Analysis of a MMC-Based 12-MW Direct-Drive Wind Energy Conversion System With Level-Shifted and PS-PWM and NLM Strategies

Andrei O. Almeida; Matheus S. Paulo; Daniel P. Teixeira; Rodolfo Lacerda Valle; Pedro M. Almeida; Pedro Gomes Barbosa

doi:10.18618/REP.e202449

Authors

Andrei O. Almeida Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2072-8683
Matheus S. Paulo Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora
Daniel P. Teixeira Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8930-034X
Rodolfo Lacerda Valle Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4608-8998
Pedro M. Almeida Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0979-0865
Pedro Gomes Barbosa Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3838-2668

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18618/REP.e202449

Keywords:

Level-Shifted PWM, Modular Multilevel Converter, Nearest-Level Modulation, Phase-Shifted PWM, Wind Energy Conversion

Abstract

This paper analyzes a 12-MW direct-drive wind energy converter system featuring a 6.6-kV, 132-pole permanent magnet synchronous generator, similar to the Haliade-X 12-MW manufactured by General Electric. The proposed system utilizes a back-to-back modular multilevel converter (B2B-MMC) with four submodules per arm. The research investigates three modulation strategies: nearest level modulation and two variants of multicarrier pulse width modulation that incorporate level-shift and phase-shift techniques. Additionally, it examines the interaction between the generator's low frequency and the design parameters of the MMC. Thus, this paper contributes to the understanding of the effectiveness of the B2B-MMC as a viable solution for direct-drive low-frequency wind generators. Furthermore, it analyzes how the modulation strategy and voltage equalization algorithm impact system performance, especially with the implementation of a subsampling technique. Digital simulations carried out with PSCAD/EMTDC provide a comparative analysis of the three modulation strategies investigated.

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Author Biographies

Andrei O. Almeida, Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais

received the B.S., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, in 2017, 2019, and 2023, respectively. Since 2019 he is professor at Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais, Campus Leopoldina. His areas of interest include: renewable energy sources, modular multilevel converter, HVDC transmission and microgrids. Dr. Andrei O. Almeida is member of the SOBRAEP and SBA.

Matheus S. Paulo, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora

received the B.S. and M.Sc. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, in 2021 and 2023, respectively. He has been working at Operador Nacional do Sistema Elétrico (ONS) since 2023.

Daniel P. Teixeira, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora

received the B.S. degree in Control and Automation Engineering from CEFET-MG, Brazil, in 2016 and the M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, in 2024.

Rodolfo Lacerda Valle, Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais

received the B.S. degree in Control and Automation Engineering from CEFET-MG, Brazil, in 2010 and the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Since 2014 he has been professor at Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais, Campus Leopoldina.

Pedro M. Almeida, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora

received the B.S., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, in 2009, 2011, and 2013, respectively. Since 2014 he has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Energy at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora.

Pedro Gomes Barbosa, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora

received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, in 1986 and the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1994 and 2000, respectively. Since 2016 he has been Full Professor in the Department of Electrical Energy at Federal University of Juiz de Fora.

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