Method for controlling a converter
11476775 · 2022-10-18
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
H02M1/0009
ELECTRICITY
H02M1/325
ELECTRICITY
Y02E10/72
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
H02M7/493
ELECTRICITY
Y02E10/76
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F05B2220/706
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H02M5/44
ELECTRICITY
F03D9/25
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
H02M7/493
ELECTRICITY
F03D9/25
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H02J3/38
ELECTRICITY
H02M5/44
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a converter, in particular power converter of a wind power installation. The converter has a plurality of, preferably parallel, converter modules. The method includes the following steps: driving a first converter module, such that the converter module generates a first electrical AC current in a first switch position, driving a second converter module, such that the converter module generates a second electrical AC current in a second switch position, superposing the first electrical AC current and the second electrical AC current to form a total current, detecting the total current of the converter, determining a virtual current depending on the first and second switch positions, and changing the first switch position of the first converter module and/or the second switch position of the second converter module depending on the total current and the virtual current.
Claims
1. A method for controlling a converter having a plurality of converter modules, the method comprising: driving a first converter module to generate a first electrical AC current in a first switch position; driving a second converter module to generate a second electrical AC current in a second switch position; superposing the first electrical AC current and the second electrical AC current to form a total current; detecting the total current of the converter; determining a virtual current depending on the first and second switch positions; and changing the first switch position of the first converter module and/or the second switch position of the second converter module depending on the total current and the virtual current.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter is a power converter of a wind power installation.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of converter modules are coupled in parallel to each other.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first converter module is coupled in parallel with the second converter module such that the first electrical AC current and the second electrical AC current are superposed to form a common converter current.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: using cascaded closed-loop control having superordinate closed-loop control and subordinate closed-loop control to change the first switch position and/or the second switch position.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein detecting the total current includes detecting a plurality of currents respectively corresponding to a plurality of phases of each converter module of the plurality of converter modules.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: using control signaling to change the first switch position of the first converter module and/or the second switch position of the second converter module.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: changing the first switch position of the first converter module and the second switch position of the second converter module depending on a sum of switch positions of a phase for all converter modules of the plurality of converter modules.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, comprising: changing the first switch position of the first converter module and the second switch position of the second converter module depending on the sum of the switch positions using a tolerance band.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sum of the switch positions of the phase is determined from at least one of: a summation current of a phase over all converter modules of the plurality of converter modules; the virtual current; a function for the switch positions using a rounding function; a reference value for the virtual current; and a reference value for a total current of a phase of all converter modules of the plurality of converter modules.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: changing the first switch position of the first converter module and/or the second switch position of the second converter module depending on a reference value for a current of a phase of the converter.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising: changing the first switch position of the first converter module and/or the second switch position of the second converter module depending on the reference value for the current of the phase of the converter using a tolerance band.
13. A generator of electrical energy of a wind power installation, comprising: a converter having a plurality of converter modules; a controller configured to drive the plurality of converter modules by at least: driving a first converter module of the plurality of converter modules to generate a first electrical AC current in a first switch position; driving a second converter module of the plurality of converter modules to generate a second electrical AC current in a second switch position; detecting a total current of the converter, wherein the total current is formed by superposition of the first electrical AC current and the second electrical AC current; determining a virtual current depending on the first and second switch positions; and changing the first switch position of the first converter module and/or the second switch position of the second converter module depending on the total current and the virtual current.
14. The generator as claimed in claim 13, wherein the plurality of converter modules are coupled in parallel.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The present invention will now be described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the same reference signs are used for identical or similar components or assemblies.
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(7)
(8) In this respect, the wind power installation 100 has a tower 102 and a nacelle 104. An aerodynamic rotor 106 comprising three rotor blades 108 and a spinner 110 is arranged on the nacelle 104. The rotor 106 is caused to effect a rotational movement by the wind during operation and thereby drives a generator in the nacelle. As a result, the generator generates a current to be fed in, which is fed into an electrical supply network by means of an inverter.
(9)
(10) The aerodynamic rotor of the wind power installation 106 is connected to the generator 120 of the wind power installation. In this case, the generator 120 is preferably embodied as a six-phase ring generator.
(11) The generator 120 is furthermore connected to an electrical supply network 200, or linked to the electrical supply network 200, via a converter 130 by means of a network protection device 140 and a transformer 150.
