Multimodular Converter Pulse Blocking Staggered Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power converters with distributed energy storage experience significant voltage load and rapid voltage changes during pulse locking, leading to increased stress on components and higher costs due to the simultaneous control of all submodules into switching state III, which is not predictable and can result in worst-case scenarios.

Innovation Solution

Implement a staggered control method where only one submodule of an upper and/or lower valve branch is switched to switching state III per time scale, reducing the voltage load to the rate of change of a single submodule, and extending the time required to fully implement a pulse block, thereby minimizing the overall voltage load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all submodules are controlled into switching state III simultaneously during pulse locking, then the converter is reliably blocked in critical states, but the voltage load and rate of change increase significantly causing component stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconverter blocking reliabilityVSAvoidvoltage load and rate of change
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the simultaneous switching of all submodules into multiple sequential time echelons. Instead of switching all submodules to state III at once, they are switched in staggered groups across different time intervals, segmenting the voltage load temporal profile and reducing peak stress on components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by distributing the submodule switching operations across multiple time echelons with specific time intervals. This periodic staggering of switching events transforms a single high-intensity voltage load into multiple lower-intensity periodic loads, reducing the maximum rate of voltage change.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Manufacturing precision

If a high number of submodules are used per valve branch to achieve sinusoidal output voltages, then output quality improves, but the voltage load during pulse locking increases proportionally

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput voltage sinusoidal qualityVSAvoidvoltage load during pulse locking
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the switching of multiple submodules across different time echelons. With more submodules per valve branch, the switching is divided into more sequential groups, maintaining high output voltage quality while distributing the voltage load temporal profile to reduce peak rates of change during pulse locking events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2398138B1Method for blocking a multimodular converter
Publication Date: 2019.07.10 SIEMENS AG
  • EP2398138B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2398138B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2398138B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The method involves releasing a pulse barrier due to an error during an operation of a power converter (2). A switching status of a two-pole subsystem of each of a set of valve branches (P1-P3, N1-N3) is controlled in a switching state by the barrier. A switching status of a submodule (SM1) of each valve branch is controlled in another switching state according to expiration of a predetermined time span (delta t), where the time span is equal to a turn-off delay time of a disconnectible semiconductor switch (S1) of the two-pole subsystem.