A Novel Cascaded Multilevel Converter Topology Based on Three-Phase Cells with Model Predictive Control

This paper proposes a new cascaded multilevel converter topology, presenting some inherent advantages to its construction and implementation cost when compared to the most used multilevel converters in the literature. As a disadvantage, the new topology presents several short-circuit states, which, if used with classic PWM switching strategies, can cause damage to internal components making its implementation unfeasible. Thus, an analysis based on Graph Theory combined with a model predictive control is proposed in order to identify and avoid all possible short-circuit states of the proposed converter The proposed topology is applied to a STATCOM by means of an Optimal Switching Vector Model Predictive Control (OSV-MPC) in order to prove its usability. Simulation results in Simulink MATLAB of such application are also presented.