242
2, JUNE 2012
Control Scheme of Three-Level NPC Inverter
for Integration of Renewable Energy
Resources into AC Grid
Edris Pouresmaeil, Daniel Montesinos-Miracle, Member, IEEE, and Oriol Gomis-Bellmunt, Member, IEEE
AbstractThis paper presents a multiobjective control scheme
based on the dynamic model of three-level, neutral-point-clamped
voltage source inverter for integration of distributed generation
(DG) resources based on renewable energy resources to the
distribution grid. The proposed model has been derived from the
abc/ and /dq transformation of the AC system variables. The active loss reduction [5], [6], and environmental aspects such
proposed control technique generates the compensation current
references and by setting appropriate references of DG control
loop, the DG link not only provides active and reactive currents
in fundamental frequency, but also it can supply nonlinear load
harmonic currents with a fast dynamic response. Simulation
results and mathematical analysis have achieved a reduced total
harmonic distortion, increased power factor, inject maximum
power of renewable energy resources via a multilevel converter
as an interface to the AC grid. It also compensated the active
and reactive powers of linear and nonlinear loads. The analyses
and simulation results show the high performance of proposed
control scheme in the integration of renewable energy resources
to the AC grid.
Index TermsDistributed generation (DG) resources, har-
monic elimination, multilevel inverters, reactive power compen-
sation, renewable energy, space vector pulse width modulation
(SVPWM).
I. Introduction
D ISTRIBUTED generation (DG) systems based on renew-
able energy resources play an important role in electric
power systems. The estimated share of these resources in
electrical networks will increase significantly in the near future
by providing different benefits like cost reduction, reliability
of main grid, and emission reduction [1]. Application of
renewable energy resources such as wind turbines, photo-
voltaic, and fuel-cell in a power system may cause major
changes in the design and operation of distribution networks
[2]. Several methods and strategies have been proposed to
Manuscript received September 14, 2010; revised January 14, 2011;
accepted May 25, 2011. Date of publication September 12, 2011; date
of current version May 22, 2012. This work was supported in part by
the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacin, under Project ENE2009-08555.
E. Pouresmaeil and D. Montesinos-Miracle are with the Electrical Engi-
neering Department, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona 08028,
Spain (e-mail: edris.pouresmaeil@upc.edu; montesinos@citcea.upc.edu).
O. Gomis-Bellmunt is with the Electrical Engineering Department, Poly-
technic University of Catalonia, Barcelona 08028, Spain, and also with the
Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, Barcelona 08019, Spain (e-mail:
gomis@citcea.upc.edu).
Color versions of one or more of the figures in this paper are available
online at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/JSYST.2011.2162922
1932-8184/$26.00 
IEEE SYSTEMS JOURNAL, VOL. 6, NO.
integrate renewable energy resources to the distribution grids,
which consider different objectives, including technical aspects
such as voltage profile and voltage stability improvements [3],
economical aspects such as network investment deferral [4],
as emission reduction [7]. Design of a practical, economical,
and multiobjective control strategy, which considers different
objectives, is the most important part to integrate renewable
energy resources to the distribution grid. In [8], a multiob-
jective control technique for connection of renewable energy
resources to the AC grid has been proposed. A conventional
two-level voltage source inverter (VSI) has been used as an
interface between renewable energy resources and AC grid.
This control method compensates for the active and reactive
power and harmonic currents of linear and nonlinear loads
by setting an appropriate reference of control loop. A control
strategy for the integration of renewable energy sources to the
utility grid has been proposed in [9]. In this model, the authors
proposed a three-level NPC VSI as the heart of the interfacing
system between renewable energy resources and utility grid.
The system controller is based on the multivariable linear
quadratic regulator control technique. The capability of the
proposed strategy in both steady state and transient operation
has been verified through simulation and experimental design.
In [10], a static var compensator using three-level gate turn-off
thyristor VSI has been presented for high-voltage, high-power
applications. In this proposed model, a controller is designed
using the small-signal model. The proposed model lacks a
global description of the DC-link side and the AC-side dy-
namics. In [11] and [12], some controllers based on park trans-
formation are designed, and DC-link unbalance problems for
different loading conditions of three-level VSI have been com-
pensated by means of the switching strategy. Reference [13]
proposed a nonlinear control technique to enhance the dynamic
performance of shunt active power filter which is modeled in
the synchronous orthogonal dq frame. A three-level NPC VSI
proposed as the interfacing system of DG sources and AC grid.
The exact feedback linearization theory is applied in the design
of the controller. This control strategy allows the decoupling of
the currents and enhances their tracking behavior and improves
the DC-voltage regulation. Reference [14] proposed a novel
and simple predictive current controller based on space vector
pulse width modulation (SVPWM) and developed for the
three-phase grid-connected pulse width modulation (PWM)
c 2011 IEEE
POURESMAEIL et al.: CONTROL SCHEME OF THREE-LEVEL NPC INVERTER 243

