Innovative model predictive control for HVDC: circulating current mitigation and fault resilience in Modular Multilevel converters

Abstract

This study presents an advanced Model Predictive Control (MPC) technique designed to mitigate Circulating Current (CC) in HVDC systems equipped with Modular Multilevel Converters (MMC). This MPC strategy eliminates the need for traditional PI regulators and pulse width modulation, improving system dynamics and control accuracy. It excels in managing output currents and mitigating voltage fluctuations in sub-module capacitors. Moreover, the paper introduces a novel communication-free Fault Ride-Through (FRT) method that makes a DC chopper redundant, enabling rapid recovery from disturbances. To reduce the computational burden of standard MPC algorithms, an aggregated MMC model is proposed, significantly decreasing the computational complexity. Simulation studies validate the new MPC algorithm’s capability in regulating AC side current, reducing CC, and ensuring capacitor voltage stability under varying conditions. The findings indicate that the proposed MPC controller outperforms traditional PI and PR-based methods, offering enhanced dynamic response, decreased steady-state error, and lowered converter losses, which contribute to smoother DC link voltages. Future research will focus on system scalability, renewable energy integration, and empirical validation through hardware-in-the-loop testing.