Loss Optimization of MMC by Second-Order Harmonic Circulating Current Injection

For high power voltage source converter based high voltage direct current transmission systems, modular multilevel converter (MMC) is the most popular circuit topology nowadays. It is known that the existence of the second-order harmonic circulating current (SHCC) component in the arm current of MMC increases the loss of the converter. Conventionally, the SHCC component eliminating methods are usually adopted to reduce the loss. The relationship between the loss of MMC and the SHCC component is analyzed first in this paper. The analysis shows that the conventional eliminating methods are not optimal in terms of the minimum loss of MMC. A loss optimization control scheme is also proposed by injecting the optimal SHCC component into the arm current of MMC, rather than eliminating the SHCC component of the arm current. The simulation and experimental results of the ±350 kV/1000 MW MMC and the down-scaled MMC setup verify the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed loss optimization method under different operation conditions.