Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thermally compensated discontinuous modulation strategy influence on DC-link capacitor current of CHB converters

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Power Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

CHB converters have been intensively considered for various applications. However, a reliability issue has emerged due to the higher number of power devices, particularly power semiconductor devices and capacitors, which have been identified as major sources of failure. Although continuous efforts have been made to enhance the reliability of power semiconductors through methods such as active thermal control, there is a noticeable absence of discussion regarding the reliability of capacitors. This is significant since capacitors are the components most prone to failure in power converters. In this study, the root mean square (RMS) current of the DC-link capacitor in a CHB converter is derived when applying thermally compensated discontinuous modulation for power semiconductors. To validate the obtained findings, the derived equations are experimentally tested using a proof-of-concept setup.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or used during the study appear in the submitted article.

References

  1. Peng, X., Liu, X., Yang, G., Liu, X., Gao, L., Zhu, X.: Capacitors energy strategy based cascaded H-bridge converter for DC port failures. J. Power Electron. 19(5), 1133–1141 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Lee, K.-B., Lee, J.-S., Lee, J.-H.: A fault diagnosis method in cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter using output current analysis. J. Electr. Eng. Technol. 12(6), 2278–2288 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kumar, B.H., Lokhande, M.M., Karasani, R.R., Borghate, V.B.: Fault tolerant operation of chb multilevel inverters based on the svm technique using an auxiliary unit. J. Power Electron. 18(1), 56–69 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Alemi, P., Lee, D.-C.: A generalized loss analysis algorithm of power semiconductor devices in multilevel NPC inverters. J. Electr. Eng. Technol. 9(6), 2168–2180 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Buticchi, G., De Carne, G., Pereira, T., Wang, K., Gao, X., Yang, J., Ko, Y., Zou, Z., Liserre, M.: A multi-port smart transformer for green airport electrification. In: 2022 24th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE’22 ECCE Europe), pp. 1–8 (2022).

  6. Yang, Z., Sun, J., Li, S., Liao, Z., Zha, X.: Individual DC voltage balancing method at zero current mode for cascaded H-bridge based static synchronous compensator. J. Electr. Eng. Technol. 13(1), 240–249 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Daoud, M., Elserougi, A., Massou, A., Bojoi, R., Abdel-Khalik, A., Ahmed, S.: Hybrid-boost modular multilevel converter-based medium-voltage multiphase induction motor drive for subsea applications. J. Power Electron. 19(3), 714–726 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dong, P., Lyu, J., Cai, X.: Modeling, analysis, and enhanced control of modular multilevel converters with asymmetric arm impedance for HVDC applications. J. Power Electron. 18(6), 1683–1696 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kuppuswamy, C., Raghavendiran, T.A.: Fpga implementation of diode clamped multilevel inverter for speed control of induction motor. J. Electr. Eng. Technol. 13(1), 362–371 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Palanisamy, R., Vijayakumar, K.: A hysteresis current controller for PV-wind hybrid source fed statcom system using cascaded multilevel inverters. J. Electr. Eng. Technol. 13(1), 270–279 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kuprat, J., van der Broeck, C.H., Andresen, M., Kalker, S., Liserre, M., De Doncker, R.W.: Research on active thermal control: actual status and future trends. IEEE J. Emerg. Select. Top. Power Electron. 9(6), 6494–6506 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Moghassemi, A., Rahman, S.M.I., Ozkan, G., Edrington, C.S., Zhang, Z., Chamarthi, P.K.: Power converters coolant: past, present, future, and a path toward active thermal control in electrified ship power systems. IEEE Access 11, 91620–91659 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lemmens, J., Vanassche, P., Driesen, J.: Optimal control of traction motor drives under electrothermal constraints. IEEE J. Emerg. Select. Top. Power Electron. 2(2), 249–263 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang, H., Khambadkone, A.M., Yu, X.: Control of parallel connected power converters for low voltage microgrid—part II: dynamic electrothermal modeling. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 25(12), 2971–2980 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ma, K., Liserre, M., Blaabjerg, F.: Reactive power influence on the thermal cycling of multi-mw wind power inverter. IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl. 49(2), 922–930 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wei, L., McGuire, J., Lukaszewski, R.A.: Analysis of pwm frequency control to improve the lifetime of pwm inverter. IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl. 47(2), 922–929 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. van der Broeck, C.H., Ruppert, L.A., Lorenz, R.D., De Doncker, R.W.: Methodology for active thermal cycle reduction of power electronic modules. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 34(8), 8213–8229 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Novak, M., Ferreira, V., Andresen, M., Dragicevic, T., Blaabjerg, F., Liserre, M.: FS-MPC based thermal stress balancing and reliability analysis for npc converters. IEEE Open J. Power Electron. 2, 124–137 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wang, X., Xiao, H., Ren, Y., Cheng, M.: A novel modulation strategy for split-inductor active NPC inverter with loss distribution balancing and thermal stress reduction. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 38(6), 7296–7307 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ko, Y., Andresen, M., Buticchi, G., Liserre, M.: Thermally compensated discontinuous modulation strategy for cascaded H-bridge converters. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 33(3), 2704–2713 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Alcaide, A.M., Ko, Y., Andresen, M., Leon, J.I., Vazquez, S., Monopoli, V.G., Buticchi, G., Liserre, M., Franquelo, L.G.: Capacitor lifetime extension of interleaved DC–DC converters for multistring Pv systems. IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron. 70(5), 4854–4864 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ko, Y., Andresen, M., Buticchi, G., Liserre, M.: Power routing for cascaded H-bridge converters. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 32(12), 9435–9446 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Ko, Y., Raveendran, V., Andresen, M., Liserre, M.: Advanced discontinuous modulation for thermally compensated modular smart transformers. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 35(3), 2445–2457 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wang, H., Liserre, M., Blaabjerg, F., de Place Rimmen, P., Jacobsen, J.B., Kvisgaard, T., Landkildehus, J.: Transitioning to physics-of-failure as a reliability driver in power electronics. IEEE J. Emerg. Select. Top. Power Electron. 2(1), 97–114 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Vasan, A., Laskai, L., Ilic, M.: Defining humidity test duration for microinverter reliability assessment: a physics-of-failure approach. In: 2017 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), pp. 2336–2340 (2017)

