Modular multilevel converter ac motor drives with constant torque form zero to nominal speed

Modular multilevel converters (M2Cs) are shown to have a great potential in the area of medium-voltage drives. Low-distortion output quantities, combined with low average switching frequencies for the semiconductor devices create the ideal combination for very high-efficiency drives, both from an electric motor and an inverter point of view. With M2Cs the output voltage has such a low harmonic content that high-power motors can be operated without any derating. However, the large number of devices and the existence of capacitors that have to conduct the fundamental frequency current, requires more complex converter control techniques than its two-level counterpart. Special care needs to be taken under starting and operation with low frequency, where the low-frequency current may cause significant unbalance between the submodule capacitor voltages, disturb the output waveforms, and eventually cause the converter to trip. In this paper, principles for converter operation with high torque in the whole speed range, from standstill to rated speed will be investigated. The converter-control method utilizes estimation of the capacitor voltage variation, based on equations describing steady-state conditions. Experimental results from a down-scaled 12 kVA prototype converter running a loaded motor from zero up to the rated speed are provided in the paper.