Capacitor voltage ripple control for MMC power converters
This technology improves the performance of modular multilevel converters (MMCs), which are large power electronics systems used to transfer electricity between different power grids or between AC and DC systems. The core innovation is a smarter control algorithm that actively reduces unwanted voltage fluctuations on the internal capacitors of the converter — fluctuations that cause stress, heat, and inefficiency. It does this through two coordinated control loops: one that adjusts switching signals based on a target operating point, and another that injects a carefully calculated harmonic current to cancel out the dominant ripple component. Smaller capacitor voltage swings mean the converter can use smaller, cheaper capacitors or operate more reliably at high power levels.
What you could build
A firmware or control module embedded in MMC-based high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems or large industrial motor drives, sold to grid infrastructure OEMs like ABB, Siemens Energy, or GE Vernova, or licensed into their converter control platforms.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia's role as a major node in the PJM Interconnection grid and the presence of Dominion Energy make grid-scale power conversion technology relevant to Virginia utilities and their equipment suppliers.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Yadong Lyu, Yi-Hsun Hsieh, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li
- Granted
- September 3, 2019
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10404064
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.