Design, construction and testing of a modular multilevel converter with a distributed control architecture

Abstract

Many simplified modular multilevel converter prototypes have been developed over the past few years, typically in order to demonstrate high level control schemes. Many of these prototypes are based on conventional centralised control strategies and are therefore unable to address concerns regarding scalability and the limitations imposed by hardware delays when using distributed control strategies. This paper presents an overview of common control architectures along with the design, construction and initial findings from industrially representative control hardware.