VSIs. With the predictive algorithm, the controller realizes

zero steady-state current errors as well as the effective grid
harmonic compensation. All the proposed control techniques
focused on compensating an important part of power system,
but the proposed control strategy in this paper has this capabil-
ity to do as a multiobjective control technique for integration
of renewable energy resources to the AC grid simultaneously.
Application of power electronic devices introduces new alter-
natives for custom power devices in order to achieve flexible
distribution networks [15]. Reactive power compensation is an
important issue in the control of distribution systems. Reactive
current not only increases distribution system losses, but also
reduces the systems power factor, shrinks the active power
capability, and can cause large amplitude variations in the
load-side voltage. Additionally, quick changes in the reactive
power consumption of large loads can cause voltage amplitude
oscillations (e.g., flicker in the case of arc furnaces). This
might lead to a change in the electric systems real power
demand resulting in power oscillations [10]. Fig. 1. Three-phase three-level structure of a diode-clamped inverter.
The main objective of integration of renewable energy to the
AC grid is to provide active power, nonetheless, by means of
II. Three-Level Diode-Clamped Inverter Topology
power electronic devices, reactive power can be compensated
and DG systems can also be used like active power filters. The neutral point converter proposed by Nabae, Takahashi,
These can be achieved by organizing an appropriate control and Akagi in 1981 was essentially a three-level diode-clamped
method for power electronic interface circuits [8]. A three- inverter [16]. A three-phase three-level diode-clamped inverter
level NPC VSI has been proposed for the interfacing between is shown in Fig. 1. These three inverter phases share a common
renewable energy resources and distribution grid in this paper. DC bus, subdivided by two capacitors into three levels. The
The main advantages of NPC VSI are to reduce voltage ratings voltage across each capacitor is V DC /2; and the voltage stress
for the switches, good harmonic spectrum (making possible the across each switching device is limited to VDC /2 through the
use of smaller and less expensive filters), and good dynamic clamping diodes.
response. However, control complexity increases compared to Fig. 2 shows the representation of the space vectors for the
conventional VSI [9]. The controlling command signal for three-level inverter. Note that the NPC has three phase and
the NPC VSI will include the information of load required three output levels or switching states, resulting in 33 possible
active, reactive, and harmonics currents. The space vector combinations, hence 27 state-space vectors indicate that each
PWM technique of NPC VSI presented in this paper is based phase can have +1, 0, and 1 state. For the general n-level
on analysis of voltage and current vector components mainly in three-phase inverter, there are n3 switching states and nvec =
rotating synchronous orthogonal dq frame with mathematical 3n(n 1) + 1 voltage vectors. According to Fig. 2, there are 24
equations and transformation matrixes. To separate voltage active states including 12 single vectors, six double vectors and
and current components in a rotating orthogonal dq reference the remaining one triple vector are zero states (111, 000, 1
frame, calculation of instantaneous angle of voltage is needed. 1 1) that lie at the center of the hexagon. Each integral point
This angle will be calculated directly by application of phase on the space vector plane has a fixed position in the complex
lock loop in circuit of proposed control technique. This plane, and represents a particular three-phase output voltage
technique is able to connect the renewable energy resources to state of the inverter. For example, the point (+1, 0, 1) on
the distribution grid without any current overshoots and also, the space vector plane means, phase (a) is connected to the
dynamic response of the proposed system will be improved. positive bus, phase (b) is connected to the neutral point, and
This control technique can: phase (c) is connected to the negative bus.
Besides the output voltage state, the point (+1, 0, 1) on
1) inject maximum available power of NPC VSI to the AC the space vector plane can also represent the switching state
grid; of the converter and how many upper switches in each phase
2) provide load active power; leg are ON for a three-level inverter. Switching states in Fig. 1
3) compensate load reactive power and track rapid varia- are defined as follows:
tions in load reactive power;
4) supply load harmonic currents and reduce THD of AC
S = (Sa , Sb , Sc ), Sa,b,c {1, 0, +1}
grid;





5) increase power factor of system.
State + 1 Sx1 , Sx2 are ON VxN = +VDC /2

. (1)
The performance of the proposed system is simulated using
State 0 Sx2 , Sx3 are ON VxN = 0




MATLAB/Simulink. The results are discussed to demonstrate



the potential of the proposed technique. State 1 Sx3 , Sx4 are ON VxN = VDC /2
244 IEEE SYSTEMS JOURNAL, VOL. 6, NO. 2, JUNE 2012

Fig. 3. Functional diagram of renewable energy resources connection to the

AC grid.

