A Neutral-Point Voltage Balance Technique for a

Diode-Clamped Three-level PWM Rectifier

Based on Fuzzy Control
Yu Fang1 , Yong Xie1, Tengfei Wei1, Mingxing Yin1 and Yan Xing2
1
Information Engineering College of Yangzhou University Yangzhou, 225009 P.R.China
2
Aero-Power Sic-tech Center, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and astronautics Nanjing, 210016, P.R.China
Phone: +86-514-87874742, FAX: +86-514-87887937
yfang@yzu.edu.cn， yzxieyong@126.com , hbweitf@126.com , yzyimx@126.com，xingyan@nuaa.edu.cn

Abstract-The reason why the neutral point (NP) voltage
unbalance is analyzed in detail and a Fuzzy Controller based on
control index proposed. This way to balance the NP voltage is
simple and need not extra hardware cost. Fuzzy controller can
automatically and intelligently adapt the value of the control
index and change the operation time duration of the small
vectors. The Fuzzy controller design has been discussed and the
experimental results verify that the proposed technique is
correct and the balance of the NP voltage guarantees high power
factor of TL-PWM rectifier.
I. INTRODUCTION
Three-level (TL) PWM rectifier is much fit to high output
voltage and large-scale-power level situation. Especially
voltage-type PWM rectifier can work in four quadrants and
make power implement bidirectional flow, moreover
implement the unity power factor at AC side [1-7].
TL converter often produces three kinds of voltage level by
virtue of the series electrolytic capacitor at DC side. The
balance of neutral-point voltage between the two output
capacitors is very important to diode-clamped TL PWM
rectifier. How to control it and improve its performance is a
research hotspot. If neutral point is unbalanced, low order
harmonics will be produced, also the lifetime of the
electrolytic capacitor is shortened, so that efficiency of the
power converter is degraded and high power factor can not be
achieved [8-15].
It is well known that the redundancy small vector can
implement the balance in the NP by deciding the time
this problem this paper proposes the intelligent control
method based on fuzzy controller for control coefficient.
The fuzzy control of the control coefficient can
intelligently decide the time duration of the positive and
negative small vector in light of the grade of the unbalanced
NP voltage, so that the voltage of the two capacitors can
reach to the same perfectly. The experimental prototype is
tested and the experimental results show that the control
coefficient based on the fuzzy controller guarantees the NP
balance, the steady and the dynamic characteristic and high
power factor of TL-PWM rectifier.
II. THE NEUTRAL POINT VOLTAGE IMBALANCE
As shown in Fig.1 is the main circuit of the TL diode-
clamped PWM rectifier. There are main two reasons why
the two capacitors are unbalanced. The first is caused by
the disagreement of the switches parameters; the second is
made by the structure of TL converter itself. Both reasons
are impersonal existence and solved only by control
algorithm.
A. Unbalance of theNeutral-point Voltage
With assumption the voltages of the output capacitors
equal u dc/2. As shown in Fig.2, the neutral-point voltage
should be influenced by output current io, the expression is
shown in (1).
S11 S21 S31 ip +
S12 S22 S32 udc1
C1

duration of the positive and negative small vector. However, usa Ls Rs i a D11 D21 D31
idc

the time duration of the positive and negative small vector usb
~
ib
A
O
~ B io RL udc
commonly is assigned by multiplying constant value called usc ic
~ C
control coefficient. This method may induce the new S13 S 23 S33 D32
C2
unbalanced NP voltage and the opposite voltage imbalance D12 D22 udc2
across the two electrolytic capacitors. Hence, the value of the S14 S24 S34

control coefficient needs repetitious experiments. To solve in

-
Project partly supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Fig.1 The main circuit of tree-level PWM rectifier
Program) (No. 2007CB210303).

