Journal of ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, VOL. 66, NO.

5, 2015, 287–291

CURRENT SOURCE BASED ON H–BRIDGE

INVERTER WITH OUTPUT LCL FILTER
∗ ∗∗ ∗ ∗ ∗∗
Vojtech Blahnik ’ — Jakub Talla — Zdenek Peroutka ’

The paper deals with a control of current source with an LCL output filter. The controlled current source is realized as
a single-phase inverter and output LCL filter provides low ripple of output current. However, systems incorporating LCL
filters require more complex control strategies and there are several interesting approaches to the control of this type of
converter. This paper presents the inverter control algorithm, which combines model based control with a direct current
control based on resonant controllers and single-phase vector control. The primary goal is to reduce the current ripple and
distortion under required limits and provides fast and precise control of output current. The proposed control technique is
verified by measurements on the laboratory model.
K e y w o r d s: LCL output filter

1 INTRODUCTION by dead-times and other power converters non-linearity,

see eg [11]. This paper describes in detail the enhanced
Many grid connected power electronic systems, such control strategy and presents the experiments made on
as Statcoms [1], UPFCs [2], and distributed generation developed small-scale converter prototype with maximal
system converters (eg renewable energy sources [3]), use output power 2 kVA. Tests are performed for the most
a voltage source inverter connected to the supply network problematic power converter conditions, such as are re-
through a filter. This filter, typically a series inductance, quirements for generating capacitive and inductive reac-
reduces the switching harmonics entering to the distribu- tive current. The laboratory small-scale prototype consist
tion network. An alternative filter is a LCL, which can of single-phase ac source (vac = 230 VRMS ), symmetrical
achieve reduced levels of harmonic distortion at lower LCL filter (L1 = L2 = 800 µH, RL1 = RL2 = 100 mΩ,
switching frequencies and with less inductance value. This C = 60 µF), single-phase converter based on IGBT tech-
approach was massively deployed for three-phase power nology (fswitch = 10 kHz, tdeadtimes = 3.3 µs) and dc
converter (for example [4]). However, single-phase power source (Vdc = 420 V). The current source power circuit
converter uses LCL filters rarely, because it requires more is shown in Fig. 1.
complex control strategies. Until now, several methods
have been proposed in literature for the control of single-
phase inverters. Hysteresis control and delta modulation iac L1 L2 iconv
controls are robust and simple, but its variable switch-
Vdc
ing frequency expects special adaptation likes [5]. Widely
Vac uc uconv
used control technique is vector control based on sim-
ple PI controllers [6] and [7], but these methods show
a very slow dynamic behaviour for single-phase system.
Very promising control techniques are based on predic-
tive controllers [8] and [9], this kind of controllers is high
sensitive to the system model accuracy. Simple and very
effective control method is direct current control based on Fig. 1. Power circuit of controlled current source with LCL filter
PR controller [10]. They are capable to track sinusoidal
references of arbitrary frequencies of both, positive and
negative sequences, with zero steady state error. 2 CONVERTER CONTROL STRATEGY
The objective of this research was design of perspective
control for single-phase controlled current source with The proposed control of current source must provide
output LCL filter for current ripple reducing. Designed fast and well control of output current (iac ) with a pre-
control must precisely control generated current with ar- cisely defined phase shift against ac source (vac ). That is
bitrary power factor in full power range. Furthermore it the reason for using an accurate voltage synchronization
is necessary to eliminate the current distortions caused method intended to single-phase systems. In this case,

∗ ∗∗
Regional Innovation Centre for Electrical Engineering (RICE), Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Department of Electromechanical
Engineering and Power Electronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of West Bohemia, Univerzitnı́ 26, 30614 Plzeň, Czech
Republic [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

DOI: 10.2478/jee-2015-0047, Print ISSN 1335-3632, On-line ISSN 1339-309X c 2015 FEI STU

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288 V. Blahnik — J. Talla — Z. Peroutka: CURRENT SOURCE BASED ON H-BRIDGE INVERTER WITH OUTPUT LCL FILTER

Vampl Uvdw
Freedforward Uv_model
2 2
w Uvdw +Uvqw cos(Jv +arctan(Uvqw /Uvdw )
term
Uvqw
Jv
idw_conv iqw_conv
Fig. 2. Feedforward calculation — model part of the control structure

PR reg
idw_conv iw_conv
2 2 2Krs Uv_PR
idv_conv+iqw_conv cos(Jv +arctan(iqw_conv /idw_conv) Kp+
- s2 +w2
iqw_conv iconv
Jv

