Circuit and control parameters of the experimental setup.
+ 3-phase ΔECα
− ΔECv
ECv to ΔECβ ΔECα
2 + E2
Cβ
2-phase Nominal line-to-line rms voltage 220 V
+
− ΔECw trans. Power rating 10 kVA
ECw Ac inductor LAC 0.70 mH (4.5%† )
+ K0
0.27 mH (1.8%† )
E
1 tan−1 ECα
Cβ
Background system inductance
EC 3 v∗0 Nominal dc voltage Vdc 20 V
γ HV cell dc voltage ∗
VCH 120 V
id i δ − φ0 √ ∗
tan−1 iq 2 sin(ωt + φ0 ) MV cell dc voltage VCM 40 V
iq d + LV cell dc voltage ∗
VCL 24 V
HV cell dc capacitor CH 10.8 mF
Fig. 8. Clustered balancing control between three clusters in a converter. MV cell dc capacitor CM 33.6 mF
LV cell dc capacitor CL 72.0 mF
∗ ∗ Starting resistor 5.6 Ω
3ECM ECMy +
ECy KCM ΔVHMy Active power control gain KC 1A
∗
EC
− Current control gain KI 3Ω
ECMy Current control time constant TI 0.01 s
Clustered balancing control gain K0 4 V/J
∗ ∗
3ECL ECLy + Individual balancing control gain KCM 10 V/J
ECy ∗ KCL ΔVHLy Individual balancing control gain KCL 10 V/J
EC
− PWM carrier frequency 10 kHz
ECLy y is either u, v, or w. Equivalent switching frequency 20 kHz
† on a three-phase, 220-V, 10-kVA, 50-Hz base
Fig. 9. Individual balancing control between three cells in a cluster.