Submodule Output Voltage Compensation with Phase Shifted Carrier Modulation in Modular Multilevel Converters

Constantinos Liagas; Xianwu Zeng; Han Wang

doi:10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238789

Submodule Output Voltage Compensation with Phase Shifted Carrier Modulation in Modular Multilevel Converters

Constantinos Liagas, Xianwu Zeng, Han Wang

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter in a published conference proceeding

Abstract

The control of circulating currents in Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) is desired for its benefits to stability of the system as well as reducing peak arm currents. In this paper, a simplified method for the control of circulating currents is implemented that is based on a simple scaling of the Sub module (SM) duty cycle reference, itself also based on the ratio of desired vs. actual capacitor voltage. This approach maintains transparency for a conventional 3-phase reference input, in terms of the required adjustments to maintain the MMC balanced and Circulating Currents under control, when using Phase Shifted Carrier Modulation (PS-PWM) as this scheme allows for direct manipulation of individual SM duty cycle values. The use of filtered samples of the voltages of the SM capacitors is shown to offer a strong simplification of the control of circulating currents when using PS-PWM.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025 - Proceedings
Place of Publication	U. S. A.
Publisher	IEEE
ISBN (Electronic)	9798331567521
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238789
Publication status	Published - 25 Nov 2025
Event	2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025 - Birmingham, UK United Kingdom Duration: 31 Aug 2025 → 4 Sept 2025

Publication series

Name	2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025 - Proceedings

Conference

Conference	2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025
Country/Territory	UK United Kingdom
City	Birmingham
Period	31/08/25 → 4/09/25

Funding

Constantinos Liagas is supported by a scholarship from the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (AAPS), under the project EP/S023364/1

Keywords

Compensation
Converter
Modular
Multilevel
Sub-module

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Control and Optimization

Access to Document

10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238789

Cite this

Liagas, C., Zeng, X., & Wang, H. (2025). Submodule Output Voltage Compensation with Phase Shifted Carrier Modulation in Modular Multilevel Converters. In 2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025 - Proceedings (2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025 - Proceedings). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238789

Submodule Output Voltage Compensation with Phase Shifted Carrier Modulation in Modular Multilevel Converters. / Liagas, Constantinos ; Zeng, Xianwu; Wang, Han.
2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025 - Proceedings. U. S. A.: IEEE, 2025. (2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025 - Proceedings).

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter in a published conference proceeding

Liagas, C , Zeng, X & Wang, H 2025, Submodule Output Voltage Compensation with Phase Shifted Carrier Modulation in Modular Multilevel Converters. in 2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025 - Proceedings. 2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025 - Proceedings, IEEE, U. S. A., 2025 Energy Conversion Congress and Expo Europe, ECCE Europe 2025, Birmingham, UK United Kingdom, 31/08/25. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE-Europe62795.2025.11238789

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N2 - The control of circulating currents in Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) is desired for its benefits to stability of the system as well as reducing peak arm currents. In this paper, a simplified method for the control of circulating currents is implemented that is based on a simple scaling of the Sub module (SM) duty cycle reference, itself also based on the ratio of desired vs. actual capacitor voltage. This approach maintains transparency for a conventional 3-phase reference input, in terms of the required adjustments to maintain the MMC balanced and Circulating Currents under control, when using Phase Shifted Carrier Modulation (PS-PWM) as this scheme allows for direct manipulation of individual SM duty cycle values. The use of filtered samples of the voltages of the SM capacitors is shown to offer a strong simplification of the control of circulating currents when using PS-PWM.

AB - The control of circulating currents in Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC) is desired for its benefits to stability of the system as well as reducing peak arm currents. In this paper, a simplified method for the control of circulating currents is implemented that is based on a simple scaling of the Sub module (SM) duty cycle reference, itself also based on the ratio of desired vs. actual capacitor voltage. This approach maintains transparency for a conventional 3-phase reference input, in terms of the required adjustments to maintain the MMC balanced and Circulating Currents under control, when using Phase Shifted Carrier Modulation (PS-PWM) as this scheme allows for direct manipulation of individual SM duty cycle values. The use of filtered samples of the voltages of the SM capacitors is shown to offer a strong simplification of the control of circulating currents when using PS-PWM.

KW - Compensation

KW - Converter

KW - Modular

KW - Multilevel

KW - Sub-module

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ER -

Submodule Output Voltage Compensation with Phase Shifted Carrier Modulation in Modular Multilevel Converters

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ASJC Scopus subject areas

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