Tutorial 5

 

Advanced Modulation and Control for Hardware-Efficient Grid-Interfaced Converters

TThe increasing demand for high-efficiency, high-power-density, and reliable power electronic converters has driven growing interest in reducing passive components and sensing hardware. However, hardware reduction introduces significant challenges in voltage regulation, state information acquisition, control stability, and operating performance. Advanced modulation, control, and state reconstruction techniques provide promising solutions to these challenges.
This tutorial presents advanced modulation and control techniques for hardware-optimization AC-DC power converters, focusing on electrolytic-capacitor-less Vienna rectifiers and grid-forming converters. First, advanced voltage-vector modulation strategies are introduced to suppress DC-link voltage fluctuations and improve grid-current quality in Vienna rectifiers with reduced capacitance. Techniques for wide-range dual DC-link power supply and multi-objective performance optimization are further discussed. Second, robust singular perturbation theory and structured singular value-based robust control are presented to analyze control-loop interactions and enhance power decoupling in grid-forming converters. Furthermore, extended state observation and current reconstruction are introduced to reduce sensing requirements while maintaining essential control functions.
Through theoretical analysis, systematic design methods, and experimental comparisons, this tutorial provides researchers and engineers with practical insights into achieving hardware-optimization AC-DC power conversion through advanced modulation, control, and state reconstruction techniques.




Tutorial Speakers





Zhijian Zhang
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore


Zhijian Zhang received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the North University of China, Taiyuan, China, in 2018, the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China, in 2021, and the Ph.D. degree in power electronics and electrical drives from Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China, in 2025. From 2025 to 2026, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. He is currently a Research Fellow with the Energy Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. His current research interests include permanent-magnet synchronous motor control, high-efficiency AC–DC converters, and control of Vienna rectifiers.





Zicheng Zhang
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore


Zicheng Zhang received the B.Sc. degree in automation, the M.Sc. degree in control engineering, and the Ph.D. degree in control theory and control engineering from Shandong University, Jinan, China, in 2014, 2017 and 2026, respectively. He is currently a Research Fellow with the Energy Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. His research interests include modelling, stability analysis, and robust control of grid-following and grid-forming power converters.