978-1-4244-4649-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 71

 charging or discharging currents between these two
⎧ d (udc / 2 − Vn ) circuits exists. As a consequence the voltages of the C1 and
⎪i1 = C1 dt C2 can not equal. Seen from Fig.3, we can not use medium
⎪ vector to balance the voltage of the capacitor because there
⎪ d (Vn − udc / 2)
⎨i2 = C2 (1) does not exist redundant medium vector but only one.
⎪ dt
⎪ dVn And at the last, when small vector works, power supply
⎪io = i1 − i2 = −2Cs dt are connected between the point O and + or O and -, i.e.
⎩
power supply only spans one capacitor. Hence, only one of
From the expression (1), we can get: the output capacitors constructs the charging or
dVn i
=− o (2) discharging circuit together with power supply. The
dt 2Cs
voltage of one capacitor increases because of charging
while the voltage of the other capacitor decreases, and vice
+ versa. It is clear that the voltage balance of the capacitor is
i1
+
C1 udc1
idc influenced worst in this operating state.
- B. Neutral-point Voltage Balance Controlled by Small
O
Vn R udc
Vectors
io
+
It’s seen from Fig.3 (a) that each small vector has two
C2 udc2
kinds of implementation method, i.e. small vector is
i2 -
- redundant. We define the small vector consisting of zero and
Fig.2 The neutral-point voltage of the balanced capacitor high level as positive small vector, while the small vector
consisting of zero and negative level as negative small vector,
Fig. (2) shows that the neutral-point voltage Vn varies and use suffix p and n to distinguish them respectively.
with io. When reference voltage vector Vr in the first sector as
The unbalance of the NP voltage induced by general shown in Fig.3(b), if the vector V1p(100) is selected，the
SVM is analyzed below. equivalent circuit can be gotten as shown in Fig.4(a). Here,
Three-level PWM rectifier have three bridge legs and C1 is charged while C2 discharged, as a result udcl raises and
each leg has three kinds of states, so there are twenty udc2 declines; if the vector V1n( 0-1-1) is selected, the
seven kinds of states altogether. Among these states there equivalent circuit can be gotten as shown in Fig.4(b). Here,
are twenty four kinds of nonzero vectors and three kinds of C1 is discharged while C2 charged, as a result udcl declines and
zero vectors. In light of the norm of the vector, these udc2 rises. It can be concluded that although initially udcl=
voltage vectors can be put into four categories: zero vector, udc2=udc/2,V1p and Vln can make udcl and udc2 unequal and
small vector, medium vector and large vector. It is obvious most of importance, the function of the vector V1p and Vln is
that zero vectors can not affect the NP voltage. Fig.3 is opposite.
voltage space vector diagram.
First, when large vector works, three-phase input power III. BASIC OF THE NEUTRAL POINT VOLTAGE BALANCE
supply does not connect neutral point O and C1 together USING CONTROL COEFFICIENT
with C2 locates one circuit, hence two output capacitors The reference positive polarity of neutral-point input
charge or discharge at the same time and the voltage of the current can be defined as shown in Fig.2, if the current
output capacitor is equal. And thus large vector does not flow from the point O, io is positive. If the desired
influence the voltage balance of the capacitor. reference voltage vector locates in the area H13, u dc1-
Second, when medium vector works, C1 and C2 charge u dc2>h(h is the width of hysteresis )，and the neutral point
or discharge via three-phase power supply respectively, i.e. current is positive, the time span of the positive small
they have their own circuit. Although the average currents vector as shown in Fig.4(a) should be set lower than that
of the self-governed circuit equal, the phase difference of of the negative small vector as shown in Fig.4 (b). And
thus, the average neutral point current flows toward the
β
B
V8 0 1 -1
point O to discharge C1 and charge C2, and finally u dc1
V14
V15 -1 1 -1 1 1 -1
H16 H15
H14 β V14
H17 H8 (D) 1 1 -1
V9
-1 1 0
010
-1 0 -1
110
0 0 -1
V7
1 0 -1 +
V3 V2
H9 H2 H7 D
H1 H13
H18 H3 (C)
V16 011 000
(A)
-1 -1 -1 100
(B) V13 α 110
(H14)
V7 C1 +
-1 1 1 -1 0 0 V4 111 V0
V1
0 -1 -1 1 -1 -1
A 0 0 -1 Vr 1 0 -1 udc1 idc
H19 H4 H6 H24 V2 -
H10 H5 C usa Ls Rs isa
H12
001 V5 V6 101 A (H7) B ~ udc
O Vn
V10 V12
-1 0 1
H20
-1 -1 0
H11
0 -1 0
H23
1 -1 0 (H1)
0 0 0 -1 -1 -1 100
(H13)
V13 α usb
~
isb R
H21 H22 1 1 1 V0 V1 0 -1 -1 1 -1 -1 usc isc
V17 +
-1 -1 1 V11 0 -1 1 V18
1 -1 1
~ udc2
C -
C2
-
(a) Voltage space vector (b) The vectors in sector I
(a) V1p (b) V1n
Fig.3 Space vector diagram Fig.4 The equivalent circuits when V1p and V1n operating respectively

978-1-4244-4649-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 72

equals u dc2. In order to implement digital control usa
~
Ls Rs
ia
+
conveniently, control coefficient ρ is introduced，the time usb ib
VC1 C1
-
~ R
span of the positive small vector and negative one can be usc ic
+
VC2 C2
~ -
regulated by the control coefficient ρ to implement the
balance of the neutral point voltage. VC1 e
Sa Sb Sc