(12) In order that the electrical power generated by the generator 120 is converted into a current Ig to be fed in, the converter 130 has a rectifier 132 at the converter input. The rectifier 132 is additionally connected to a first DC voltage link circuit 133. The first DC voltage link circuit 133 in turn is connected to a boost controller 134. The boost controller 134 is in turn connected to a chopper 135. The chopper 135 is in turn connected to a second DC voltage link circuit 136. The second DC voltage link circuit 136 is in turn connected to an inverter 137. In this case, the inverter 137 itself forms the converter output, which is provided with a network protection device 140. In this case, the inverter 137 consists of a plurality of inverter modules 137′, as shown in
(13) The network protection device 140 comprises a decoupling inductor 142, a filter 144 and a network inductor 146, for example. In one preferred embodiment, the network protection device 140 is thus embodied as an LCL filter. The network protection device 140 thus forms a current I.sub.INJ to be fed in from the total current i.sub.gp generated.
(14) In order that the current I.sub.INJ to be fed in is fed into the electrical supply network 200, a wind power installation transformer 150 is furthermore provided, which is preferably star-delta-connected.
(15) The electrical supply network 200 to which the wind power installation 100 is linked by means of the transformer 150 can be a wind farm network or an electrical supply or distribution network, for example.
(16) Furthermore, a control unit (controller) 160 is provided for controlling the electrical phase section 100′.
(17) The control unit 160 is configured to detect the total current i.sub.gp generated and/or the current I.sub.INJ to be fed in by means of a current detecting means (ammeter, voltmeter, multimeter or current sensor) 162. Preferably, in particular, the currents of each converter module 137′ in each phase are detected.
(18) Moreover, the control unit also has voltage detecting means (voltmeter, multimeter or voltage sensor) 164 configured to detect a network voltage of the electrical supply network 200.
(19) In one particularly preferred embodiment, the control unit 160 is additionally configured also to detect the phase angle and the amplitude of the current I.sub.inj to be fed in.
(20) From the values thus detected, the control unit 160 subsequently determines the switch positions S.sub.p,j by means of a method described herein.
(21) In addition, the control unit 160 can furthermore be configured to determine, in addition to the switch positions S.sub.p,j, corresponding dead times T.sub.p,j for the individual switches of the converter modules 137′.
(22) The control unit then transfers the switch positions S.sub.p,j, and the dead time T.sub.p,j to the corresponding controllers of the converter modules.
(23)
(24) The inverter 137 comprises three inverter modules 137′, which are representative of a plurality of inverter modules 1, 2, . . . , n.
(25) On the DC voltage side, the inverter modules 137′ are connected to a link circuit voltage V.sub.c by way of a DC voltage link circuit.
(26) The link circuit voltage V.sub.c has a positive potential DC.sup.+ and a negative potential DC.sup.−, which are preferably substantially equal in terms of magnitude.
(27) Furthermore, on the AC voltage side, the inverter modules 137′ are connected to the phases P1, P2, P3 via a three-phase AC voltage network. In this case, the phases P1, P2, P3 can also be understood in a simplified way as phase p with consecutive numbering 1, 2, 3.
(28) The phases p each have an inductance L and a magnetic coupling M and are star-connected by means of a star point N, which carries a neutral conductor with a voltage V.sub.e.
(29) Each converter module 137′ has a switch S.sub.cp,j for each phase p, wherein the switch S.sub.c1,1 S.sub.c2,1 and S.sub.c3,1 can assume the discrete values +1 and −1. As a result, each converter module 137′ generates a current i.sub.c1,j per phase p. The first converter module thus generates the current i.sub.c1,1 in the first phase P1, the current i.sub.c2,1 in the second phase P2 and the current i.sub.c3,1 in the third phase.
(30) The currents i.sub.c1,j thus generated are combined by means of nodes AC1, AC2, AC3 in each phase P1, P2, P3 to form a respective summation current i.sub.g,1, i.sub.g,2, i.sub.g,3, which yield the total current i.sub.gp.
(31) Each phase P1, P2, P3 additionally has a total inductance L.sub.g and a voltage V.sub.g1, V.sub.g2, V.sub.g3.
(32)
(33) The converter is embodied as an inverter 137 and has a plurality of inverter modules 137′, which respectively generate a three-phase current i.sub.p,1, i.sub.p,3, which are superposed to form a total current i.sub.gp.
