An MMC-based topology with Dual-Active-Bridge power channels for load balancing in 50 Hz-railway applications
Abstract: The purpose of this thesis report is to investigate challenges related to railway electrification. Inac-railway systems, trains are most often single-phase loads, which can create significantunbalances in the grid, when fed directly from two adjacent phases. To enhance power quality atthe railway feeding point, one alternative is to design the system such as the power is fed to thecatenary through Static Frequency Converters (SFCs), which can be a costly solution. Anotheroption is to use Static Compensators (STATCOMs) in shunt connections, handling only theunbalanced amount of power, in order to symmetrize the railway load as seen from the grid side.Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) are the state of the art solutions for medium- and highvoltage/power converter applications, such as load balancing and reactive-power compensation.This project will focus on analyzing Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) topologies to be usedas load balancers in railway systems. However, the specific requirements of this application reveala potential weakness of MMCs. That is the asymmetrical character of the load may require muchhigher device rating in an MMC compared to a conventional converter, due to the symmetrizingcomponents to rebalance the capacitor voltages in the submodules.This project analyzes a reduced MMC-based topology with only two branches in order to meet therailway load-balancing characteristics. This chain-link compensator uses dc-dc converters tofacilitate power channels in order to restore the power imbalance, without overrating thesemiconductors in the main current path.
AT THIS PAGE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE WHOLE ESSAY. (follow the link to the next page)