Quantitative power loss analysis and optimisation in Nth‐order low‐voltage multilevel converters. Issue 7 (7th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Petersen, Alexander; Stone, David A.; Foster, Martin P.; Davidson, Jonathan N.
• Is Part Of: IET power electronics. Volume 12:Issue 7(2019)
• Page Start: 1652
• Page End: 1661
• Publication Date: 2019-06-07
• Subjects: energy storage -- power MOSFET -- switching convertors -- power grids -- power semiconductor switches -- optimisation; optimisation -- n th‐order low‐voltage multilevel converters -- cascaded H‐bridge converters -- grid‐tie battery energy storage -- practical method -- analytical method -- switching‐associated power loss -- performance trends -- MOSFET body diodes -- equivalent single‐bridge -- three‐level converter -- higher switching frequencies -- cutting‐edge nonsilicon power -- quantitative power loss analysis -- non‐silicon power switching devices; Power electronics -- Periodicals; 621.31705
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-pel.2018.5928
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-4535

Abstract

Abstract : Focusing on cascaded H‐bridge converters for grid‐tie battery energy storage, a practical, analytical method is derived to evaluate the switching‐associated power loss in multilevel converters, evaluated from a number of sources of loss. This new method is then used to find performance trends in the use of converters of increasing order over a range of switching frequencies. This includes an experimental analysis into predicting the performance of MOSFET body diodes. Authors' analysis with this model shows that a multilevel converter can have lower losses than the equivalent single‐bridge, three‐level converter, particularly at higher switching frequencies, due to the availability of suitable switching devices. It also has interesting implications for enabling the use of cutting‐edge non‐silicon power switching devices to further improve potential efficiencies.