The time span of the operation vector can be calculated VC2

⎧e (k ) = V1 − V2
⎨
⎩ Δe( k ) = e( k ) − e( k − 1) Δe
Fuzzy
Controller
ρ
SVPWM

as follows: Control
Coefficient

⎧Ta = 0.5ρ (T − T1 − T2 )
⎪
⎨Tb = Ta + 0.5T1 (3) Fig.6 Block diagram based on Fuzzy controller
⎪T = T + 0.5T VC1 e E
⎩ c b 2 ⎧e(k ) = VC1 − VC 2
⎨ Fuzzification
Fuzzy
ΔP
Defuzzification
Δρ
VC2 Δe ΔE Inference
⎩Δe( k ) = e( k ) − e( k − 1)
The Tab. I presents the rule for generating vector in the
first sector, the other sectors resembles it.
When in the area H13, the concrete timing diagram is Fig.7 Logical flow chart for Fuzzy controller
shown in Fig.5, and the drive signals for three-phase
1) With assumption that the scope of the control coefficient
bridge legs can be gotten.
is 0.2＜ρ＜0.8, the scope of the ∆ρ is -0.3＜∆ρ＜0.3. The
quantization of the ∆ρ is seen in the Tab. II.
TABLE I TABLE II
VECTOR SEQUENCE IN THE FIRST SECTOR THE QUANTIFICATION OF THE ∆ρ
ρT0/2 T1/2 T2/2 (1-ρ)T0 Quantificatio
0 ±1 ±2 ±3 ±4 ±5 ±6
n ∆ρ’
A A1 POO OOO OON ONN ± ± ± ± ± ±
Precision ∆ρ 0
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
A2 PPO POO OOO OON
Hence, the scale factor is: K3=0.05.
Sector B POO PON PNN ONN
2) Considering the NP balanced, the fuzzy controller
I C C1 POO PON OON ONN implements the proportional control as (4)
C2 PPO POO PON OON Δρ = k D e (4)
D PPO PPN PON OON Where KD is the proportional coefficient, KD should be
chosen to make the error voltage between the two capacitors
ρ T0/ 2 T1/2 T2/2 (1-ρ ) T0 T2/2 T1/2 ρ T0/ 2 smaller and 5V here. Then KD can be calculated as the
Sa following expression.
Δρ 0.3
Sb KD = = = 0.06 (5)
Sc
ee (Δe = 0) 5
V1 V7 V1 V1 V7 V13 V1
The quantization of the e is seen in the Tab. III.
V13
TABLE III
H13
THE QUANTIFICATION OF e
Fig.5 Timing diagram of output voltage vectors The quantification factor is: K1=l.2.
Quantification e’ 0 ±1 ±2 ±3 ±4 ±5 ±6
± ± ± ± ± ±
IV DESIGN PRINCIPLE FUZZY CONTROLLER FOR THE Precision e 0
0.83 1.67 2.5 3.33 4.17 5
CONTROL COEFFICIENT 3) Let ( e)m=1V, the quantification of e is seen in the
It is the effective way to balance the NP voltage using the Tab. IV.
TABLE IV
control coefficient ρ. Here will propose a fuzzy controller for
THE QUANTIFICATION OF △e
the control coefficient ρ, so as to decide ρ intelligently and
Quantification e’ 0 ±1 ±2 ±3 ±4
automatically based on the grade and the trend of the NP Precision e 0 ±0.25 ±0.5 ±0.75 ±1
imbalance. The quantization factor is: K2=4.
Fig.6 gives the fuzzy control block diagram for getting the
control coefficient. Fig.7 shows the logical schematic of the B. Fuzzification for Error Change in Error and Output
fuzzy controller. Vc1and Vc2 are the voltage across the two Variable
output capacitor respectively, e and ∆e are the voltage error 1) Fuzzification for error
between the C1 and the C2 and the increment of the e. e and In the universe [-6，6]，seven levels is achieved, i.e. ,
∆e are the input variable of the fuzzy controller. ρ is the seven fuzzy sets are defined here: PB, PM, PS, ZE, NS, NM,
control coefficient, ∆ρ is the increment of the control NB. All membership functions for the fuzzy sets choose
coefficient and also the output variable. symmetrical triangles as the Fig.8. From the Fig.8, the error
A. Decision of the Precision Quantities and Quantization to degrees of membership can be gotten as seen in the Tab.V.

