Thyristor-Bypassed Submodule Power-Groups for Achieving High-Efficiency, DC Fault Tolerant Multilevel VSCs

Achieving dc fault tolerance in modular multilevel converters requires the use of a significant number of submodules (SMs) that are capable of generating a negative voltage. This results in an increase in the number of semiconductor devices in the current path, increasing converter conduction losses. This paper introduces a thyristor augmented multilevel structure called a Power-Group (PG), which replaces the stacks of SMs in modular converters. Each PG is formed out of a series stack of SMs with a parallel force-commutated thyristor branch, which is used during normal operation as a low loss bypass path in order to achieve significant reduction in overall losses. The PG also offers negative voltage capability and so can be used to construct high-efficiency dc fault tolerant converters. Methods of achieving the turn-on and turn-off of the thyristors by using voltages generated by the parallel stack of SMs within each PG are presented, while keeping both the required size of the commutation inductor, and the thyristor turn-off losses low. Efficiency estimates indicate that this concept could result in converter topologies with power losses as low as 0.3% rated power while retaining high quality current waveforms and achieving tolerance to both ac and dc faults.