  26. Ciappa, M.: Selected failure mechanisms of modern power modules. Microelectron. Reliab. 42(4), 653–667 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Held, M., Jacob, P., Nicoletti, G., Scacco, P., Poech, M.: Fast power cycling test of igbt modules in traction application. In: Proceedings of Second International Conference on Power Electronics and Drive Systems, vol. 1, pp. 425–430 (1997)

  28. Ko, Y.J., Jedtberg, H., Buticchi, G., Liserre, M.: Analysis of DC-link current influence on temperature variation of capacitor in a wind turbine application. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 33(4), 3441–3451 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang, H., Wheeler, N., Grant, D.: Switching harmonics in the DC link current in a PWM AC-DC-AC converter. In: Industry Applications Conference, 1995. Thirtieth IAS Annual Meeting, IAS’95, Conference Record of the 1995 IEEE, vol. 3, pp. 2649–2655 (1995)

  30. Gasperi, M.L.: Life prediction modeling of bus capacitors in AC variable-frequency drives. IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl. 41(6), 1430–1435 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Gonzalez, L.G., Garcera, G., Figueres, E., Gonzalez, R.: Effects of the PWM carrier signals synchronization on the DC-link current in back-to-back converters. Appl. Energy 87(8), 2491–2499 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Wang, H., Blaabjerg, F.: Reliability of capacitors for DC-link applications in power electronic converters; an overview. IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl. 50(5), 3569–3578 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Research Grant of Pukyong National University(2022).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea

    Damilola Agnes Ojo

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering and Industrial 4.0 Convergence Bionics Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea

    Youngjong Ko

Authors
  1. Damilola Agnes Ojo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Youngjong Ko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Youngjong Ko.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there are no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ojo, D.A., Ko, Y. Thermally compensated discontinuous modulation strategy influence on DC-link capacitor current of CHB converters. J. Power Electron. 24, 887–896 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43236-024-00835-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43236-024-00835-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation