An open-switch fault detection method and tolerance controls based on SVM in a grid-connected t-type rectifier with unity power factor

Abstract

Multilevel converter topologies are widely used in applications of wide-power range. The T-type topology, which is one of many three-level topologies, has an advantage in terms of efficiency compared to the neutral-point-clamped (NPC) type. In applications using the T-type topology, interest in reliability has been increased recently. Therefore, the open-switch fault detection method and tolerance control for T-type rectifiers, which are different from those of T-type inverters, are necessary to improve the reliability of applications. When the open-switch fault of switches connected to a neutral point occurs, an NPC-type rectifier cannot restore distorted input currents; however, a T-type rectifier is able to eliminate input current distortion completely. In this paper, an open-switch fault detection method is proposed and can find a position of the open-switch fault. Moreover, two tolerance controls based on space vector modulation are proposed and their characteristics are analyzed. The effectiveness and performance of the proposed open-switch fault detection method and two tolerance controls are verified by simulations and experiments.