ItemConference Paper

Circulating Current Control in Modular Multilevel Converter Using a Super Twisted Sliding Mode Control

Title
Circulating Current Control in Modular Multilevel Converter Using a Super Twisted Sliding Mode Control
Creator
Venkatesh, M.; Guntreddi, Venkataramana; Chacko, Parag Jose
Description
A Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) has gained widespread popularity due to its notable advantages, including high efficiency, flexibility, minimal harmonic distortion, lower power device ratings, modularity, and scalability. Despite these benefits, the MMC encounters challenges such as voltage balancing and circulating currents. The primary objective is to balance capacitor voltages in each submodule without excessive power electronic device switching. To address this, a controlled switching frequency technique is employed to reduce the average switching frequency of the devices, mitigating voltage imbalances. However, challenges persist, notably the introduction of even-order harmonics with the second harmonic being particularly prominent in inner current. These even order harmonic components contribute to increased power losses, device stress, and potential system instability. Conventional methods of suppression of circulating currents have limitations in harmonic elimination and complex in implementation. This paper proposes a super twisting sliding mode control (SMC) to concurrently manage balancing of capacitor voltages and control of circulating currents in the MMC. The controller effectively reduces the harmonic components, with a focus on the dominant second harmonic in inner currents. Phase disposition (PD) PWM is utilized for MMC phase control, and the proposed controller, initially implemented for a single-phase MMC, demonstrates potential extension to three-phase systems. Comparative analysis with conventional PI controllers and the presentation of results in the MATLAB/Simulink environment validate the efficacy of the proposed super twsiting SMC controller. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026.
Source
Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering;Volume;1412 LNEE;pp.307-322
Date
01-01-2026
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Subject
MMC; PD-PWM; Super twisting sliding mode control; Voltage balancing
Coverage
Venkatesh M., Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, GMR Institute of Technology, Rajam, India; Guntreddi V., Electrical, Telecommunication and Computer Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda; Chacko P.J., Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India
Rights
Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
Relation
ISSN: 18761100; ISBN: 978-981965422-2;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Conference paper

Citation

Venkatesh, M.; Guntreddi, Venkataramana; Chacko, Parag Jose, “Circulating Current Control in Modular Multilevel Converter Using a Super Twisted Sliding Mode Control,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 20, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/25566.

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