Fig. 2. Voltage vectors for a three-level NPC inverter.

III. Voltages and Currents in the Special

Reference Frames
The proposed space vector PWM control technique of
NPC VSI in this paper is based on analysis of voltage
and current vector components mainly in a special reference
frame, e.g., abc to and dq of the AC system vari-
ables. Synchronous reference frame control uses a reference
frame transformation module, e.g., abc to dq, to transform
the grid current and voltage waveforms into a reference
frame that rotates synchronously with the grid voltage. As
a result, the control variables become DC values; therefore,
filtering and controlling can be achieved more easily [17] Fig. 4. Voltage and current components in stationary and rotating syn-
[19]. The Clarke transformation ( transformation) maps chronous reference frame.
the three-phase instantaneous voltages and currents in the
123 (abc) phases into the instantaneous voltages and currents reference frame, i.e., in dq components. Considering the d-axis
on the -axes [18]. The transformations of three-phase vector in direction of voltage vector in this transformation, the
generic voltage and current components are given by (2) vertical component of the voltage (q-component of voltage)
and (3) in the rotating synchronous reference frame is always zero



v1 (vq = 0) [8].
v 2 1 1/2 1/2
= . v2 (2) Fig. 4 shows the voltage and current components in a
v 3 0 3/2 3/2 stationary and rotating synchronous reference frames. The
v3
transformation matrix (/dq) which is based on park equa-


il1
il 2 1 1/2 1/2 tions is given in
= . il2 (3)
il 3 0 3/2 3/2

il3 ild i vld v

= Tdq . , and = Tdq . (4)
ilq i vlq v
where vi and ili (i = 1, 2, 3) are the three-phase grid volt-
ages [or voltage at point of common coupling (PCC)] and

Cos Sin
load currents, respectively. A null value for the zero voltage where Tdq = , and the inverse matrix is
Sin Cos
component is assumed. The zero current component is also  1
dq
null since the absence of a neutral wire is considered. Fig. 3 T = Tdq . vld , vlq , ild , and ilq are d and q-component of
shows the three-phase diagram of renewable energy resources voltages and currents in rotating synchronous reference frame,
connected to the AC grid via a NPC VSI. Conventional sings respectively, and is the instantaneous angle of load voltage
of voltages and currents are also indicated. The renewable or voltage at the PCC [20].
energy resource and additional components are represented According to Fig. 4, the d-component of the voltage in
as a current source connected to the DC side of the NPC stationary and rotating synchronous reference frame is as
VSI. In this model line switching function replaced instead follows:
of line-to-line switching functions. In the next step, the     
reference frame is transformed to the rotating synchronous vd =  v  
dq = v = v 2 + v2 (5)
POURESMAEIL et al.: CONTROL SCHEME OF THREE-LEVEL NPC INVERTER 245

by substituting (3) in (4) and taking into consideration il1 = model is general, complete, and makes no assumptions other
(il2 + il3 ) than the use of ideal switches. Equation (12) can be written



as follows:

ild
= 2
Sin ( + /3) Sin ( ) il1
. (6)
ilq Cos ( + /3) Cos ( ) 1  VDC
il2 3
dick Rc 1 vk
= ick + sk sj . (12)
By (6), d and q-components of current in rotating syn- dt Lc Lc 3 j=1 2 Lc
chronous frame can be calculated by means of current com-
ponents in 123 variable system. Equation (12) represents the phase k dynamic equation of
the shunt NPC VSI. By (12) switching state function Dnk
three-level NPC VSI can be defined as follows:
IV. Dynamic Model of Shunt Connection of
1 3
Renewable Energy Resources into Dnk = sk sj . (13)
Distribution Grid 3 j=1
The renewable energy resources can be connected to the Equation (13) shows that the value of Dnk depends si-
AC grid in a series or shunt type. A shunt connection injects multaneously on the switching functions of the three legs
current at PCC, while a series connection injects a voltage of the shunt NPC VSI. This shows the relation between
between the utility supply and the customer load. A shunt the three phases. By substituting (13) into (12), dynamic
type connection of renewable energy resource is used in this equations of shunt connection of NPC VSI can be written as
part, because the compensated quantities (reactive power and follows:
harmonic currents) are related to the current, so shunt type

