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1. Evaluation of a Medium-Voltage Grid-Tied Cascaded H-Bridge for Energy Storage Systems Using SiC Switching Devices

   https://doi.org/10.1109/eGRID.2018.8598683  

   Mhiesan, Haider; Farnell, Chris; McCann, Roy; Mantooth, Alan (November 2018, Evaluation of a Medium-Voltage Grid-Tied Cascaded H-Bridge for Energy Storage Systems Using SiC Switching Devices)

   This paper presents the study and evaluation of a medium-voltage grid-tied cascaded H-bridge (CHB) three-phase inverter for battery energy storage systems using SiC devices as an enabling technology. The high breakdown voltage capability of SiC devices provide the advantage to significantly minimize the complexity of the CHB multilevel converter, with less power loss compared to when Silicon (Si) devices are used. The topology in this study has been selected based on high voltage SiC devices. In order to reach 13.8 kV, a nine-level CHB is needed when using 6.5 kV SiC MOSFETs. However, if 10 kV SiC MOSFETs are used, only five-levels of the CHB are required. The controls were developed, simulated and verified through an experimental prototype. The results from the scaled-down prototype proved the controls and the verification of the performance of five-level CHB three-phase inverter. For the system reliability, both open-loop and short-circuit faults are analyzed. 

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2. A SiC-based power electronics interface for integrating a battery energy storage into the medium (13.8 kV) distribution system

   https://doi.org/10.1109/APEC.2018.8341350  

   Umuhoza, Janviere; Mhiesan, Haider; Mordi, Kenneth; Farnell, Chris; Mantooth, H. Alan (March 2018, APEC 2018)

   This paper describes the study of a topology of modular multilevel converters for integrating battery energy storage into a medium (13.8 kV) distribution system. The main benefit of this topology is to remove the need for a bulk 60 Hz transformer that is normally used to step up the output of a voltage source inverter to the medium voltage level. A SiC-based power electronics interface presented in this paper provides an efficient solution without the large and costly transformer. Using medium voltage SiC devices (≥ 10 kV SiC MOSFETs), with their high breakdown voltage, enables the system to meet and withstand medium voltage application, using a minimized number of cascaded modules. This SiC-based power electronics interface significantly reduces the complexity usually faced when Si devices are used directly in medium voltage applications. The voltage and state of charge balancing control for battery modules is also simplified and performs well. The simulation and experimental results, performed on a low-voltage prototype, verify the proposed topology that is presented in this paper. 

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3. Comparative Analysis of Silicon Carbide and Silicon Switching Devices for Multilevel Cascaded H-Bridge Inverter Application with Battery Energy storage

   https://doi.org/10.1109/PEDG.2018.8447775  

   Mordi, Kenneth; Mhiesan, Haider; Umuhoza, Janviere; Hossain, Md Maksudul; Farnell, Chris; Mantooth, H. Alan (June 2018, 2018 9th IEEE International Symposium on Power Electronics for Distributed Generation Systems (PEDG))

   This paper investigates the use of power semiconductor devices in a nine - level cascaded H-bridge (CHB) multilevel inverter topology with an integrated battery energy storage system (BESS) for a 13.8kV medium voltage distribution system. In this topology, the bulky conventional step-up 60 Hz transformer is not used. The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of SiC MOSFET and Si IGBT devices in the inverter system to evaluate their respective performances. SiC MOSFET and Si IGBT switching devices are modeled and characterized using Saber® modeling software. The switching losses, thermal performance, and efficiency of the inverter system are investigated, and measurements are obtained from the simulation. Saber® provides a good capability for characterizing semiconductor models in the real world, with great features of computation. A three-phase SiC power MOSFET-based multilevel CHB inverter prototype is presented for experimental verification. In the investigation, better performances of SiC MOSFET devices are recorded. SiC devices demonstrate promising performance at different switching frequency and temperature ranges. 

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4. A Fault-Tolerant Hybrid Cascaded H-Bridge Topology

   https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912836  

   Mhiesan, Haider; Mantooth, Alan; Siwakoti, Yam P. (September 2019, 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE))

   null (Ed.)

   This paper presents the fault-tolerant operation for a cascaded H-bridge (CHB) inverter. The added features ensure reliable and robust operation in the event of a fault. The proposed strategy uses an additional cross-coupled CHB (X-CHB) unit in companion with the existing CHB to support the output voltage and ensure continuity of operation in case of an open/short circuit fault. The operation of the proposed X-CHB inverter is described in detail. Simulation and experimental verification of the proposed concept is demonstrated using a seven-level CHB. Both simulation and experimental results validate the fault-tolerant operation of the CHB for a battery energy storage system (BESS) in case of switch faults such as open/short-circuit switch faults or dc-source or battery failure. 

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5. Cascaded H-Bridge MLI based Grid Connected Cell Level Battery Energy Storage System

   https://doi.org/10.1109/icpc2t48082.2020.9071430  

   Pragallapati, Nataraj; Ranade, Satish Kumar (January 2020, 2020 First International Conference on Power, Control and Computing Technologies (ICPC2T))

   This paper proposes a combination of cell-level energy processing and a Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter (CHBMLI) for medium voltage, grid connected, battery energy storage systems. One isolated converter (Dual Active Bridge DC-DC Converter) manages each cell in the Battery Module, and the combination of Battery module and converter modules are cascaded to get the multi-level ac output voltage. The operating principle and control design of cell level isolated converter with double frequency ripple power, and the control strategy of the CHBMLI are presented. The performance of the battery cell level CHBMLI system with a 9-level inverter at small scale power level is validated through the simulations in MATLAB ® /SIMULINK ® software. The configuration holds promise for improving the performance and reliability of the battery modules at the cell level while also providing cell level galvanic isolation and high ac voltage. 

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