Design and Analysis Methodology for Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC)

The design and analysis of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) are usually performed with simulation softwares in an interactive mode. Each parameter is individually set in order to analyze the effect on the converter output, which in turn, demands a lot of time of the user. In this context, this paper proposes a methodology based on Double Fourier Transform so as to provide support to the parameterization of modular multilevel converter (MMC). This methodology allows the designer to choose the appropriate converter, considering its main specifications, from analysis of the results to variations in the amplitude and frequency modulation rates as well as the number of modules used. The proposed methodology was developed in MATLAB software, computationally validated by electromagnetic transient analysis software PSCAD / EMTDC, and experimentally certified through implementation in FPGA Xilinx Spartan-3.