is more realistic as it injects current at PCC. To draw an d ic1 RC 1 0 0 ic1 1 Dn1 VDC 1 v1
ic2 = 010 ic2 + Dn2 v2 . (14)
appropriate plan to control the shunt connection of renewable dt ic3 LC 0 0 1 ic3 LC Dn3 2 L C v3
energy resources to the AC grid, a dynamic analytical model of Considering ic3 = (ic1 + ic2 ), dynamic model of shunt
the distribution system should be developed [8]. According to NPC VSI for integration of renewable energy resources to
Fig. 3, the KVL law for load voltage (voltage at PCC) leads to the AC grid in abc frame (123 frame) can be obtained as
dic1 follows:
v1 = Lc Rc ic1 + vM1 + vMN
dt
v2 = Lc
dic2
Rc ic2 + vM2 + vMN (7) d  ic1  Rc  1 0   ic1  1  Dn1  VDC 1  v1 
dt = + . (15)
dt ic2 Lc 0 1 ic2 Lc Dn2 2 L c v2
dic3
v3 = Lc Rc ic3 + vM3 + vMN It is well noted that (15) is a nonlinear and time variant
dt
equation.
summation of three equations in (7), it gives


3 
3
dici 
3 V. State-Space Model for Control
vi = (Lc Rc ici ) + (vMi + vMN ). (8)
dt In order to facilitate the performance of proposed control
i=1 i=1 i=1
strategy, the model can be transformed to the synchronous
A null value for the zero voltage component is assumed. By orthogonal frame rotating at the grid angular frequency, ,
taking into consideration ic1 +ic2 +ic3 = 0, and (v1 +v2 +v3 ) = 0, where all AC variables become DC variables. By use of park
AC NP potential (N) can be found by assuming all the terms transformation matrix as a non-singular, transfer of abc to 0dq
in (8), in (9) reference frame is possible as follows:
(vM1 + vM2 + vM3 )
vMN =
3
. (9) cos cos( 2/3) cos( + 2/3)
2
In addition, a first-order equation describes the AC side of
abc
Tdq0 = sin sin( 2/3) sin( + 2/3)
(16)
3
the system such that 1/2 1/2 1/2
dick Rc 1 1 1
= ick Vi + vMi + vMN where is the park reference angle, which may be chosen
dt Lc Lc Lc Lc (10)
k = 1, 2, 3. as constant or linear time-varying for different purposes. The
inverse matrix of (16) is calculated by
As shown in Fig. 3, the switching function S k of the kth dq0  1  123 T
leg of NPC VSI is defined as follows: T123 = T123
dq0 = Tdq0 . (17)

+1 Sk2 ON According to the dynamic equation of shunt three-level
Sk = 0 Sk1 ON (11) inverter in (14), the whole dynamic model of the shunt

1 Sk0 ON. three-level inverter in the dq0 reference frame is obtained as
follows:
Hence, assuming vKM = Sk V2DC , and substituting by (8),

(9), (10), and (11), a set of dynamic equations describing the d RC 1 0 0 1 VDC 1
[ic123 ] = 0 1 0 [ic123] + [Dn123] [v123]. (18)
switched model of the three-level system is developed. This dt LC 0 0 1 LC 2 LC
246 IEEE SYSTEMS JOURNAL, VOL. 6, NO. 2, JUNE 2012

Equation (18) gives

   1 0 0
d Rc dq0 
T123 icdq0 = 0 1 0 T123 icdq0
dq0
dt Lc 0 0 1
1 dq0  VDC 1 dq0 
+ T123 Dndq0 T vdq0
Lc 2 Lc 123
(19)
and considering the matrix differential property

d  dq0  
dq0 d  d dq0 
T123 icdq0 = T123 icdq0 + T icdq0 . (20)
dt dt dt 123 Fig. 5. Inner control loop of the icd and icq .
As a final point, the whole dynamic model of shunt NPC
VSI in dq0 reference frame is obtained from

Rc
L 0
d cd icd
i c
Rc
icq = 0 icq
dt i Lc Fig. 6. Equivalent diagram of d-axis current control loop of renewable
c0 Rc ic0 energy resources integration to the AC grid.
0 0
Lc
D v q + Lc icd
1 n d VDC 1 d
+ Dn q vq . (21) Dnq = 2 . (25)
Lc 2 Lc v VDC
D n0 0
The inputs Dnd and Dnq are combination of a nonlinear
As the sum of the three phase currents is zero, there is no
term and a linear decoupling compensation term. To achieve a
homopolar component (i0 = 0), therefore, the ACNP voltage
fast dynamic response and zero steady state errors, a PI-type
(vMN ) does not affect any transformed current. This voltage
regulator is needed. It can be obtained as follows:
can be deduced from !
v0 e0      
vMN = . (22) dq = kp icdq + ki icdq dt (26)
3
     