978-1-4244-4649-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 73

 TABLE.V most and the least inference principle combined with centroid
THE DEGREES OF MEMBERSHIP FOR ERROR QUANTITY
method, the response values are shown in the Tab. VIII. It is
E clear that the control coefficient level can be achieved only if
e’
+6 +5 +4 +3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 we know the level about the error and the error in change. As
a consequence, the precision value of the control coefficient
PB 1 0.5 0
∆ρ is accomplished.
TABLE VIII
THE RESPONSE VALUES
PM 0 0.5 1 0.5 0
E
PS 0 0.5 1 0.5 0
∆P +6 +5 +4 +3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6
ZE 0 0.5 1 0.5 0
∆E
NS 0 0 1 0.5 0
+4 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 3 1 0 0 -2 -3
NM 0 0.5 1 0.5 0
+3 6 6 6 5 5 4 3 2 1 -1 -1 -2 -3
NB 0 0.5 1
+2 6 6 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 -2 -3 -4 -4
2) Fuzzification for the error in change e
The continue universe [-4, +4] is divided into five levels, i.e. +1 6 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -5 -5
PB, PS, ZE, NS, NB. The membership functions also choose
triangles and the error in change to degrees of membership by 0 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6
a lookup can be gotten as seen in the Tab. VI.
TABLE VI -1 5 5 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -5 -6
THE DEGREES OF MEMBERSHIP FOR CHANGE IN ERROR
∆e -2 4 4 3 2 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -5 -6 -6
+4 +3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4
∆e’
-3 4 3 2 1 0 -2 -3 -4 -5 -5 -6 -6 -6
PB 1 0.5 0
PS 0 0.5 1 0.5 0
-4 4 3 2 0 -1 -3 -4 -5 -5 -6 -6 -6 -6
ZE 0 0.5 1 0.5 0
NS 0 0.5 1 0.5 0 V. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
NB 0 0.5 1
3) Fuzzification for the output ∆ρ Fig.8 shows the schematic diagram of the system hardware.
Here, the output ∆ρ is proportional to the error e, hence, the Its control circuits mainly consist of TI DSP TMS320F2808
fuzzification for the output ∆ρ is the same as that of the error and drive circuits. The NP balance at DC side is implemented
e as seen in the Tab. V. by software based on fuzzy controller discussed above. Both
C. Decision of the Fuzzy Rules the voltage and current control loops employ PI regulator
calculated in the code [17,18,19]. The experimental prototype
Fuzzy “if e and ∆e then ∆ρ” rules is applied. The concrete
parameters are as follows: Input phase-to-phase voltage
rules are as follows (see Table VII).
TABLE VII Em=311V, output voltage Udc=760V, Po=1KW, switch
FUZZY CONTROL RULES frequency fs=20KHz, Rs=0.002 Ω , Ls=2mH and Cs=1000μF.
e S1 S1 S1 +

S2 S2 S2 C1
∆ρ PB PM PS ZE NS NM NB
usa Ls Rs isa Io

~ A
usb isb
~ B Cs R Udc
∆e usc isc
~ C
S3 S3 S3

PB PB PB PB PM PS ZE NM C2
S4 S4 S4

PS PB PB PM PS ZE NM NM Shaving Circuit -

ZE PB PM PS ZE NS NM NB EPWM1~EPWM12

NS PM PM ZE NS NM NB NB EPWM1~EPWM2
ADCINA0
ADCINB0
NB PM PS NS NM NB NB NB ADCINA1
TMS320F2808 ADCINB1
Shaving Circuit

4) Defuzzification for ∆ρ
ADCINA2

ADCINA3

The resulting fuzzy set must be converted to a number that .

can be sent to the process as a control signal. In light of the
Fig.8 The control diagram of TL-PWM rectifier based on VOC

