Accurate Modulation Voltage Tracking With Reduced Switching Frequency for Modular Multilevel Converters in Offshore Wind Power Systems

In recent years, modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology has become a cornerstone of offshore wind power development. To optimize MMC system performance, this paper proposes an enhanced control scheme, where the number of inserted submodules (SMs) per phase is dynamically adjusted according to...

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Main Authors: Rui Li, Zhaogang Li, Ran Guo, Zhiwen Suo, Yi Liang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11091292/
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author Rui Li
Zhaogang Li
Ran Guo
Zhiwen Suo
Yi Liang
author_facet Rui Li
Zhaogang Li
Ran Guo
Zhiwen Suo
Yi Liang
author_sort Rui Li
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology has become a cornerstone of offshore wind power development. To optimize MMC system performance, this paper proposes an enhanced control scheme, where the number of inserted submodules (SMs) per phase is dynamically adjusted according to real-time capacitor voltage fluctuations to enable precise tracking of the modulation voltage reference. Circulating currents are intrinsically suppressed, reducing arm inductance by 95.6%. In addition, the proposed scheme optimizes SM sequencing by leveraging historical SM switching states, achieving 42.6% switching frequency reduction. Furthermore, an arm energy balancing control is implemented to ensure precise energy equilibrium across the MMC arms. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is validated through PSCAD/EMTDC simulations of an offshore wind farm integrated via a point-to-point high voltage DC (HVDC) link.
format Article
id doaj-art-96f68ab4abf6411ea72a32aabcb3c418
institution DOAJ
issn 2169-3536
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher IEEE
record_format Article
series IEEE Access
spelling doaj-art-96f68ab4abf6411ea72a32aabcb3c4182025-08-20T03:22:19ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-011313473513474710.1109/ACCESS.2025.359195811091292Accurate Modulation Voltage Tracking With Reduced Switching Frequency for Modular Multilevel Converters in Offshore Wind Power SystemsRui Li0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7122-4509Zhaogang Li1https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2844-5057Ran Guo2Zhiwen Suo3Yi Liang4https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7661-8102School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, ChinaState Grid Economic and Technological Research Institute Company Ltd., Beijing, ChinaSchool of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, ChinaIn recent years, modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology has become a cornerstone of offshore wind power development. To optimize MMC system performance, this paper proposes an enhanced control scheme, where the number of inserted submodules (SMs) per phase is dynamically adjusted according to real-time capacitor voltage fluctuations to enable precise tracking of the modulation voltage reference. Circulating currents are intrinsically suppressed, reducing arm inductance by 95.6%. In addition, the proposed scheme optimizes SM sequencing by leveraging historical SM switching states, achieving 42.6% switching frequency reduction. Furthermore, an arm energy balancing control is implemented to ensure precise energy equilibrium across the MMC arms. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is validated through PSCAD/EMTDC simulations of an offshore wind farm integrated via a point-to-point high voltage DC (HVDC) link.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11091292/Modular multilevel converternearest level modulationoffshore wind powersubmodule capacitor voltage balancing
spellingShingle Rui Li
Zhaogang Li
Ran Guo
Zhiwen Suo
Yi Liang
Accurate Modulation Voltage Tracking With Reduced Switching Frequency for Modular Multilevel Converters in Offshore Wind Power Systems
IEEE Access
Modular multilevel converter
nearest level modulation
offshore wind power
submodule capacitor voltage balancing
title Accurate Modulation Voltage Tracking With Reduced Switching Frequency for Modular Multilevel Converters in Offshore Wind Power Systems
title_full Accurate Modulation Voltage Tracking With Reduced Switching Frequency for Modular Multilevel Converters in Offshore Wind Power Systems
title_fullStr Accurate Modulation Voltage Tracking With Reduced Switching Frequency for Modular Multilevel Converters in Offshore Wind Power Systems
title_full_unstemmed Accurate Modulation Voltage Tracking With Reduced Switching Frequency for Modular Multilevel Converters in Offshore Wind Power Systems
title_short Accurate Modulation Voltage Tracking With Reduced Switching Frequency for Modular Multilevel Converters in Offshore Wind Power Systems
title_sort accurate modulation voltage tracking with reduced switching frequency for modular multilevel converters in offshore wind power systems
topic Modular multilevel converter
nearest level modulation
offshore wind power
submodule capacitor voltage balancing
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11091292/
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AT zhaogangli accuratemodulationvoltagetrackingwithreducedswitchingfrequencyformodularmultilevelconvertersinoffshorewindpowersystems
AT ranguo accuratemodulationvoltagetrackingwithreducedswitchingfrequencyformodularmultilevelconvertersinoffshorewindpowersystems
AT zhiwensuo accuratemodulationvoltagetrackingwithreducedswitchingfrequencyformodularmultilevelconvertersinoffshorewindpowersystems
AT yiliang accuratemodulationvoltagetrackingwithreducedswitchingfrequencyformodularmultilevelconvertersinoffshorewindpowersystems