The ACNP voltage only depends on homopolar voltage where icdq = icdq icdq are current error signals, and
components. Additionally, when the electrical grid is balanced,    
the averaged value of v0 is zero, hence vMN depends only on icdq is reference templates of icdq which depends on the
the homopolar component of the AC voltages of the converter objectives of grid integration of renewable energy resources.
[21]. Defining the original position of the dq-axis to be vq = 0, The transfer function of the PI regulator for current control
the other component is v d = EL , which is the value of the loops of proposed strategy is given by
line-to-line RMS voltage, therefore (21) can be expressed as dq (s) ki
follows: Gi (s) = = kp + . (27)
R Idq (s) s


c

d icd icd The block diagram of the d-q current control loops can
= Lc Rc icq be derived from (24), (25), and (27). To design PI regulator
dt icq in circuit of current controller, it is necessary to decouple the
Lc

model of the system by adding the measured voltage of d-axis
1 Dnd VDC 1 vd
+ (23) and crosscoupling terms as shown in Fig. 5.
Lc Dnq 2 Lc 0
So, the inner control loops can be simplified as shown in
where the homopolar component has been omitted. Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 5, the current loops of icd and icq
are the same. So, in the synchronous d-q reference frame,
decoupled control for the reactive and active power can be
VI. Current Control Technique for NPC VSI conveniently achieved by independently controlling the d-axis
In order to obtain a low overshoot, high accuracy and fast and q-axis currents. Fig. 6 shows the inner control loop of the
dynamic response to provide load active and reactive powers currents icd .
and also harmonic currents compensation, two equations in the The closed loop transfer function of the current loop can be
model (23) must be controlled in two different and independent obtained as follows:
dic
loops. Considering = Lc + Rc ic switching state function ki
dt s+
as the original control inputs can be calculated as follows: Icq (s) Icd (s) kp kp
= = . (28)
d Lc icq + vd (s)
Icq Icd (s) Lc 2 (Rc + kp ) ki
Dnd = 2 (24) s + s+
VDC Lc Lc
POURESMAEIL et al.: CONTROL SCHEME OF THREE-LEVEL NPC INVERTER 247

The transient response of the currents will be affected by the

presence of the zero in (28) (s = ki /kp ). Particularly, the
actual percent overshoot will be much higher than expected. "
For the optimal value of the damping factor = 1 2,
the theoretical overshoot is 21%, which is very high [8]. To
eliminate the effect of zero on transient response in (28), a
pre-filter is added as shown in Fig. 6. The response of the
current loops becomes that of a second-order transfer function
with no zero. Comparison between the general equation of a
2
second-order transfer function s2 +2nn s+2 and (28) leads to the
n
following design relations:
kp = 2Lc n Rc and ki = Lc n2 (29)
where is a damping factor and n is natural un-damped
angular frequency and depends on the specific time response.
Because of physical limitations, n must be lower than
the angular frequency p (p = 2fp with fp = 10 kHz) of
the modulation carrier wave, which will be the maximum Fig. 7. Voltage space phasors and related switching states.
switching frequency of the semiconductor devices. A value
of n = p /5 was adopted using simulation programs [22]. energy resources capacity, capacity of power electronic devices
(NPC VSI), and transformers.
VII. Calculation of Reference Currents
The instantaneous complex of load power (S) is defined as B. Calculation of Harmonic Components of Reference Current
the product of the load voltage vector (V ), and the conjugate of D-Axis
of the load current vector (I ), given in the form of complex Calculation of the load current in the dq reference frame by
numbers. According to Fig. 4, these values will be obtained (6) makes it possible to separate fundamental and harmonic
as follows: currents. ild can be separated into DC and alternative compo-
nent as follows:
S = VI = PL + jQL = (vd + jvq )(ild jilq ). (30)
ild = iid +Ild . (33)
Equation (30) shows the active and reactive powers re-
quested for supply of the loads [23]. iid is alternative d-component of load current in rotating
synchronous reference frame which is related to harmonic
A. Calculation of Reference Current to Supply Load Active components of load current and Ild is the DC term of
Power load current in this frame which is related to fundamental
In fundamental frequency (first harmonic), the active power frequency of load current. To compensate harmonic current it
injected from NPC VSI to the distribution grid is as is necessary to separate alternative and constant components.
follows: For this purpose, a high pass filter must be used. To minimize
the influence of the HPFs phase responses, by means of a
P = vd Icd + vq Icq (31)
low-pass filter (LPF), a minimal phase HPF can be obtained,
where capital letters are related to fundamental frequency of the transfer function of this LPF has order and cutoff
voltage and current. So, vd is load voltage in fundamental frequency the same as HPF. So, the minimal phase HPF
frequency at the PCC. The d-component of reference current (MPHPF) can be obtained simply by the difference between
to provide active current in fundamental frequency can be the input signal and the filtered one, which is equivalent to
calculated by performing
Pref
Icd = . (32) HMPHPF (s) = 1 HLPF (s). (34)
vd
Pref is the power that NPC VSI must provide in fundamental A double-precision low-pass filter using the Chebyshev
frequency by connection of renewable energy resources to the type-I fourth-order low-pass filter is used for this purpose. The

