DSCC Converter as Energy Router for Rural Energy Communities: a Case Study Under Vertical Imbalance

The sustainable electrification of rural communities relies on the effective utilization and integration of renewable energy sources, which are generally connected to the grid using multiple independent converters. In contrast, the adoption of a single centralized multiport converter acting as energy router can help to reduce operation costs, to increase power density, and to simplify energy management and maintenance, offering a more efficient solution compared to multiple converters. This paper investigates the use of modular multilevel converters acting as a multiport energy router to connect various energy sources to the grid. In this scenario, a vertical imbalance in the arm voltages of the converter, due to the different operation patterns of the connected sources, can harm the stability of the converter. The system's internal dynamics can be leveraged as a control mechanism to ensure system functionality and to prevent unequal stress on semiconductor devices within the individual cells. A case study involving vertical imbalance is analyzed in this paper to assess the converter's potential to improve the reliability and efficiency of renewable energy integration in rural electrification projects.