Model Predictive Control for Paralleled Uninterruptible Power Supplies with an Additional Inverter Leg for Load-Side Neutral Connection

Abstract

Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) have been demonstrated to be the key technology in feeding either single- and three-phase loads in a wide range of critical applications, such as high-tier datacenters and medical facilities. To increase the overall system power capacity and resilience, UPS systems are usually connected in parallel. When UPS systems are parallel connected, a circulating current can rise, inhibiting correct system operation. Moreover, having a controlled load power distribution is another fundamental requirement in paralleled UPS systems. However, strategies to ensure these two topics have not been explored to date for UPS systems with a load-side neutral connection. This paper proposes an innovative Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) strategy that ensures circulating current elimination and controlled load power distribution for paralleled UPS systems that use an additional inverter leg for load neutral point connection. Additionally, a system topology based on two parallel-connected UPS systems that can simultaneously supply single- and three-phase critical loads is proposed. Experimental results show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed control techniques even when different types of loads are connected to the UPS systems.