Cascaded H-Bridge Converter Harmonic Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medium Voltage (MV) drives produce multiple harmonics in the line current due to phase shift transformers, which cannot cancel all harmonic currents and introduce additional harmonics, limiting the harmonic cancellation pattern to 6xn pulse.

Innovation Solution

A power conversion system with a phase shifting transformer and multiple secondary winding groups, where phase angle sets are selected to shift secondary winding phases by a specific phase shift δ, forming a 6xn pulse harmonics cancellation pattern, increasing the overall pulse number of harmonic cancellation to higher values such as 18-pulse, 36-pulse, and beyond.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If phase shift transformers are used in MV drives, then power conversion is enabled, but harmonics are produced in the line current that cannot be fully cancelled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower conversion capabilityVSAvoidharmonic currents
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transformer secondary windings are divided into multiple groups (first group, second group, third group, etc.) with each group having a different number of windings (n1, n2, n3, etc.). This segmentation allows each group to contribute differently to harmonic cancellation, enabling a more comprehensive cancellation pattern that goes beyond the traditional 6xn limitation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameter of winding counts in secondary groups from uniform to non-uniform distribution. By setting different winding counts (n1, n2, n3, etc.) across groups and combining them with specific phase shifts, the system achieves higher order harmonic cancellation (18-pulse, 36-pulse, etc.) while maintaining power conversion functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If traditional phase shift transformers with uniform secondary windings are used, then the system structure is simple, but the harmonic cancellation is limited to 6xn pulse pattern

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransformer winding structureVSAvoidharmonic cancellation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The secondary windings are segmented into multiple groups with different winding counts rather than using a uniform structure. This segmentation enables each group to target specific harmonic orders, achieving superior harmonic cancellation (18-pulse, 36-pulse, etc.) at the cost of increased structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces asymmetry in the winding configuration by using different winding counts (n1, n2, n3, etc.) across secondary groups. This asymmetric design breaks the symmetry of traditional uniform winding structures, enabling higher order harmonic cancellation patterns while accepting increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Object-generated harmful factors

If multiple secondary winding groups with different winding counts are used, then harmonic cancellation is improved to 18-pulse, 36-pulse and beyond, but the transformer structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharmonic cancellation patternVSAvoidtransformer winding configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transformer secondary is segmented into multiple independent groups, each with optimized winding counts (n1, n2, n3, etc.). This segmentation strategy achieves high-order harmonic cancellation by allowing each group to contribute differently to the overall cancellation pattern, accepting increased structural complexity as a trade-off.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-group winding structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: power transformation, harmonic cancellation at multiple orders (18-pulse, 36-pulse, etc.), and phase shifting. This multi-functionality justifies the increased structural complexity by achieving comprehensive harmonic mitigation in a single transformer design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively reduces harmonics in the line current, improving the harmonic spectrum and increasing the pulse number of harmonic cancellation, resulting in a more efficient power conversion with reduced ripples and improved harmonic cancellation patterns.

Implementation Method 1

a phase shifting transformer including 3-phase primary windings, a core, and a plurality of m secondary winding groups. Each of the secondary winding groups includes n secondary windings in electromagnetic communication with a corresponding primary winding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3236571B1Cascaded h-bridge converter with multiphase transformer for reduction of harmonics
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECH INC
  • EP3236571B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3236571B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3236571B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

For power conversion, a power conversion system includes a plurality of power converters and a phase shifting transformer. The phase shifting transformer includes 3-phase primary windings, a core and a plurality of m secondary winding groups. Each of the secondary winding groups includes n secondary windings in electromagnetic communication with a corresponding primary winding and feeding the plurality of power converters. Phase angle sets of the secondary winding groups are all different with a non-zero secondary winding phase shift between any two secondary winding groups.