(34) The inverter 137 or that is to say the inverter modules 137′ are controlled, by means of the control unit 160, by switching signals for the switches in the form of the switch positions S.sub.p,j to be adopted. As a result, the first inverter module 137′ thus has the switch positions S.sub.p,1, and the second inverter module 137′ the switch positions S.sub.p,2.
(35) It is thus proposed first of all to operate the inverter modules 137′ as a connected assemblage, in particular to operate them in parallel.
(36) The control unit 160 substantially consists of two closed-loop control arrangements, namely of a superordinate closed-loop control arrangement A, B, D and a subordinate closed-loop control arrangement C, E.
(37) In this case, the superordinate closed-loop control arrangement A, B, D substantially has the task of determining how much has to be switched in order to fulfill specific target values. In this case, the subordinate closed-loop control arrangement C, E substantially has the task of determining what has to be switched in order that the inverter modules 137′ are loaded as uniformly as possible and/or are not overloaded. As a criterion for the former, use is made, e.g., of a reference value to be attained for the total current i*.sub.gp, which can also be referred to as target total current. As a criterion for the latter, use is made, e.g., of a reference value i*.sub.cp,j not to be exceeded for a current of a phase of a converter module.
(38) For this purpose, the superordinate closed-loop control arrangement A, B, D has a selection block A, a reference block B and a tolerance band block D.
(39) The selection block A effects a preselection, e.g., by means of the equation:
(40)
and generates therefrom the preselection for an upper value of the switch positions s.sub.Σp.sup.+ and the preselection for a lower value of the switch positions s.sub.Σp.sup.−.
(41) The reference block B additionally generates a reference value i*.sub.v for the virtual current i.sub.v, e.g., on the basis of the equation:
(42)
and a reference value i*.sub.gp for the total current i.sub.gp.
(43) The reference value i*.sub.gp can be predefined as a target value, e.g., by a power closed-loop control arrangement of the wind power installation or by a network operator.
(44) From these values s.sub.Σp.sup.+, s.sub.Σp.sup.−, i*.sub.v, i*.sub.gp and using the virtual current i.sub.v and the total current i.sub.gp, the tolerance band block D then ascertains the sum of all the switch positions of the converter S.sub.Σ123 and transfers this as a target predefinition to the subordinate closed-loop control arrangement, in particular the switching block E described below, which ascertains the individual switch positions of the switches of the converter modules from this target predefinition.
(45) For this purpose, the subordinate closed-loop control arrangement C, E has a reference block C and a switching block E.
(46) The reference block C generates a reference value i*.sub.cp,j for each current of a phase of each converter module i.sub.cp,j. This reference value i*.sub.cp,j takes account, e.g., of a maximum permissible current of the converter module. However, the reference value i*.sub.cp,j can, e.g., also be used to generate a load division within the phases of the converter modules, e.g., in the event of possible thermal problems.
(47) From this reference value i*.sub.cp,j and taking account of the target predefinition S.sub.Σ123 of the superordinate closed-loop control arrangement, namely the sum of all switch positions of the converter S.sub.Σ123, the switching block E generates the individual switch position S.sub.p,j of each phase p of each converter module j.
(48) Furthermore, from a detected total current i.sub.gp, which was ascertained, e.g., by means of all currents of all phases of all converter modules i.sub.cp,j, the switching block E ascertains a virtual current i.sub.v, e.g., by means of the equation:
(49)
and transfers both the total current i.sub.gp and the virtual i.sub.v current to the superordinate closed-loop control arrangement A, B, D, in particular the tolerance band block D.
(50) The subordinate closed-loop control arrangement C, E, in particular the switching block E, thus converts the sum of all switch positions S.sub.Σ123, said sum having been determined by the superordinate closed-loop control arrangement A, B, D, into the individual switch position S.sub.p,j. In other words, the superordinate closed-loop control arrangement determines how many converter modules are intended to be switched on, and the subordinate closed-loop control arrangement determines which converter modules are intended to be switched on.
(51) In one preferred embodiment, the reference blocks A, B, C are implemented in a reference module 166, in particular according to the equations:
(52)
(53) The coordination of the parallel converters is thus achieved in particular by the converter modules being operated as an overall system in an approximated sliding regime.
(54) A superordinate closed-loop control arrangement A, B, D and a subordinate closed-loop control arrangement C, E are used for this purpose.
