MUET logo

Enhanced Hybrid MMC Integration into DC Microgrid for low voltage application

Authors

  • Rana Saeed Ahmad

    Department of Electrical Engineering, Bahria University, Karachi Campus, 75350, Pakistan
    Author

  • Haroon Rasheed

    Department of Electrical Engineering, Bahria University, Karachi Campus, 75350, Pakistan
    Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22581/0571

Keywords:

Low-voltage MMC, DC Microgrid , Hybrid MMC Integration, Modified NLM Scheme, Efficient Hybrid MMC NLM Scheme, HVDC

Abstract

The Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) is a promising converter utilised in HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) systems. MMC has numerous advantages over other converters, such as modular structure, output voltage and current scalability, superior power quality, and no required filter. Despite these benefits, it is less appealing for small-scale systems like Microgrid because of the many submodules (SMs). This work explores the integration of hybrid MMC into a DC Microgrid comprising various renewable and storage devices. Hybrid MMC consisting of half and full bridge SMs is driven using the proposed modified Nearest level modulation (MNLM) scheme, which enhances output levels to 3Nhalf+3Nfull+1 (Nhalf / Nfull is number of half / full bridge SMs) compared to conventional NLM, which generates N+1 levels. Thus, with MNLM applied to hybrid MMC, we get improved power quality, lower system cost, and require fewer SMs. Initially, the system is modelled and tested in MATLAB Simulink to acquire the offline simulation results. Subsequently, the real-time simulation is performed with the help of a hardware-in-loop simulation setup, which comprises an FPGA-based NI PXIe and Compact RIO for experimental verification of the proposed scheme.

Downloads

Author Biography

  • Haroon Rasheed, Department of Electrical Engineering, Bahria University, Karachi Campus, 75350, Pakistan

    Department of Electrical Engineering, Bahria University Karachi Campus

    Prof Dr, Principal SEAS BUKC

References

[1] Yao, Zhoufei, Xing Lei, and Xizhou Du. "A Comprehensive Review of Condition Monitoring Technologies for Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) HVDC Systems." Electronics 14, no. 17 (2025): 3462.

[2] Rashid, Sara Mahmoudi, and Amir Rikhtehgar Ghiasi. "Power management enhancement and smoothing DC voltage using integrated BESS and SMES in Off-grid hybrid AC/DC microgrid based on ILCs." Scientific Reports 15, no. 1 (2025)

[3] Albasheri, Mohammed Abdulelah, Ouahid Bouchhida, Youcef Soufi, and Abderrezzak Cherifi. "Enhanced supervisor energy management technique of DC microgrid-based PV/wind/battery/SC." Electrical Engineering 107, no. 2 (2025).

[4] Meng, Qinglin, Ying He, Sheharyar Hussain, Jinghang Lu, and Josep M. Guerrero. "Design and optimisation of solar photovoltaic microgrids with adaptive storage control for residential standalone systems." Energy Reports 14 (2025).

[5] Memon, Danish Asad, Khawaja Haider Ali, Abdul Aziz Memon, Jamshed Ahmed Ansari, Jahangeer Badar, Mohammed Alharbi, Ali Zain Banatwala, and Manoj Kumar. "Comparative analysis and implementation of DC microgrid systems versus AC microgrid performance." Frontiers in Energy Research 12 (2024).

[6] Hollweg, Guilherme Vieira, Gajendra Singh Chawda, Shivam Chaturvedi, Van-Hai Bui, and Wencong Su. "Optimisation Techniques for Low-Level Control of DC–AC Converters in Renewable-Integrated Microgrids: A Brief Review." Energies 18, no. 6 (2025).

[7] Ishraque, Md Fatin, Md Iasir Arafat, Kamil Ahmad, Sk A. Shezan, Md Meheraf Hossain, Md Ruhul Amin, Innocent Kamwa, and Ali H. Alenezi. "Solar and battery-oriented grid connected microgrid for peak and off peak hour operation." Results in Engineering (2025).

[8] Khan, Aqib, Mathieu Bressel, Arnaud Davigny, Dhaker Abbes, and Belkacem Ould Bouamama. "Comprehensive Review of Hybrid Energy Systems: Challenges, Applications, and Optimisation Strategies." Energies 18, no. 10 (2025).

[9] Adegboyega, Adewale W., Saeed Sepasi, Harun Or Rashid Howlader, Brian Griswold, Marc Matsuura, and Leon R. Roose. "DC Microgrid Deployments and Challenges: A Comprehensive Review of Academic and Corporate Implementations." Energies 18, no. 5 (2025).

[10] Sharma, Bhupender, Saibal Manna, Vivek Saxena, Praveen Kumar Raghuvanshi, Mohammed H. Alsharif, and Mun-Kyeom Kim. "A comprehensive review of multilevel inverters, modulation, and control for grid-interfaced solar PV systems." Scientific reports 15, no. 1 (2025).

[11] Zhang, Lidong, Qionghai Zhu, and Huangqing Xiao. "Topology, control, and applications of MMC with embedded energy storage: A brief review." Electronics 14, no. 5 (2025).

[12] Balachandran, Arvind. Design, Modulation, and Control of Battery-Integrated Modular Multilevel Converters for Automotive Applications. Linkopings Universitet (Sweden), 2025.

