Control technique for 15 kV SiC IGBT based active front end converter of a 13.8 kV grid tied 100 kVA transformerless intelligent power substation

Abstract

This paper discusses the control technique adopted for a 3-Level Neutral Point Clamped (3L-NPC) converter, which is the rectifier stage of a 100 kVA solid state transformer known as the Transformerless Intelligent Power Substation (TIPS) interfacing with 13.8 kV grid. Due to high voltage (13.8 kV) and low power (100 kVA) specification for the rectifier, the control technique needs to be specially designed to control very low magnitude of line current (4.184 A r.m.s). Due to dead time in the converter and harmonic voltage present in the grid, the rectifier current is rich in lower order harmonics (6m±1). Moreover due to very high grid voltage, limiting starting inrush current within the converter current rating is a serious issue. A unified control technique is discussed to mitigate the above mentioned problems. Also the proposed control technique addresses the grid voltage unbalance and d.c bus mid-point voltage unbalance issue faced by the rectifier stage of TIPS. Simulation and SiC IGBT prototype experimental results verify the proposed techniques.