Impact of control algorithm solutions on Modular Multilevel Converters electrical waveforms and losses

Abstract

Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) are becoming increasingly popular with the development of HVDC connection and, in the future, Multi Terminal DC grid. A lot of publications have been published about this topology these last years since it was first proposed. Many of them deal with converter control methods, other address the method of estimating losses. Usually, the proposed losses estimation techniques are associated to simple control methods For VSC (Voltage Sources Converters) topology, the losses minimization is based on the limitation of the RMS currents values. This hypothesis is usually extended to the control of MMC, by limiting the differential currents to their DC component, without really being checked. This paper investigates the impact of two control algorithms variants on electrical quantities (currents, capacitor voltages ripple, losses). From the published results, it is shown that in some cases the usual choice is not the best one.