Redundant Operation Mode of the Three-Level Advanced-Active-Neutral-Point-Clamped Converter for Wind Energy Application

Conference: PCIM Europe 2017 - International Exhibition and Conference for Power Electronics, Intelligent Motion, Renewable Energy and Energy Management
05/16/2017 - 05/18/2017 at Nürnberg, Deutschland

Proceedings: PCIM Europe 2017

Pages: 7Language: englishTyp: PDF

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Authors:
Gierschner, Sidney; Hammes, David; Hein, Yves; Eckel, Hans-Guenter (University of Rostock, Germany)

Abstract:
The Advanced-Active-Neutral-Point-Clamped converter consists of three partial converters based on half-bridge modules as used for conventional two-level converter. A short-circuit failure of a power semiconductor leads to a downtime of the entire system as the converter cannot continue to operate. Furthermore, a primary failure can cause subsequent failures. For the proposed converter, a short circuit failure happens only within a partial converter without affecting the rest. Separating the partial converters allows a redundant operation at reduced power after a failure, since half of the DC-link voltage is still provided. This behaviour can be advantageous, especially for offshore wind energy application. The wind energy plant can continue to operate at reduced power until maintenance. This paper investigates possibilities of the redundant operation mode for a permanent magnet synchronous generator of a wind energy plant.