SWITCHING SYNCHRONIZATION FOR MODULAR MULTILEVEL CONVERTERS

• Main Authors: Bebic, Jovan Z, Hawes, Nathaniel Benedict, Li, Xiaohong
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.10.2023
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC,OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWERSUPPLY SYSTEMS; BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUTPOWER; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; PULSE TECHNIQUE; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY

Provided is a modular multilevel converter and a method for synchronizing outputs of sub-modules of the converter. The modular multilevel converter includes sub-modules connected in parallel, and each sub-module generates an output. The modular multilevel converter also includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to the sub-modules. The controller controls a flow of one or more synchronizing signals between the plurality of sub-modules, such that each sub-module receives the synchronizing signals in opposite directions simultaneously, thereby controlling a synchronization of the outputs generated by the sub-modules. 200a 200b 200n Analog/Digital 220S System Control 240 Sub-module communications bus