article · IEEE Access
Modular Multilevel Converters offer key operational benefits including modularity, high reliability, and the capacity to handle high voltages in medium- to high-power environments. Although research into these converters has expanded rapidly across various power sectors, their adoption within microgrids remains largely unexplored. A detailed review of current research examines how these devices can be integrated into microgrids, evaluating essential circuit topologies, control schemes, and fault-tolerance strategies. By synthesising the state of the art across these technical areas, the work identifies the underlying principles needed to adapt the technology for decentralised power systems. This overview establishes a foundation for subsequent investigations aimed at modernising microgrid architectures and expanding the operational capabilities of local power networks.
Modern energy networks increasingly depend on microgrids to deliver stable and efficient local power. Understanding how Modular Multilevel Converters operate within microgrids allows researchers and power engineers to address key technical challenges around system reliability, voltage control, and resilience against electrical faults in decentralised electricity systems.
This work represents early-stage conceptual research, offering a review of converter topologies, control schemes, and fault-tolerance mechanisms rather than a tested product. The findings are relevant to microgrid designers, converter manufacturers, and power system engineers, but commercial implementation remains at a distance, requiring extensive applied development and testing before real-world deployment.
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Recently, the Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) has drawn significant attention due to its diverse merits and its applicability to a wide range of medium to high-power applications. The growing interest in the MMC can be attributed to its attractive features such as modularity, reliability, and high voltage capability. Significant research has been conducted on the MMC over the last few years to develop its operation and control in various applications. However, the application of MMCs in microgrids remains a largely unexplored topic. Therefore, this paper aims to address this research gap by offering an in-depth review of the latest developments concerning circuit topologies, control schemes, and fault-tolerance strategies of MMC within microgrid applications. This comprehensive review not only provides a synthesized overview of the current state of the art but also paves the way for future investigations in this promising field. The outcomes from this study are expected to stimulate further advancements in MMC applications in microgrid systems, thus contributing to the continuous improvement and evolution of microgrids.
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DOI: 10.1109/access.2023.3289829
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