AC grid. Icd is the d-component of NPC VSI link reference filter considered has a cut-off frequency fc = f2 (f = 50 Hz)
current in fundamental frequency. Due to limited output power which promises the elimination of DC components in the
of NPC VSI, reference current must be restricted. Calculation nonlinear load currents. So, harmonic components of load
of d-component of reference current with this method makes it current at d-axis are obtained. To use distributed generation
possible to control the maximum active power delivered to the technology based on renewable energy resources as active
grid by changing Pref via NPC VSI by integration of renewable filter, harmonic components of load current must be supplied.
energy resources to the AC grid. Pref depends on renewable For this purpose the d-component of nonlinear link reference
248
Fig. 8. Schematic diagram of renewable energy resources integration into AC grid.
current is achieved by doing the sum of currents in (32) and
alternative terms of load current in (33)
icd = iid + Icd .
C. Calculation of Reference Current to Supply Load Reactive
Power
In a rotating reference synchronous frame, the q-component
of load current is perpendicular on d-component of voltage
(vd ilq ). So, q-component of load current indicates required
reactive power of the load. To compensate load reactive power,
NPC VSI must inject a current with q-component equal to ilq .
For this purpose, it is sufficient to set q-component of reference
current of proposed control strategy equal to q-component of
the load current as shown in
icq = ilq .
icq is the vertical component of link reference current that
is shown. By this consideration, load reactive current in
fundamental frequency is compensated and harmonic reactive
currents can also be provided.
VIII. Space Vector PWM Representation
of the NPC VSI
Many modulation techniques are studied to realize
switching state functions in a synchronous rotating reference
frame, i.e., Dnd and Dnq . Among several proposed modulation
strategies, in the three-phase three-wire systems to control
NPC VSI, SVPWM stands out, because it offers significant
flexibility to optimize switching waveforms and reduces the
switching losses by limiting the switching to the two thirds of
the pulse duty cycle, as a converters gating signals generators
[17], [18]. In order to make an appropriate selection of the
Dnd and Dnq , the space phasor plane is first subdivided into
IEEE SYSTEMS JOURNAL, VOL. 6, NO. 2, JUNE 2012
six 60 sectors 1, 2, . . . , 6. Fig. 7 shows the instantaneous
magnitude and angular velocity of switching states function,
controlled by selecting a particular voltage vector depending
(35) on its present location.
IX. Simulation Results
To describe and validate the capabilities of proposed control
strategy, simulations are carried out for integration of renew-
able energy resources to the distribution grid via a NPC VSI,
in a MATLAB/Simulink environment. The schematic diagram
and principle of the proposed control technique in a distribu-
tion grid is shown in Fig. 8. Simulation parameters are given in
the Appendix. First, capabilities of renewable energy resources
and flexibility of proposed control strategy for control of NPC
VSI in providing active, reactive power and harmonic current
(36) components of linear and nonlinear loads are shown, and the
capabilities of the proposed control method on reactive power
tracking with constant output active power are considered.
During the simulation process, active power which is delivered
from the renewable energy resources via NPC VSI to the AC
grid is considered to be constant. This assumption makes it
possible to evaluate the capability of the proposed control strat-
egy to track the fast change in the active and reactive power,
independent of each other. For this purpose, when one of them
is changed, another one must be constant. To simulate a real
distribution grid, the load is connected and disconnected to
distribution grid randomly and grid current waveform will be
compared with each other under various loads and conditions.
A. Ability of Proposed Strategy to Supply Load Active Power
and to Track a Step Change in Load Reactive Power of a
Linear Load
The linear load with following characteristics is drawing a
sinusoidal current from AC grid.
POURESMAEIL et al.: CONTROL SCHEME OF THREE-LEVEL NPC INVERTER
Fig. 9. Grid current, load current, load voltage, and inverter current before
and after integration of renewable energy resources to the distribution grid.
Fig. 10. Grid current, load current, load voltage, and inverter current before
and after load increment.
PLoad = 8 kW and QLoad = 6 kvar, and maximum active
power of proposed converter is set to constant (Pref = 8 kW).
The renewable energy resource is connected to the distribution
grid at t = 0.1 s via NPC VSI as an interface to the AC
grid. This process is continued until t = 0.2 s; at this moment
another linear load, similar to the prior load is connected
to the PCC and the extra load is disconnected at t = 0.3 s.
Fig. 9 shows the steady state simulation results in ability of
the proposed control technique to provide whole the active
current and compensate reactive current by integration of
renewable energy resource to the distribution grid. Hence, after
integration of renewable energy resource, the current which is
drawn from the distribution grid is approximately zero and
NPC VSI inject its maximum power to the AC grid.
At t = 0.2 s additional load which has the same parameters
as a fix load is connected into the distribution grid. Fig. 10
shows the ability of proposed strategy to supply half of active
249
Fig. 11. Grid current, load current, load voltage, and inverter current before
and after load decrement.
Fig. 12. Load voltage, grid current, load current, and injected current before
and after integration of renewable energy resource, and before and after
additional load connection into distribution grid.
current equivalent with the maximum available power of NPC
VSI and compensate whole the reactive current of the load. As
shown in Fig. 10, the grid current and load voltage are in the
phase and no reactive current is drowning from the AC grid. In
addition, NPC VSI injected maximum available active power
into distribution grid, and the other required active power has
been drown from distribution grid.
Finally, at t = 0.3 s the additional load is disconnected from
distribution grid. Fig. 11 shows the ability of proposed control
strategy to track the load current, when a sudden change
(decrement) occurs in load currents. As shown in Fig. 11, NPC
VSI injects maximum available power to the distribution grid,
and the current which is drawn from grid is approximately
zero after load decrement. In addition, Figs. 9 and 10 show
current overshoot no exist during connection of renewable
energy source to the distribution grid at t = 0.1 s and the
250 IEEE SYSTEMS JOURNAL, VOL. 6, NO. 2, JUNE 2012

