A multiprocessor digital signal processing system for real-time power converter applications

The design of a multiprocessor digital signal processing system for applications in power converters such as those that would be used in the next generation of high-voltage DC (HVDC) and static VAr compensator (SVC) systems is described. The system incorporates three high-speed digital signal processors operating independently in parallel, but communicating with one another. The fully programmable system is a powerful device which can implement sophisticated control algorithms in real time for converters. A prototype operating at a clock frequency of 40 MHz has been built for testing and evaluation of control strategies with a laboratory model of an experimental HVDC system based on pulsewidth modulation (PWM). The results from an application demonstrate that the design is well suited for real-time digital control of converters and the system is a useful tool for research and development