Simplified Control for an SSBC-Based STATCOM

The progress of power electronics technologies is critically dependent upon three principal elements: the availability of high-performance power semiconductor switches, the implementation of advanced control methodologies, and the thorough validation of system reliability within demanding industrial settings. While these technical underpinnings are essential, the concurrent development of readily accessible experimental platforms is equally vital to effectively translate theoretical constructs into practical realizations. This study addresses these crucial aspects by implementing a user-centric and adaptable static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) based on the single-star bridge-cell modular multilevel cascade converter (SSBC-MMCC) topology. This device is a versatile modular testbed for power electronics research and a viable solution for industrial applications. This manuscript delineates a streamlined yet comprehensive methodology for realizing STATCOM devices employing the SSBC topology, a member of the MMCC family. The presented approach demonstrates the feasibility of controlling configurations featuring three cascaded cells per cluster utilizing a single, cost-effective microcontroller unit (MCU). Concurrently, a novel modular architecture, leveraging the same affordable MCU framework, extends this control capability to systems incorporating more cells. This paper provides comprehensive design guidelines encompassing all levels of implementation, ranging from sensing and data acquisition to hierarchical control algorithms, modulation strategies, and the generation of switching signals. Experimental verification utilizing a 10 kVA maximum power prototype substantiates the efficacy of the proposed solution, which combines operational simplicity with resilient performance attributes, thereby rendering it particularly valuable for academic inquiry and industrial deployment.