Fig. 3. Direct current control based on PR controller — feedback part of the control structure

idw idwLCL idw_conv ponents (idw conv , iqw conv ). This calculation is computed
iqw
LCL
iqwLCL iqw_conv by equation (4) and the full direct current control struc-
recalculation ture with PR controller is illustrated in Fig. 3.
Id reg.


idw Didw Uvdw = −ω L1 + L2 iqw ,
conv (1)
Jv -

Uvqw = Vampl + ω L1 + L2 idw conv , (2)
id _ac Id reg. q
2 + U2
 Uvqw 
iac
dq iqw Diqw Uv model = Uvdw vqw cos ϑv + arctan , (3)
Uvdw
transf. iq _ac -
q  iqw conv 
iw conv = i2dw conv +i2qw conv cos ϑv +arctan .
idw conv
(4)
Fig. 4. Converter current components recalculation — compensa- To achieve precise control of output current (iac ) it is
tion of LCL filter influence
important to compensate the auxiliary effects of LCL fil-
ter. In this case, voltage losses and output current phase
the sliding DFT (discrete Fourier transformation) syn- shift are compensated . The compensation of LCL filter is
chronization has been chosen. The output signals of DFT realized by using of forward LCL model calculation and
voltage synchronization are the position of voltage vector by simplified vector control. The mathematical model in-
accuracies are compensated by two integral controllers
(Vac ) and the voltage amplitude (Vampl ). Signal Vampl is
(Id reg. and Iq reg.) for active and reactive current part
used to calculate mathematical model of converter and
(∆idw and ∆iqw ). The mathematical model of LCL fil-
signal ϑv is used across whole control structure.
ter is based on two basic equations (5) and (6). By sub-
The feedforward and direct current control were cho- sequent modifications and transformation into d, q “vir-
sen to achieve very fast and precise current control. The tual” revolving system are obtained the final equations
feedforward compensation uses knowledge of ac source (7) and (8). These equations are used for the conversion
voltage components (ϑv and Vampl ), required converter of output currents requirements (idw , iqw ) to feedfor-
current components (idw conv , iqw conv ) and simplified ward currents requirements (idwLCL , iqwLCL ). The final
model of LCL filter (there is only calculation with in- converter currents requirements are signals idw conv and
ductance part L1 and L2 of the filter). The output sig- iqw conv . These signals are calculated by sum of feedfor-
nals (Uvdw and Uvqw , are in d, q virtual revolting ref- ward currents idwLCL and iqwLCL with feedback signals
erences frame linked to space vector of ac voltage) are ∆idw and ∆iqw from integral controllers. The resulted
calculated by equations (1) and (2). The final feedfor- signals (idw conv and iqw conv ) are requirements for con-
ward term (Uv model ) is calculated by equation (3) as verter current iconv , as illustrated in Fig. 4. The dq trans-
a shown in Fig. 2. The direct current control is imple- formation block uses principle for the fast decomposition
mented by proportional resonant (PR) controller with (this method is not resistant against disturbances) like [8].
the pass- frequency ω = 2π50 Hz (pass-frequency is equal
to the frequency of ac source), this type of controller is duc
described in [12]. The controller provides control of con- iconv = iac + C , (5)
dt
verter current (iconv ) to required value (iw conv ), which is diac
calculated from requirements for converter current com- uc = Vac + R1 iac + L1 , (6)
dt

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 Journal of ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 66, NO. 5, 2015 289

