Control methods for the synchronization and phase shift of the pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy of power converters

• US 9,293,921 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jones, Rodney, Fulcher, Robert Vernon, Stiesdal, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US13/368,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20120133211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 307/82
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/42 for ships or vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/01 Arrangements for reducing harmonics or ripples
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/40 Synchronising a generator for connection to a network or to another generator
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0043 Converters switched with a phase shift, i.e. interleaved non-isolated DC/DC converters H02M3/1586
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/493 the static converters being arranged for operation in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/40 Arrangements for reducing harmonics

Abstract

A method of controlling a plurality of power converters 1a, 1b and 1c can be used to interface to a supply network, ac busbar etc. Each power converter includes a network bridge 14 operating in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy having the same switching period and which causes at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage. The method includes the step of providing the switching period of the PWM strategy of each network bridge with a different time offset relative to a time datum such that the at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage is at least partially cancelled. Two alternative ways of providing the time offset are described.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a plurality of power converters interfacing to an ac supply network, each power converter including a network bridge operating in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy and an individual controller, the method comprising:

operating, the PWM strategy of the network bridge of each power converter, at a nominal switching frequency as determined by the controller based on an internal time of the controller;

generating, by a stand-alone timing controller in communication with each individual controller of the network bridges, a common time signal;

receiving the common time signal at the individual controller, and measuring and time-stamping the common time signal, via the individual controller based upon the internal time of the individual controller;

adjusting, by the individual controller, the switching period of each of the network bridges in response to the variations of the common time signal as measured;

varying, by the individual controller, a switching frequency of the PWM strategy responsive to a time-varying frequency of the supply network; and

obtaining only integer harmonics of the time-varying frequency upon varying the switching frequency of the PWM strategy, and setting the time period of the common time signal to be equal to the reciprocal of the switching frequency.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising setting the switching period of the PWM strategy of each network bridge to be equal to the time period of the common time signal.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the time period of the common time signal is fixed.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each power converter transmits status information to say if it is on-line or off-line.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein connection information about the number of power converters that are connected to the supply network at any given time is transmitted to all of the power converters.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the connection information is transmitted periodically.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the connection information is transmitted when the number of power converters that are on-line changes.

8. A system comprising:

a plurality of power converters interfacing an electrical machine to an ac supply network, each power converter including a network bridge operating in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy and an individual controller configured to control the PWM strategy of the network bridge, wherein the PWM strategy of the network bridge of each power converter operates at a nominal switching frequency as determined by the controller based on an internal time of the controller; and

a stand-alone timing controller for generating the common time signal and transmitting the common time signal to each controller of the power converters, each controller measuring and time-stamping the common time signal based upon the internal time of the individual controller; and

wherein the individual controllers of the power converters are arranged to adjust the switching period of each network bridge in response to variations of the common time signal as measured, and each individual controller is adapted to vary a switching frequency of the PWM strategy responsive to a time-varying frequency of the supply network to obtain only integer harmonics of the time-varying frequency, and to set the time period of the common time signal to be equal to the reciprocal of the switching frequency.

9. The plurality of power converters according to claim 8, wherein the controllers are adapted to set the switching period of the PWM strategy of each network bridge to be equal to the period of the common time signal.

10. The plurality of power converters according to claim 8, wherein the period of the common time signal is fixed.

11. The plurality of power converters according to claim 8, wherein each power converter transmits status information to say if it is on-line or off-line.

12. The plurality of power converters according to claim 8, wherein connection information about the number of power converters that are connected to the supply network at any given time is transmitted to all of the power converters.

13. The plurality of power converters according to claim 12, wherein the connection information is transmitted periodically.

14. The plurality of power converters according to claim 12, wherein the connection information is transmitted when the number of power converters that are on-line changes.

15. The plurality of power converters according to claim 8, wherein the electrical machine is a generator, and wherein each power converter is used to interface the generator to the supply network.

16. The plurality of power converters according to claim 8, wherein the electrical machine is a motor, and wherein each power converter is used to interface the motor to the supply network.

17. The plurality of power converters according to claim 8, wherein the network bridge of each power converter is an active inverter.

18. The plurality of power converters according to claim 8, wherein the network bridge of each power converter is an active rectifier.