(55) For the superordinate closed-loop control arrangement A, B, D, suitable coordinates are thus chosen (the error coordinates e.sub.123), at which a tolerance band controller is implemented. The subsystem of the virtual current is concomitantly simulated in the computing unit, but otherwise regarded as part of the controlled system. The introduction of this subsystem is essential for the decoupling of the switch positions s.sub.Σ123 designating the sum of the switch positions of a phase over all converters. It is taken to mean, in particular, that switching actions of a component of s.sub.Σ123 affect only the increase in the corresponding component of e.sub.123.
(56) This superordinate closed-loop controller, the references of which were generated in block B, thus defines only the switch position s.sub.Σ123 of the multi-level power converter. In the case of a parallel connection of n two-point power converters, each component of s.sub.Σ123 can assume values from the set
S={−n;−n+2, . . . ,n}
(57) The choice of the values, separately for each phase owing to the decoupling, is left to a tolerance band controller, that is to say block D, for example, which, from a previously effected preselection, namely of the values s.sub.Σp.sup.+ and s.sub.Σp.sup.−, chooses in each case the value which reduces the magnitude of the control deviation. The preselection, that is to say block A, for example, is fashioned here such that the magnitude of the derivative of the control error is as small as possible. This ensures the longest possible times between switching actions and thus reduces the switching losses.
(58) In a further embodiment, it is also possible for the tolerance band controller in block D to be equipped with a second, larger hysteresis. At these points the value n or −n is then to be chosen from the set S. This is helpful in cases in which the preselection was effected unfavorably on account of suddenly changing parameters, particularly if the preselection in Block A proceeds with a lower repetition rate than the current controller in block D.
(59) In a further embodiment, the selection of the reference for the virtual current in block B is effected such that the link circuit voltage is utilized in the best possible way.
(60) The subordinate closed-loop control arrangement C, E ensures that the currents in the individual converters do not deviate from one another to an excessively great extent or that a desired load distribution among the converters is ensured. Here, too, each phase can be considered separately from the others, which enables the processing to be parallelized.
(61) For this purpose, firstly references i.sub.cp,j, p=1,2,3, j=1, 2, . . . , n are to be chosen compatibly, which is effected in block C, in particular. The number of converters that are then switched on (the upper semiconductor switch being activated) is as was predefined by the superordinate closed-loop controller; this is preferably done in block E. The selection of which of the n converters are switched on makes it possible to influence the division of the network current among the individual converters.
(62) In a further embodiment, a prioritization for switching on takes place, which takes account of the following: whether a band around the reference i*.sub.cp,j was determined as being exceeded or undershot, the current i.sub.cp,j, the present switch position s.sub.p;j and further status information, e.g., indicating whether a switch was blocked for a change of the switching position because it had possibly only just been actuated, or signaling whether a switch was deactivated but is still participating in carrying current.
(63) In one preferred embodiment, a rapid communication is additionally set up, such that on a central assembly the measured values of the currents are present after a short latency and the manipulated variables calculated therefrom are calculated there and then communicated to the converters again likewise with low latency.
(64) It is thus proposed that in particular assuming a system shown in
(65) Since the sum of the switching functions of the individual converter modules is defined by the described control, what remains to be decided is how this directive is intended to be distributed among the converter modules and how the converter modules are intended to limit the internal or circulating currents. The following scheme is therefore introduced for each phase:
(66) Firstly, the reference values for the currents i*.sub.cp,j are defined for each current, such that it holds true that
Σ.sub.j.sup.n=1i*.sub.cp,j=i*.sub.gp.
(67) This allows the load to be defined individually for each converter.
(68) Secondly, the errors are determined in accordance with
e.sub.p,j=i.sub.cp,j−i*.sub.cp,j
(69) Thirdly, a list is created in which the converter module indices are stored in the order in which they are intended to be taken into account or switched. Moreover, the following rules are taken into account: 1. e.sub.i<−h and e.sub.j>−h, i.e., one converter module is given precedence over another if its lower tolerance band was contravened and the tolerance band of the other was not contravened, or e.sub.i<h and ej>h, i.e., one converter module is given precedence over another if its upper tolerance band was not contravened and the tolerance band of the other was contravened, 2. s.sub.p,j=1 and s.sub.p,j=−1, i.e., one converter module is given precedence over another if its switch position is +1 and that of the other is −1, 3. e.sub.i>e.sub.j, i.e., one converter module is given precedence over another if an error is greater than in the case of the other. Fourthly, the switch positions are allocated, in accordance with
(70)
(71) On account of this scheme, the command s.sub.Σp generated by the control of the network currents is always maintained and the internal currents are likewise controlled. Preferably, for this purpose, the network currents are accorded a higher priority than the circulating or internal currents.