[13] Barros, Luis AM, António P. Martins, and José Gabriel Pinto. "A comprehensive review on modular multilevel converters, submodule topologies, and modulation techniques." Energies 15, no. 3 (2022).

[14] Hu, Pengfei, and Daozhuo Jiang. "A level-increased nearest level modulation method for modular multilevel converters." IEEE transactions on Power Electronics 30, no. 4 (2014).

[15] Ali, Saddaqat, Jahangeer Badar Soomro, Mahnoor Mughal, Faheem Akhter Chachar, Syed Sabir Hussain Bukhari, and Jong-Suk Ro. "Power quality improvement in HVDC MMC with modified nearest level control in real-time HIL based setup." IEEE Access 8 (2020).

[16] Soomro, Jahangeer Badar, F. Akhter, Saddaqat Ali, Syed Sabir Hussain Bukhari, Irfan Sami, and Jongsuk Ro. "Modified nearest level modulation for full-bridge based HVDC MMC in real-time hardware-in-loop setup." IEEE Access 9 (2021).

[17] Vozikis, Dimitrios, Fahad Alsokhiry, Grain Philip Adam, and Yusuf Al-Turki. "Novel enhanced modular multilevel converter for high-voltage direct current transmission systems." Energies 13, no. 9 (2020).

[18] Kurtoğlu, Mehmet, and Ahmet Mete Vural. "A novel nearest level modulation method with increased output voltage quality for modular multilevel converter topology." International Transactions on Electrical Energy Systems 2022, no. 1 (2022).

[19] Deng, Yi, Maryam Saeedifard, and Ronald G. Harley. "An improved nearest-level modulation method for the modular multilevel converter." In 2015 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), pp. IEEE, 2015.

[20] Lin, Lei, Yizhe Lin, Zhen He, Yu Chen, Jiabing Hu, and Wuhua Li. "Improved nearest-level modulation for a modular multilevel converter with a lower submodule number." IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics 31, no. 8 (2016).

[21] Liu, Qi, Alian Chen, Chunshui Du, and Chenghui Zhang. "A modified nearest-level modulation method for modular multilevel converter with fewer submodules." In 2017 Chinese Automation Congress (CAC), pp. IEEE, 2017.

[22] Zhao, Wenjian, Kun Yang, and Guozhu Chen. "An improved nearest-level-modulation of modular multilevel converter—STATCOM." In 2015 IEEE 11th International Conference on Power Electronics and Drive Systems, pp. IEEE, 2015.

[23] Benboukous, M., H. Bahri, M. Talea, M. Bour, and K. Abdouni. "Comparative analysis of principal modulation techniques for modular multilevel converter and a modified reduced switching frequency algorithm for nearest level pulse width modulation." Electrical Engineering & Electromechanics 4 (2025).

[24] Zhang, Wei, Ahmed El-Sharkawi, and Fatima Noor. "Hybrid Modular Multilevel Converters for High-AC/Low-DC Medium-Voltage Applications." In 2025 IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics and Energy Systems, pp. IEEE, 2025.

[25] Mokoena, Thabo, and Johan Rens. "Modular Multilevel Converter-Based Microgrid: A Critical Review." In 2025 IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid Technologies, pp. IEEE, 2025.

[26] Lei, Yang, Fan Yang, and Jiaxuan Ren. "Research on a Novel AC/DC Hybrid Microgrid Based on Silicon Controlled Converters and Polarity Reversal Switches." In Sensors, vol. 25, no. 6. MDPI, 2025.

[27] Villa-Ávila, Edisson, Danny Ochoa-Correa, and Paul Arévalo. "Advancements in Power Converter Technologies for Integrated Energy Storage Systems." In Processes, vol. 13, no. 6, article 1819. MDPI, 2025.

[28] Rehalia, Vibhuti, Natasha Mahajan, and Naveen Kumar Sharma. "Design and Operation of DC Micro Grid for Integration of Hybrid Renewable Power." In Smart Grid Stability and Control, Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol. 1290, pp. Springer, 2025.

[29] Suneetha, M. N., and C. Lakshmi Narayana. "Hybrid Optimized Evolutionary Control Strategy for Microgrid Power System." In Electrical Engineering, vol. 107, Springer, 2025.

[30] Khosravi, Nima. "A Hybrid Control Approach to Improve Power Quality in Microgrid Systems." In Artificial Intelligence Review, vol. 58, article 312. Springer, 2025.

[31] Chen, Yifan, Haroon Malik, and Priya Desai. "Design and Operation of a Hybrid Modular Multilevel Converter." In 2025 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), IEEE, 2025.

[32] Saponara, Sergio, Roberto Saletti, and Lucian Mihet-Popa. "Recent Trends in DC and Hybrid Microgrids: Opportunities from Renewables Sources, Battery Energy Storages and Bi-Directional Converters." In Applied Sciences, vol. 10, no. 12, article 4388. MDPI, 2025.

[33] Zhou, Liang, Maria Santos, and Omar Farooq. "Bidirectional Power Flow in Hybrid MMCs for Low-Voltage Energy Storage Systems." In 2025 IEEE International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies, IEEE, 2025.

Published

2026-01-01

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 1 (2026): January Issue

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Enhanced Hybrid MMC Integration into DC Microgrid for low voltage application. (2026). Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 45(1), 201-208. https://doi.org/10.22581/0571

Similar Articles

21-30 of 59

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.