US 12,081,140 B2
Switching synchronization for modular multilevel converters
Nathaniel B. Hawes, Niskayuna, NY (US); Jovan Z. Bebic, Niskayuna, NY (US); and Xiaohong Li, Niskayuna, NY (US)
Assigned to GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited, Warwickshire (GB)
Filed by GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited, Warwickshire (GB)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/714,992.
Prior Publication US 2023/0327574 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. H02M 7/483 (2007.01); H02M 7/493 (2007.01)
CPC H02M 7/4835 (2021.05) [H02M 7/493 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
7. A method for synchronizing, via a controller, outputs generated by a plurality of sub-modules being connected in parallel, the method comprising:
coupling the controller to the plurality of sub-modules;
controlling, via the controller, a flow of one or more synchronizing signals between;
receiving, at each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules, one or more synchronizing signals in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction;
computing, via the controller, a delay in a flow time between a flow of a first synchronizing signal of the one or more synchronizing signals in the first direction and a flow of a second synchronizing signal of the one or more synchronizing signals in the second direction;
delaying, via the controller, a pulse-width modulation gate command corresponding to each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules based on the computed delay; and
shifting, based on the computed delay, a phase of a pulse-width modulation output of each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules such that each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules receives the first synchronizing signal of the one or more synchronizing signals in the first direction and the second synchronizing signal of the one or more synchronizing signals in the second direction simultaneously, thereby synchronizing the outputs generated by each submodule of the plurality of sub-modules.