Fig. 13. Grid current, load voltage, and load current (a) before and after
connection of additional load and (b) before and after disconnection of
additional load.

proposed integration strategy is insensitive to grid overload at

t = 0.2 s.

B. Ability of Proposed Strategy to Supply Harmonic Currents

Components and Nonlinear Load Increment
Prior to the connection of renewable energy resource to
the distribution grid via NPC VSI as an interfacing system,
a full-wave thyristor converter supplies a load with resistance
of 20  and 10 mH inductors in each phase. This nonlinear
load draws harmonic current from the AC grid continuously.
The renewable energy resource is connected to the distribution Fig. 14. Currents spectra. (a) Load current spectra before integration of
grid at t = 0.1 s. This process is continued until t = 0.2; at this renewable energy resources into AC grid. (b) Load current spectra after
moment another full-wave thyristor converter similar to the connection of additional load. (c) Grid current spectra after connection of
additional load.
prior load is added to PCC and it is disconnected from AC
grid at t = 0.3 s. harmonics frequency are injected by NPC VSI to the AC grid,
Figs. 1214 show the related currents, load voltage, and as shown in Fig. 12.
current spectra, respectively. As shown in Fig. 13(a), after connection of the additional
After integration of renewable energy resource into distri- load, production in control circuit of power electronic interface
bution grid, the grid current becomes zero and all the active is delayed for one cycle. This is due to settling time of MPHPF
and reactive current component including fundamental and filter. After the transient times, the load voltage and grid
POURESMAEIL et al.: CONTROL SCHEME OF THREE-LEVEL NPC INVERTER
Fig. 15. Reference currents track the load current after source integration
into distribution grid.
Fig. 16. Reference currents track the load current after additional load
increment.
current are in phase and the grid does not need to provide
reactive and harmonic currents for the load which is shown
for phase a. With the same delay as before, additional load
is disconnected at t = 0.3 s. After the pass of the transient
times the grid current becomes zero. As shown in Fig. 13, load
harmonic currents are injected by NPC VSI and grid current
is sinusoidal, but there are sharp edges on current waveforms
which are related to high order harmonic frequencies and
created during switching of thyristor converters.
To evaluate the capabilities of proposed control technique
to compensate harmonic currents, the spectra of currents
before and after integration of renewable energy resource into
distribution grid and after connection of additional load are
shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 14(a) shows that before connection
of additional load the THD is 22.3%. After connection of
additional load this value is 19.1%, as Fig. 14(b) indicates.
Fig. 14(c) shows that the THD of grid current after connection
of additional load is just 2.96%. The comparison between this
information demonstrates capabilities of the proposed control
251
Fig. 17. Trajectory of the nonlinear loads in representation (a) before
and (b) after load increment.
Fig. 18. Trajectory of the grid current in representation during connection
of extra load into distribution grid.
technique of NPC VSI to compensate harmonic currents of
the load.
The ability of control loop to track the references current
of d and q-axis, for the duration of integration of renewable
energy resource to the distribution grid and for the period
of connection of extra load, is shown in Figs. 15 and 16,
respectively.
Fig. 17 shows the trajectory of the load currents il versus
il in representation, required to supply the load, before
and after connection of additional load to PCC. The AC
currents are containing some harmonic currents distortion for
feed forward modulation, so the representation of those
currents is not circular and is hexagonal. Fig. 17 shows after
the second load similar to first load is connected to distribution
grid, radius of external hexagonal is exactly two times greater
than radius of internal hexagonal.
Fig. 18 shows the trajectory of the grid currents in
representation, after integration of renewable energy resource
