Three-Level Hybrid Boost Converter with Output Voltage Regulation and Capacitor Balancing

ABSTRACT

In this paper, a three-level hybrid boost converter with output voltage regulation and capacitor balancing is presented. The converter is developed based on the single-phase three-level T-type neutral-point-clamped inverter and the boost converter. The proposed converter consists of two capacitors, one inductor, four discrete power switches, and four discrete diodes. The pulse-width-modulation signal generation is obtained by using two triangular carriers and two modulation indexes. The converter has been simulated by using Plexim’s PLECS and validated experimentally with the developed converter prototype. To ensure the regulation of the output DC voltage and the capacitor voltages are balanced, the PI controller and the bandless hysteresis controller are used respectively. The findings from simulation and experimental verified the performance and functionality of the proposed converter in both steady-state and transient conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Boost converter
• Capacitor voltage control
• DC-DC converter
• PI controller
• Three-level converter

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the technical and financial assistance of UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC) through the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) Program Research Grant; UMPEDAC - 2018 (MOHE HICOE - UMPEDAC) by the Ministry of Education Malaysia; TOP100UMPEDAC, RU012-2019, Postgraduate Research Grant (PG166-2015B) by the University of Malaya; and the Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST) through CREST Research Grant (P26C1-13).

Notes on contributors

Norhassanah Osman

Norhassanah Osman received the BEng (Hons) degree in electrical engineering (Electronics) from University Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia in 2014. Currently, she is working toward the MPhil degree at UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Center (UMPEDAC), University of Malaya, Malaysia. Her research interest includes power electronics. Email: [email protected]

Mohamad Fathi Mohamad Elias

Mohamad Fathi Mohamad Elias received the BEng (Hons), MEng and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2003, 2007, and 2013, respectively. Currently, he is a senior lecturer at UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre, University of Malaya. He is a member of the IEEE. His research interests include power electronic converters, distributed generation, and electrical drives.

Nasrudin Abd Rahim

Nasrudin Abd. Rahim received the BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK, and the PhD degree from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, in 1995. He is currently a professor at UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Center (UMPEDAC), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he is also the director of the centre. He has been appointed as an adjunct professor at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, till due date. His research interests include power electronics, real-time control systems, and electrical drives. He is a fellow of the IET, UK, and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. Email: [email protected]