iqwLCL = ωR1 Cidw + 1 − ω 2 L1 C iqw

(8)
ch1: 25 V/div
ch3: 2 A/div The behavior of classical IGBT inverter is nonlinear
including dead time effects influences and current depen-
dent nonlinear voltage drops. It leads to output currents
distortion as a shown in Fig. 5. These distortions appear
as a characteristics harmonics components at output cur-
rent spectra. For that reason harmonics components are
ch4: 2 A/div compensated by resonant controllers with selective pass
frequency (150 Hz, 250 Hz and 350 Hz) as presented in
4 ms/div Fig. 6. More information about low-frequency harmonic
compensation by resonant controllers was published eg in
Fig. 5. Current source steady-stay — without harmonic compen- [13].
satin (current components: idw = 5 A, iqw = 0 A), ch1: ac source
voltage vac [ 25 V/div], ch3: output current iac [ 2 A/div], ch4: cur-
The final designed control algorithm is composed of
rent on converter side iconv [ 2 A/div] these five parts: voltage synchronization, feedforward cal-
culation, compensation of LCL filter influence, harmonic
compensation and direct current control. The final mod-
Uv_3h ulation signal (UPWM ) is input signal for PWM. This
2Krs UPWM signal is a sum of three signals Uv model , Uv 357h ,
s +3w 2
2
Uv PR . The complete block control diagram for controlled
current source is depicted in Fig. 7. The zero vectors al-
-iac 2Krs Uv_5h Uv_357h ternating method described in [11] for PWM modulation
s +5w 2
2 å is used. This PWM method ensures double of current rip-
ple frequency with the comparison to switching frequency
of IGBTs.
2Krs Uv_7h
s +7w 2
2
3 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Fig. 6. Harmonic compensation — compensation by three resonant The current source behaviour was tested on small-scale
controllers ( 150 Hz, 250 Hz, 350 Hz) converter prototype with output power 2 kVA. The power
circuit of this prototype is shown in Fig. 1. Converter is

idwLCL = 1 − ω 2 L1 C idw − ωR1 Ciqw −ωCVampl , (7)

Vampl Uvdw
Freedforward Uv_model
Uvqw 2 2
w Uvdw +Uvqw cos(Jv +arctan(Uvqw /Uvdw )
term
Vampl
Vac Jv
DFT Jv idw_conv iqw_conv

idw idwLCL idw_conv

LCL iqw_conv
iqw iqwLCL
recalculation
2Krs Uv_3h

Id reg. s2 +3w 2
å Firing
idw Didw Uv_5h Uv_357h UPWM P pulses
-iac 2Krs
- å W
Jv s2 +5w 2 M
id _ac Id reg.
iac dq iqw Diqw 2Krs Uv_7h
transf. - s2 +7w 2
iq _ac

PR reg
idw_conv iw_conv
2 2 2Krs Uv_PR
iqw_conv idv_conv+iqw_conv cos(Jv +arctan(iqw_conv /idw_conv) - Kp+
s +w2
2

iconv
Jv

Fig. 7. Designed control for controlled current source with output LCL filter

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290 V. Blahnik — J. Talla — Z. Peroutka: CURRENT SOURCE BASED ON H-BRIDGE INVERTER WITH OUTPUT LCL FILTER

ch2: 250V/div ch3: 5 A/div ch2: 250V/div

ch3: 5 A/div

ch4: 5 A/div ch1: 100 V/div ch1: 100 V/div ch4: 5 A/div

4 ms/div 4 ms/div

Fig. 8. Current source behaviour under blocking firing signals, ch1: Fig. 9. Current source under steady-stay (current components:
ac source voltage vac [ 100 V/div], ch2: dc voltage vdc [ 250 V/div], idw = 0 A, iqw = 0 A), ch1: ac source voltage vac [ 100 V/div],
ch3: output current iac [ 5 A/div], ch4: current on converter side ch2: dc voltage vdc [ 250 V/div], ch3: output current iac [ 5 A/div],
iconv [ 5 A/div] ch4: current on converter side iconv [ 5 A/div]

ch1: 100 V/div ch2: 250V/div ch2: 250V/div

ch3:
5 A/div

ch3: 5 A/div ch4: 5 A/div ch4:

ch1: 100 V/div
5 A/div
8 ms/div
8 ms/div
Fig. 10. Current source start-up (current components: idw = 9 A, Fig. 11. Current source start-up (current components: idw =
iqw = 0 A), ch1: ac source voltage vac [ 100 V/div], ch2: dc voltage −9 A, iqw = 0 A), ch1: ac source voltage vac [ 100 V/div], ch2:
vdc [ 250 V/div], ch3: output current iac [ 5 A/div], ch4: current on dc voltage vdc [ 250 V/div], ch3: output current iac [ 5 A/div], ch4:
converter side iconv [ 5 A/div] current on converter side iconv [ 5 A/div]

ch1: 100 V/div ch2: 250V/div ch1: 100 V/div ch2: 250V/div

ch3:
ch3:
5 A/div
5 A/div

ch4: 5 A/div ch4: 5 A/div

8 ms/div 20 ms/div

Fig. 12. Current source shutdown (current components: idw =-9A, Fig. 13. Current source steady-stay for low vaulue of current (cur-
iqw =0A), ch1: ac source voltage Vac [100V/div], ch2: dc voltage rent components: idw =-1A, iqw =0A), ch1: ac source voltage Vac
vdc [250V/div], ch3: output current iac [5A/div], ch4: current on [100V/div], ch2: dc voltage vdc [250V/div], ch3: output current iac
converter side iconv [5A/div] [2A/div], ch4: current on converter side iconv [5A/div]

