A single leg switched PWM method for three-phase H-bridge voltage source converters

Abstract

This paper proposes a single leg switched or a hybrid PWM (HPWM) method for three-phase three-level HBridge Voltage Source Converters (3L-HB-VSCs). By means of the proposed modulation, a 3L-HB-VSC can generate the same output as a three-level neutral point clamped (3L-NPC) VSC with phase disposition (PD) PWM provided that the outputs of 3L-HBVSC are isolated by transformers or connected to open winding machines. Thus, the proposed method is called PD-HPWM. Moreover, it is emphasized that 3L-HB-VSC with HPWM utilizes its switches similar to 3L-NPC-VSC. Compared to 3L-NPC-VSCs, 3L-HB-VSCs (without neutral point clamping diodes) have simpler, more modular, and more reliable 2L circuit structure. Therefore, this method encourages the use of 3L-HB-VSCs in the applications utilizing transformers such as grid-side converters of multi-MW wind turbines. The proposed PWM method’s performance is demonstrated by the simulations of a 6MW wind turbine’s grid connection and experimentally verified via a smallscale prototype.