A Hybrid MMC Topology with dc Fault Ride-Through Capability for MTDC Transmission System

This paper proposes a hybrid modular multilevel converter (MMC) topology based on mismatched-cascade mechanism. The blocking conditions of different submodule (SM) structures under dc fault are analyzed and a series double submodule is presented. With series-double submodules and mismatched-cascade submodules, the proposed hybrid MMC can ride-through the dc side short-circuit fault and provide an output voltage with the feature of low harmonic content. This hybrid MMC topology can be used in the VSC based multiterminal dc (VSC-MTDC) transmission system. The dc fault ride-through properties of the new structure and the total harmonic distortion (THD) are analyzed compared with the previous full-bridge and clamp-double architectures. An appropriate fault blocking procedure is presented, and a typical four-terminal dc transmission simulation system is given in the power system simulation software. Finally, simulation of steady-state and dc bipolar short-circuit fault verifies that the MTDC system based on this new hybrid MMC topology is stabilized and can block the dc fault and return the nonfault parts to normal.