Cycloconverters

In contrast to the ac voltage controllers operating at constant frequency discussed

so far, a cycloconverter operates as a direct ac=ac frequency changer with an
inherent voltage control. The basic principle of this converter to construct an
A cycloconverter is a naturally commuted converter with the inherent capability of
bidirectional power flow and there is no real limitation on its size unlike an SCR
inverter with commutation elements. Here, the switching losses are considerably
low, the regenerative operation at full power over complete speed range is inherent,
and it delivers a nearly sinusoidal waveform resulting in minimum torque pulsation
and harmonic heating effects. It is capable of operating even with the blowing out
of an individual SCR fuse (unlike the inverter), and the requirements regarding
turn-off time, current rise time and dv=dt sensitivity of SCRs are low. The main
limitations of a naturally commutated cycloconverter are: (i) limited frequency
range for subharmonic-free and efficient operation; and (ii) poor input
displacement=power factor, particularly at low output voltages.
The naturally commutated cycloconverter (NCC) with SCRs as devices discussed
so far, is sometimes referred to as a restricted frequency changer as, in view of the
allowance on the output voltage quality ratings, the maximum output voltage
frequency is restricted fo fi.
With devices replaced by fully controlled switches such as forced-commutated
SCRs, power transistors, IGBTs, GTOs, and so forth, a force-commutated
cycloconverter (FCC) can be built where the desired output frequency is given by
fo = fs - fi, when fs . switching frequency, which may be larger or smaller than the
fi .
The main disadvantage of the force commutated cycloconverters is that they
generate large unwanted low-order input current and output voltage harmonics that
are difficult to filter out, particularly for low-output voltage conditions. This
problem has largely been solved with the introduction of an imaginative PWM
voltage-control scheme in Reference [20], which is the basis of newly designated
converter called the Matrix Converter (also known as PWM Cycloconverter),
which operates as a Generalized Solid-State Transformer with significant
improvement in voltage and input current waveforms resulting in sine-wave input
and sine-wave output as discussed in the next section.

MATRIX CONVERTERS
The matrix converter (MC) is a development of the force commutated
cycloconverter (FCC) based on bidirectional fully controlled switches,
incorporating PWM voltage control.
The matrix converter is a forced commutated converter which uses an array of
controlled bidirectional switches as the main power elements to create a variable
output voltage system with unrestricted frequency. It does not have any dc-link
circuit and does not need any large energy storage elements. The key element in a
matrix converter is the fully controlled four-quadrant bidirectional switch, which
allows high-frequency operation
The matrix converter (MC) offers possible an all silicon solution for AC-AC
conversion, removing the need for reactive energy storage components used in
conventional converter system
It provides a good alternative to the double-sided PWM voltage source rectifierinverters having the advantages of being a single-stage converter with only nine
switches for three phase to three-phase conversion and inherent bidirectional
power flow, sinusoidal input=output waveforms with moderate switching
frequency, the possibility of compact design due to the absence of dc link reactive
components and controllable input power factor independent of the output load
current. The main disadvantages of the matrix converters developed so far are the
inherent restriction of the voltage transfer ratio (0.866), a more complex control
and protection strategy, and above all the non availability of a fully controlled
bidirectional high-frequency switch integrated in a silicon chip
The SPMC requires 4 bi-directional switches as shown in Fig, each capable of
conducting current in both directions, blocking forward and reverse voltages .It
requires the use of bidirectional switches capable of blocking voltage and
conducting current in both directions

SWITCHING STRATEGIES

Each switch is characterized by a switching function as defined and can connect or

disconnect phase i of the input stage to phase j of the load.
SWITCHING SEQUENCE
At any time t, only two switches Sij(i =1, 4 and j = a) will be in ON state and
conduct the current flow during positive cycle of input source (state 1), with S2a
turn ON for commutation purpose.

