Harmonic analysis of modular multilevel matrix converter for fractional frequency transmission system

Fractional Frequency Transmission is a competitive technology for offshore wind power transmission. Modular Multilevel Matrix Converter (M3C) plays a key role in a Fractional Frequency Transmission System (FFTS) as the frequency changer. M3C is broadly considered as the AC-AC converter for the future with its attractive advantages in high voltage and high power applications. Due to the lack of a DC link, electrical quantities at different frequencies from two AC systems couple in M3C, resulting in a complex harmonic condition. Harmonics can lead to stability issues and its analysis is of great importance. This paper focuses on the harmonic analysis of M3C. The arm capacitor voltage ripples and the harmonic currents are analyzed at various frequencies. Major factors influencing the harmonics magnitude are discussed. Analysis is conducted on sub-module capacitance and arm inductance selection. A zero-sequence current mitigation controller for M3C is implemented and tested. It is found that for a FFTS, some current harmonics flow into AC systems even though the system is balanced, while the others circulate within the converter. The theoretical harmonic analysis is verified by simulations in Real Time Digital Simulator® (RTDS) of a M3C system where each arm consists of forty sub-modules.