New Hybrid Cycloconverters: an Evaluation of Their Performance
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
New Hybrid Cycloconverters: An Evaluation of their Performance Tianning Xu, MSc Thesis submitted to the University of Nottingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Aug, 2009 Abstract Nowadays, power electronic converters based exclusively on IGBTs seem to have achieved excellent load side performance up to megawatt powers range in the low voltage range (200-690Vrms) and are steadily gaining good performance in the medium voltage range as well. However, the medium and high voltage/high power range remains dominated by converters using naturally commutated thyristors, such as line-commutated cycloconverters, line-commutated current source inverters, which provide comparatively poorer output side performance. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate both the conventional cycloconverter, which will be referred as standard cycloconverter in the thesis, and the new hybrid cycloconverter topologies, which are capable of improving the performance of the standard cycloconverter by adding an auxiliary forced commutated inverter with reduced installed power. It will be shown that the new topology is not only able to improve the quality of the output voltage, but also to enhance the control over the circulating current and therefore, for some of the standard cycloconverter arrangements, to improve the input power quality. To realize the evaluation of the standard cycloconverter and validate the feasibility of the new hybrid cycloconverter in both circulating current and circulating current-free mode, SABER simulation models are developed in the first place to perform the initial analysis. A configurable three-phase input to three-phase output cycloconverter prototype which can be easily changed via a switch box to test four different cycloconverter topologies (standard and hybrid) is designed and implemented in the laboratory. Finally, the whole system is debugged and tested. All the relevant results obtained from both the simulation and experiment will be thoroughly analyzed in the thesis. i Acknowledgement I would like to take this opportunity to express my most sincere thanks to my supervisor, Dr Christian Klumpner and Prof. Jon Clare, for their earnest support and insightful guidance during the nearly four years of my PhD study, particularly in the process of my doing this research project and writing the thesis. I would also like to thank ORSAS (Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme) and the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in University of Nottingham for their financial support, without which I would not have been able to complete my PhD study. I would like to thank all the staff and technicians in the PEMC group at the University of Nottingham, for providing me the indispensable help to finish my PhD project. I would also especially to thank all my friends and colleagues in the PEMC group, Dr Lee Empringham and his wife Dr Liliana de Lillo who have given me a lot of technical support on new FPGA board, Dr Alan who has provided me with much helpful advice in the lab, Qiang Gao, Milijana Odavic, Meng Yeong Lee, Xiaoyan Huang who gave me a lot of inspiring suggestions in both theories and practices, and also Thiwanka Wijerkoon, David Cook, Lie Xu, Andrew Goodman, Wei Dong, Yahan Hua and many other friends who have created not only an ideal research environment but also a joyful atmosphere in which I could accomplish my PhD study in the PEMC group. Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my beloved parents, Lisheng Xu and Liping Wu, who have brought me up and have been supporting me, encouraging me and loving me all the time. I would also want to thank my girlfriend Wei Hou who has given me continuous support throughout the period of my thesis writing Tianning Xu Nottingham, 2009 ii 谨此感谢我的最亲爱的父母,家人和祖国… iii Contents 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Project Objectives……………………………………………………….3 1.2 Thesis Structure Overview………………...……………………………...4 2. Review of the Cyclconverter Technology 6 2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………..............6 2.2 Applications of Thyristor Cycloconverter………………………………...7 2.2.1 Variable Speed AC Machine Drives……….……..………………7 2.2.2 Constant Frequency Power Supplies…….……………………….9 2.3 The Operation of the Cycloconverter……………………………............10 2.3.1 The Basic Principle of the Cycloconverter…….…………..........10 2.3.2 Operating Modes………….…………….……….………...........16 2.3.2.1 The Circulating Current Mode……...…...…...……….16 2.3.2.2 The Circulating Current-Free Mode…...….………….18 2.4 Cycloconverter Topology Types……………………………………........19 2.4.1 Single-Phase Input to Single-Phase Output Cycloconverter........20 2.4.2 Three-Phase Input to Single-Phase Output Cycloconverter.........23 2.4.2.1 The 3-Pulse Cycloconverter……...