Performance enhancement of modular multi-level converters using a direct phase current control technique

This paper introduces a new method of controlling the arm currents in a VSC called direct current control. This method is a viable alternative to the commonly used decoupled control technique. The main advantages of this method are the simplicity and ease of tuning. It also makes it easy to apply a limit on the arm current orders. Although only the application of the method to a STATCOM controller is shown in this paper, it can be used in other applications such as HVDC transmission.