fed by dc source (Vdc = 420 V) and the output LCL fil- Figure 8 presents converter behaviour during con-
ter is connected directly to terminals of ac source (vac = nection to ac source (ch1-ac source voltage) without
230 V). The converter current is rippling with 20 kHz for switching (converter firing signals are blocked). The con-
10 kHz switching frequency (caused by zero vector alter- verter current (ch4 iconv ) is zero, but the output current
nating modulation) and output current (iac ) is almost (ch3 iac ) reach the value around 5 A. If the output cur-
rent is required zero the converter must generates approx-
without ripple (causing by correct function of LCL fil-
imately the same value of converter current with oppo-
ter). The current source control has been implemented in site polarity as it is shown in Fig. 9. For required reactive
the fixed-point digital signal processor Texas Instruments current idw = 9 A, the start-up sequence of converter and
TMS320F2812 with sampling frequency 50 µs (that is ab- steady state is shown in Fig. 10. The converter transient is
solutely sufficient computing time for control algorithm very fast, but control algorithm spends more time for cur-
implementation). rent distortion elimination. These current deformations

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 Journal of ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 66, NO. 5, 2015 291

are removed by resonant controllers (harmonic compen- [5] ZEMAN, M.—PEROUTKA, Z.—KOMRSKA, T. : Application
sation part). The problematic state is captured in Fig. 11 of hybrid delta modulation for control of single-phase voltage
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[6] BAHRANI, B.—KARIMI, A.—REY, B.—RUFER, A. : Decou-
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[8] PASTOR, M.—DUDRIK, J. : Predictive Control of Grid-Con-
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Acknowledgement Vojtěch Blahnı́k, (Ing, PhD) received the master and

This research has been supported by the European PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University
Regional Development Fund and Ministry of Education, of West Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic in 2006 and 2011,
Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic under project respectively. His research concerns power electronics, modern
No. CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0094: Regional Innovation Center control methods of medium and higher-power converters.
for Electrical Engineering (RICE) and project No. SGS- Jakub Talla (Ing, PhD) received MS and PhD degrees in
2015-038. Electrical Engineering from the University of West Bohemia
(UWB), Pilsen, Czech Republic, in 2006 and 2013, respec-
tively. Since October 2010, he is a R&D engineer at the Re-
References gional Innovation Centre for Electrical Engineering (RICE) at
UWB. His main research interests include control of AC drives
[1] LEE, C. K.—LEUNG, J. S. K.—HUI, S. Y. R.—CHUNG, H. S. and grid-connected converters, predictive control, power man-
H. : Circuit-level comparison of STATCOM technologies, Power agement methods and soft computing techniques.
Electronics, IEEE Transactions on 18 No. 04 (2003), 1084–1092. Zdeněk Peroutka, (Prof, Ing, PhD) received MS and
[2] HAMED, H. D.—MASOUD, M. S.—HOSSEIN, A. A.—MO- PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of
HAMMAD, R. J. : A new approach to optimize the apfs place-
West Bohemia (UWB), Pilsen, Czech Republic in 2000 and
ment based on instantaneous reactive power theory by genetic
2004, respectively. He is Full Professor of Power Electronics
algorithm, Journal of Electrical Engineering - Elektrotechnický
časopis 65 No. 01 (2014), 12–20. and Control Systems and Vice-Dean for Science and Strategy
at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at UWB. Since Octo-
[3] BEIROVI, E.—OSMI, J.—KUŠLJUGI, M.—PERI, N. : Analy-
sis and synthesis of model reference controller for variable speed ber 2010, he is a Scientific Director and Principal Investigator
wind generators inertial support, Journal of Electrical Engineer- of the Regional Innovation Centre for Electrical Engineering
ing - Elektrotechnický časopis 66 No. 01 (2015), 3–10. (RICE) at UWB. His main research topic is control of drives
[4] RAKOVÁ, L.—DVORSKÝ, E. : Voltage and frequency control of modern transport systems and vehicles, and power electron-
for islanded microgrids containing photovoltaic power plants, ics converters for medium-voltage applications. He published
Journal of Electrical Engineering - Elektrotechnický časopis 65 more than 100 papers in international journals and confer-
No. 07 (2014), 9–14. ences. He is inventor of two patents and two utility models.

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