and connection of additional load to the distribution grid. The
AC currents do not contain significant low-frequency distortion
252
for feed forward modulation, since the representation of
those currents is approximately circular.
X. Conclusion
In this paper, a flexible control strategy for integration
of renewable energy resources to the distribution grid was
presented. The high performances of the proposed control
strategy in both steady state and transient operation have been
verified through simulation results. The dynamic model of
NPC VSI during integration of renewable energy resource to
the AC grid has been investigated. Simulation results clarified
the ability of the proposed control strategy in compensation
of active and reactive currents in fundamental frequency and
harmonic current components. In addition, simulation results
validated the ability and fast dynamic response of proposed
control technique in tracking reactive power variations. Sim-
ulation results shows, by setting delivered active power from
renewable energy resources as a constant value, and increasing
requested load reactive power in fundamental and harmonic
frequencies, the control loop of active and reactive powers
considerate independent of each other. The proposed control
scheme has the ability to be used in all types of converters
topologies and can be used as a multiobjective strategy for
integration of different types of renewable energy resources
into AC grids.
APPENDIX
Parameters for simulation are as follows: Vs (line) = 380 V,
f = 50 Hz, Rs = 0.1 , Ls = 0.1 mH, Rc = 0.1 , Lc =
0.045 H, and VDC = 700 V, where the transformer parameters
are included in Rc and Lc.
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Edris Pouresmaeil was born in Babol, Iran, on
September 16, 1979. He received the B.S. and
M.S. degrees in electrical power engineering from
the University of Mazandaran, Babol, in 2003 and
2005, respectively. He is currently working toward
the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering with the
Faculty of Power Electronics and Drives, Center of
Technological Innovation in Static Converters and
Drives, Electrical Engineering Department, Poly-
technic University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
His current research interests include distributed
generation, operation, control strategies, DSP control applications for high
power and DG systems, modeling and control of multilevel converters for
integration of renewable energy resources to the power grid, micro grid, and
smart grid operations.
POURESMAEIL et al.: CONTROL SCHEME OF THREE-LEVEL NPC INVERTER
Daniel Montesinos-Miracle (S01M08) was born
in Barcelona, Spain, in 1975. He received the M.Sc.
degree in electrical engineering from the School
of Industrial Engineering of Barcelona, Polytechnic
University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, in 2000,
and the Ph.D. degree from UPC in 2008.
In 2001, he joined Salicru Electronics, S.A., Santa
Maria de Palautordera, Spain, as a Research and
Development Engineer. Since 2001, he has been
with the Center of Technological Innovation in Static
Converters and Drives as a Research Collaborator.
In 2005, he became a Lecturer with the Electrical Engineering Department,
UPC. His primary research interests include power electronics, drives, and
green energy converters.
253
Oriol Gomis-Bellmunt (S05M07) received the
degree in industrial engineering from the School
of Industrial Engineering of Barcelona, Technical
University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain, in
2001, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering
from UPC in 2007.
In 1999, he joined Engitrol, Barcelona, where he
was a Project Engineer with the automation and
control industry. In 2003, he developed part of his
Ph.D. thesis with the German Aerospace Center,
Braunschweig, Germany. Since 2004, he has been
with the Electrical Engineering Department, UPC, where he is a Lecturer and
participates in the CITCEA-UPC Research Group. Since 2009, he has also
been with the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, Barcelona. His current
research interests include the fields linked with smart actuators, electrical
machines, power electronics, renewable energy integration in power systems,
industrial automation, and engineering education.