Experimental Demonstrator of Full Bridge Modular Multilevel Converter for DC Grid Applications

This paper presents the design and control of 12 kW medium voltage Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) prototype, providing a general overview on both the component and system levels. A top level functional overview of the sub-module (SM) converter design including features like semiconductor temperature monitoring and protections for over-voltage, overcurrent, and over-temperature to enhance reliability. The paper also offers a comprehensive system overview, utilizing OPALRT as a high-level controller. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design, a $12-\text{kW}$, three-phase MMC prototype was constructed, consisting of four full-bridge (FB) SMs in each converter arm. The paper explains communication management and the integration of analog and digital signals between the physical system and the user interface controller. Finally, the system's output under various operating conditions is analyzed and presented.