………….………..23 2.4.2.2 The 6-Pulse Cycloconverter……...……….…………..24 2.4.2.3 The 6-Pulse Bridge Cycloconverter……...……….......24 2.4.3 Three-Phase Input to Three-Phase Output Cycloconverter.…….25 iv Contents 2.5 Cosine Wave Crossing Control Method……..…………………………..26 2.5.1 The Principle of Operation…….………..……………………….26 2.5.2 The Limitation of the Method……………..…………………….27 2.5.3 Corrective Methods for Cosine Wave Crossing Control……...…28 2.6 Problems and Solutions Associated with Standard Cycloconverters.....30 2.6.1 Issues Related to Circulating Current-Free Mode and Potential Solutions………...………………………………………………30 2.6.1.1 Output Voltage Distortion Problem and Possible Solutions………………………………………….…..30 2.6.1.2 Bridge Selection Problem and Possible Solutions……31 2.6.2 Issues Related to Circulating Current Mode and Potential Solutions…………………………………………...……………33 2.7 Harmonic Analysis of the Output Voltage and Input Current……………34 2.7.1 Output Voltage Harmonic Analysis………...…………………...35 2.7.1.1 General Equation for the 3-Pulse Voltage Waveform...35 2.7.1.2 The Frequencies and Amplitudes of Harmonics……...38 2.7.2 Input Current Harmonic Analysis……………………………….40 2.7.2.1 General Equation for the 3-Pulse Current Waveform...40 2.7.2.2 The Frequencies and Amplitudes of Harmonics….…..41 2.8 Summary……………………………………………………………........43 3. Hybrid Cycloconverter 44 3.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………....44 3.2 Operation of the Hybrid Cycloconverter………………………..............45 3.2.1 The Hybrid Cycloconverter Concept…..…..……………………46 v Contents 3.2.2 The Operating Modes……………...……………………………48 3.2.2.1 The Circulating Current Mode Hybrid Cycloconverter48 3.2.2.2 The Circulating Current-Free Mode Hybrid Cycloconverter…………………………....……….50 3.3 Hybrid Cycloconverter Topologies…………………………...………....51 3.3.1 Three-Phase to Single-Phase Hybrid Cycloconverters.................51 3.3.1.1 The Asymmetric H-bridge Inverter with Split DC-link Capacitors………………..…………..……………….51 3.3.1.2 The Three-leg Bridge Inverter with a Single DC-link Capacitor………………………….…….…………….53 3.3.2 Three-Phase to Three-Phase Hybrid Cycloconverter Arrangements……………...………………………………….54 3.4 Control of the Hybrid Cycloconverter…………………………………55 3.4.1 Differential Mode Voltage Control……………………………...57 3.4.2 Common Mode Voltage Control…………………………….......58 3.4.3 DC-link Capacitor Voltage Control……………………….......59 3.4.4 PWM Generation for the Auxiliary Inverter...………………......63 3.5 Switching States Analysis…………….....………………………………68 3.5.1 The Asymmetric H-bridge Inverter with Split DC-link Capacitors…………………………...…………………………..69 3.5.1.1 Circulating Current Mode Switching States………….69 3.5.1.2 Circulating Current-Free Mode Switching States…….74 3.5.2 The Three-leg Bridge Inverter with a Single DC-link Capacitor.76 3.5.2.1 Circulating Current Mode Switching States..………...76 3.5.2.2 Circulating Current-Free Mode Switching States…….82 vi Contents 3.6 Summary………………………………………………….…………...86 4. Evaluation of Standard and Hybrid Cycloconverter with Saber Simulation 87 4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………87 4.2 Simulation Model Design……………………………………………….88 4.2.1 The Standard Cycloconverter Design…………………………...88 4.2.2 The Auxiliary Inverter Design…………………………………..92 4.3 The Three-Phase Input to Single-Phase Output Standard Cycloconverter…………………………...……………………………98 4.3.1 The Standard Cycloconverter in Circulating Current Mode…....99 4.3.2 The Standard Cycloconverter in Circulating Current-Free Mode……………………………………...................................105 4.4 The Three-Phase Input to Single-Phase Output Hybrid Cycloconverter107 4.4.1 The Hybrid Cycloconverter in Circulating Current Mode….…107 4.4.1.1 Operation with Full DC-link Capacitor Voltage in the Auxiliary Inverter…………………………………...108 4.4.1.2 Operation with Reduced DC-link Capacitor Voltage in the Auxiliary Inverter……….…………………….111 4.4.2 The Hybrid Cycloconverter in Circulating Current-Free Mode.120 4.5 The Three-Phase Input to Three-Phase Output Cycloconverter…..…...123 4.5.1 The Line-to-Line Output Voltage Evaluation………………….124 4.5.2 Three-Phase Load Current Evaluation………...………………129 4.5.3 The Input Current Evaluation…………….……………..……..131 vii Contents 4.6 Simulation Results at a Different Output Frequency and a Different Output Modulation Index…………………...………………………….137 4.6.1 Simulation Results at a Different Output Frequency…………..138 4.6.1.1 The Standard Cycloconverter with an Output Frequency of 13Hz…………….………………….…..………...138 4.6.1.2 The Hybrid Cycloconverter with an Output Frequency of 13Hz..…………….……………….…………..….142 4.6.2 Simulation Results at a Different Output Modulation Index…..145 4.6.2.1 The Standard Cycloconverter with an Output Modulation Index of 0.3..…………………..……….146 4.6.2.2 The Hybrid Cycloconverter with an Output Modulation Index of 0.3………………………..………………...149 4.7 Summary of a Comparison of the Standard and the Hybrid Cycloconverter