978-1-4244-4649-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 74


1000V/div 5A/div 500V/div
10ms/div
(a) Main waveforms in steady state
100V/div
2s/div
(b) The drive signals
Fig.9 The voltage and current waveforms
The DSP TMS320F2808 is employed; DSP2808 can run
at 100MIPS, so the coordinate transformation, voltage
regulator, current regulator, SVPWM algorithm, fuzzy
control algorithm and sampling signal process can all be
operated at 20 KHz switching frequency. In Fig.9 (a),
channel 1 and channel 2 show the phase-to-phase input
voltage and input current waveforms respectively, and
channel 4 presents the NP voltage waveform between the
bridge leg A and B. Fig.9(b) gives the output voltages across
the two capacitors. Chanel 1 shows the voltage of C1, and
channel 2 shows the voltage of C2, we can conclude the NP
voltage between the output capacitors is always balanced
both in the stage of start and the steady state due to the NP
control strategy based on fuzzy control. The experimental
results show: the use of the proposed neutral point balance
technique is effective and guarantees three-level PWM
rectifier to implement high power factor.
VI. CONCLUSION
The neutral point voltage unbalance affected by large,
middle and small vectors is analyzed and only the small
vectors can be optimized to balance the neutral point voltage.
And a fuzzy-control-based control coefficient for small vector
generation is proposed. The NP voltage direction should be
judged firstly, and then the time duration of the positive and
negative small vectors are adapted itself and assigned with
978-1-4244-4649-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE
control coefficient to control the NP voltage towards balance
direction. The method proposed is easy to be implemented in
digital control mode and the cost can be cut down without
additional current sensor. The balance of the two output
capacitors promises the three-level PWM rectifier to be
operated with unity power factor.
REFERENCES
[1] Keliang Zhou and Danwei Wang, “Relationship between space-vector
modulation and three-phase carrier-based PWM: A comprehensive
analysis,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Electronics, 2002, Vol.49, No.1, pp.186-
196.
[2] Fukuda S., “Optimal-regulator-based control of NPC boost rectifier for
unity power factor and reduced neutral-point potential variations,”
IEEE Transaction on Industrial Electronics， 1999， Vol.46, No.3,
pp.527-534．
[3] Zhan Changjiang, Han Yu, Zhao Liangbing, Han Yingduo, “A Study on
the novel three-Level PWM reversible rectifier based on voltage space
vector modulation,” Transactions of China Electrontechnical Society,
1999, Vol.14, No.2, pp.60-64.
[4] Verdelho P,Marques G D., “DC voltage control and stability analysis of
PWM voltage-type reversible rectifiers,” IEEE Trans. Industrial
Electronics,1998,15, pp.263-273.
[5] Silva J.Fernando,Martins J.F., “Space vector alfa beta current regulator
for sliding mode controlled unity power factor PWM rectifiers,”
IECON rocordings, Germany,1998,V3, pp.1877-1882.
[6] H.du T. Moutan. “Natural balancing of three-level neutral-point-
clampled PWM inverter,” IEEE Trans. Ind Electron,2002, Vol.49,
No.5
[7] N. Celanvic and D. Bomyevich, “A comprehensive study of neutral
point voltage balancing problem in three-level neutral-point-clamped
voltage source PWM inverters,” IEEE Trans. Power Electron,2000,
Vol.15, No.2, pp. 242-249.
[8] Zhang Haitao, Zhao Ming, Meng Shuo, Yuan Liqiang, “ simulation and
experimental analysis of short-circuit breaking for 3-level inverter-
motor system,” oceedings of the CSEE， 2004,Vol.24, No.8, pp.56-60.
[9] H.D.Lee, H.D.Lee, Y.C.Son,S.K.Sul., “A new space vector pulse width
modulation strategy for reducing ground to stator-neutral voltage in
inverter-fed AC motor drives,” In proc. IEEE-APEC Conf, New
Orleans, Louisiana, 2000, pp.918-923.
[10] Chilakapati N., Ramsden V.S., Ramaswamy V., “Performance
evaluation of doubly-fed twin stator induction machine drive with
voltage and current space vector control schemes,” IEEE Proc. Electr.
Power Appl., Electric Power Applications, 2001, Vol.148, No.3,
pp.287-292 .
[11] Bender A., “Modeling and design of a neutral point regulator for a three
level diode clamped rectifier,” Conf． Rec． IEEE-IAS． Salt
Lake， 2003, pp.1758-1765．
[12] Jing Hongyuan,Zou Yunping,Lin Lei, et al., “Research on the
technology of the neutral-point voltage balance and dual-loop control
schem for three-level PWM rectifier,” Proceedings of the CSEE,
2006， Vol.26, No.20, pp.64-68．
[13] M. Sc. Mariusz Malinowski. , “Sensorless Control Strategies for Three-
Phase PWM Rectifiers,” Dissertation, Poland, Warsaw University of
Technology 2001.
[14] Yang Degang, Liu Runsheng, Zhao Liangbing, “Current controller
design of a three-phase-power-factor rectifier,” Transactions of China
electrotechnical society, 2000, Vol.15, No.2, pp.7-11.
[15] Guo Weinong, Chen Jian, “Study on dual loop control for inverters base
on state observer,” Proceedings of the CSEE,2002, Vol.22, No.9,
pp.64-68.
75