Design of Rapid-control-prototype Platform for Modular Multilevel Converter Based on RT-lab

Modular multilevel converter (MMC) has been widely used in the field of the high voltage direct current transmission (HVDC) system. However, the practical experience to operate the MMC has not yet been sufficiently accumulated. In order to facilitate the experimental verification of the relevant control strategy of MMC, this paper proposes an application of rapid-control-prototype (RCP) platform for MMC based on RTLab. It consists of a real MMC value, two RT-lab real-time simulators and a power amplifier. The main design principles of the MMC and implementation schemes for the proposed platform are analyzed in this paper, respectively. Relevant experiments under different conditions are final tested on this platform. They show that the designed RCP platform based on RT-lab provides a convenient way for the development of MMC control strategy.