Hybrid AC Power Source Based on Modular Multilevel Converter and Linear Amplifier

Author

da Silva, Gabriel S. ; Concatto Beltrame, Rafael ; Schuch, L. ; Rech, Cassiano

Author_Institution

Power Electron. & Control Res. Group, Fed. Univ. of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil

Volume

30

Issue

1

fYear

2015

fDate

Jan. 2015

Firstpage

216

Lastpage

226

Abstract

This paper presents a hybrid amplifier for an ac power source (ACPS). The topology is composed of a modular multilevel converter (MMC), operating as main amplifier, connected in series with a linear power amplifier (LPA), which operates as correction amplifier. This way, it is possible to gather the modularity, reliability, and high efficiency provided by the MMC and the high waveform fidelity provided by the LPA. Additionally, it is possible to reproduce a voltage waveform with a high bandwidth and, differently from previous works, with a topology that requires a unique dc voltage source for the main amplifier. The inner current and the submodule capacitor voltages are controlled in the MMC. Meanwhile, the LPA is controlled to define the output voltage. A design methodology and experimental results are included to demonstrate the operation of the ACPS topology.

Keywords

power amplifiers; power convertors; AC power source; ACPS topology; DC voltage source; LPA; MMC; correction amplifier; high-waveform fidelity; hybrid AC power source; hybrid amplifier; inner current; linear power amplifier; main amplifier; modular multilevel converter; submodule capacitor voltages; voltage waveform reproduction; Capacitors; Control systems; Inductors; Low-pass filters; Power amplifiers; Topology; Voltage control; Hybrid ac power source (ACPS); modular multilevel converter (MMC); series configuration;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8993

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPEL.2014.2310174

Filename

6763059