%0 Electronic Article %A Steven Howell %A Haiyue Wang %A Shaahin Filizadeh %K electromagnetic transient simulation %K overlap onset control %K steady-state converter models %K output voltage quality %K PSCAD-EMTDC %K submodule voltage regulation %K capacitor voltage regulation method %K alternate arm modular multilevel converter %K energy balancing %K zero-current switching controls %K AAC operating range %K AAC commutation %K OOCs %X This study introduces a novel method called overlap onset control (OOC) to balance and maintain alternate arm modular multilevel converter (AAC) submodule capacitor voltages at their desired value. OOC performs zero-current switching and controls the timing of AAC commutation to regulate submodule voltages while retaining output voltage quality. The study uses steady-state converter models to develop the mathematical foundations behind the proposed capacitor voltage regulation method and then presents electromagnetic transient simulation results in PSCAD/EMTDC to demonstrate OOC's ability to extend the AAC operating range. %T Alternate arm modular multilevel converter energy balancing via overlap onset control %B The Journal of Engineering %D March 2019 %V 2019 %N 16 %P 1649-1655 %I Institution of Engineering and Technology %U https://digital-library.theiet.org/;jsessionid=39jdf9hhbf7lj.x-iet-live-01content/journals/10.1049/joe.2018.8787 %G EN