(72)
(73) In a first step 2010, 2020, the converter modules are driven in order to generate respectively an electrical AC current i.sub.p,1, i.sub.p,2.
(74) In a second step 2030, the electrical AC currents i.sub.p,1, i.sub.p,2 are superposed to form a total current i.sub.gp and fed into an electrical supply network.
(75) Said total current i.sub.gp is detected in a next step 2040.
(76) In addition, a virtual current i.sub.v is determined in a further step 2050.
(77) Subsequently, in a next step 2060, the switch positions of the converter modules are changed depending on the detected total current i.sub.gp and the virtual current i.sub.v.
(78) This method thus described is carried out continuously during the operation of the converter.
(79) In this case, the method described herein and respectively the control unit described herein afford the following major advantages: the advantages of sliding regime controllers (implemented here as tolerance band controllers) are maintained (primarily the very good trajectory tracking capability) and coordinated switching actions additionally occur such as can be achieved much more simply for systems with pulse width modulation. The tolerance bands for the network currents and the individual currents can be predefined independently of one another. That means that the value of the (externally visible) network currents and of the (externally invisible) circulating currents can be parameterized independently of one another. A desired distribution of the current among the individual converters can be effected (e.g., in order to be able to perform thermal balancing). It is still possible for the tolerance bands to be chosen in a manner dependent on the network angle. The failure of a converter can be compensated for almost imperceptibly for the network.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
(80) 100 Wind power installation 100′ Electrical phase section of the wind power installation 102 Tower of the wind power installation 104 Nacelle of the wind power installation 106 Aerodynamic rotor of the wind power installation 108 Rotor blades of the wind power installation 110 Spinner of the wind power installation 120 Generator of the wind power installation 130 Converter 132 Rectifier of the converter 133 First DC voltage link circuit of the converter 134 Boost controller of the converter 135 Chopper of the converter 136 Second DC voltage link circuit of the converter 137 Inverter of the converter 137′ Inverter module 140 Network protection device of the converter 144 Filter of the network protection device 146 Network inductor of the network protection device 150 Wind power installation transformer 160 Control unit 162 Current detecting means 164 Voltage detecting means 166 Reference module 166 200 Electrical supply network AC AC current AC1 Node of a first phase AC2 Node of a second phase AC3 Node of a third phase DC DC voltage DC.sup.+ Positive potential of the DC voltage DC.sup.− Negative potential of the DC voltage i Current I Identity matrix i.sub.cp,j Current of a phase of a converter module i*.sub.cp,j Reference value for a current of a phase of a converter module i.sub.gp Total current of the converter i*.sub.gp Reference value for the total current of the converter i.sub.g,1 Total current of the converter in a first phase i.sub.g,2 Total current of the converter in a second phase i.sub.g,3 Total current of the converter in a third phase i.sub.v Virtual current i*.sub.v Reference value for the virtual current L Inductance, in particular of a phase L.sub.g Network inductance L.sub.v Design parameter of an inductance for decoupling M Magnetic coupling, in particular of one phase to another phase N Star point S Switch position S.sub.cp,j Switch S.sub.p,j Switch position of a phase p of a converter module j s.sub.Σp.sup.+ Preselection for upper value of the switch positions s.sub.Σp.sup.− Preselection for lower value of the switch positions S.sub.Σ123 Sum of all switch positions of the converter T.sub.p,j Dead time for a switch position S.sub.p,j of a phase p of a converter module j v, V Voltage V.sub.c Link circuit voltage V.sub.e Displacement voltage between link circuit and neutral point A, B, D Superordinate closed-loop control arrangement A Selection block of the superordinate closed-loop control arrangement B Reference block of the superordinate closed-loop control arrangement D Tolerance band block of the superordinate closed-loop control arrangement C, E Subordinate closed-loop control arrangement C Reference block of the subordinate closed-loop control arrangement E Switching block of the subordinate closed-loop control arrangement
INDICES
(81) 1, 2, Consecutive numbering c Current g Total current j Number of the converter p Number of the phase v Virtual Σ Sum α, β, Coordinate
(82) The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.