At any time t only two switches Sij(i = 1, 4 and j =b) will be in ON state and
conduct the current flow during negative cycle of input source (state 2), with S2b
turn ON for commutation purpose.
At any time t only two switches Sij(i = 2, 3 and j =b) will be in ON state and
conduct the current flow during positive cycle of input source (state 3), with S1b
turn ON for commutation purpose.
At any time t only two switches Sij(i = 2, 3 and j =a) will be in ON state and
conduct the current flow during negative cycle of input source (state 4), with S1a
turn ON for commutation purpose
COMMUTATION PROBLEM
The commutation problem is an important practical issue to be considered in the
employment of matrix converter. Since there are no freewheel path, it is difficult to
reliably commutate current from one switch to another. In theory, the switching
must be instantaneous and simultaneous to prevent a load current interruption or a
short circuit. However simultaneous commutation of switches in matrix converters
is difficult to achieve without generating overcurrent or overvoltage spikes that can
in turn destroy power semiconductors. At any time during switch turn OFF there
should be a path for inductive load current to flow to prevent large overvoltage that
would destroy switches; thus limiting practical implementation of matrix
converters
The commutation switch needs a period of overlap to prevent switches from
overvoltage pikes. The sufficient time delay td between each switch commutation
was needed.
This will allow for the current to decay until zero prior to the next switching
sequence. This method allows for elimination of switching spikes during switching
and commutation processes

THREE PHASE MATRIX CONVERTER

Three phase MC consist of nine BDS which are directly connected source to load.
The switches are arranged in 3*3 matrix form hence it is known as matrix
converter.
Structure of Matrix Converter

The SPMC consist of a matrix of a matrix of input and output lines with four
bidirectional switches connecting the single phase input to the single phase output
at the intersections
Basically, a matrix converter (MC) is composed by 9 bidirectional switches. Where
each dot of the grid represents a connection between the output and the input
terminals. The converter is usually fed at the input side by a three phase voltage
source and it is connected to an inductive load at the output side.

Input Filter
The input filter is generally needed to smooth the input currents and to satisfy the
EMI requirements. A reactive current flows through the input filter capacitor,
leading to a reduction of the power factor, especially at low output power. As a
consequence, the capacitor is chosen in order to ensure at least a power factor of
0.8 with 10% of the rated output power.
Bidirectional Switches
The MC requires bidirectional switches with the capability to block the voltage and
to conduct the current in both directions. There are two main topologies for bi-

directional switches, namely the common emitter antiparallel IGBT configuration

and the common collector anti-parallel IGBT configuration.

As can be seen, two IGBTs are connected with two diodes in an anti-parallel
configuration. The diodes provide the reverse blocking capability.
FUNDAMENTALS
The matrix converter is a single-stage converter which has an mxn array of
bidirectional power switches to connect, directly, an m phase voltage source to an n
phase load. The matrix converter of 3 x3 switches, shown in Fig. 1, has the highest
practical interest because it connects a three-phase voltage source with a threephase load, typically a motor. Normally, the matrix converter is fed by a voltage
source and, for this reason; the input terminals should not be short circuited. On the
other hand, the load has typically an inductive nature and, for this reason, an output
phase must never be opened.

A matrix converter with only nine switches can be effectively used in the vector
control of an induction motor with high quality input and output currents.
However, the simultaneous commutation of controlled bidirectional switches used
in matrix converters is very difficult to achieve without generating overcurrent or
overvoltage spikes that can destroy the power semiconductors. This fact limited the
practical implementation and negatively affected the interest in matrix converters.
Fortunately, this major problem has been solved with the development of several
multistep commutation strategies that allow safe operation of the switches.
VENTURINI CONTROL METHOD
The real development of matrix converters starts with the work of Venturini and
Alesina published in 1980. They presented the power circuit of the converter as a
matrix of bidirectional power switches and they introduced the name matrix
converter. One of their main contributions is the development of a rigorous
mathematical analysis to describe the low-frequency behavior of the converter,
introducing the low-frequency modulation matrix concept. In their modulation
method, also known as the direct transfer function approach, the output voltages
are obtained by the multiplication of the modulation (also called transfer) matrix
with the input voltages.
The output voltage of variable magnitude and unrestricted frequency can be
obtained by multiplying duty cycle (modulation index matrix) to input voltage of
fixed frequency

Modulation is the procedure used to generate the appropriate firing pulses to each
of the nine bidirectional switches (Sij). This method was proposed by Venturini. In
this case, the objective of the modulation is to generate variable frequency and
variable amplitude sinusoidal output voltages (vjN) from the fixed-frequency and
fixed-amplitude input voltages (Vi). Here, the instantaneous input voltages are used
to synthesize a signal whose low-frequency component is the desired output
voltage.

If tij is defined as the time during which switch Sij is on and Ts as the sampling
interval, we can express the aforementioned synthesis principle as

where vjN is the low-frequency component (mean value calculated over one
sampling interval) of the jth output phase and changes in each sampling interval.
With this strategy, a high- frequency switched output voltage is generated, but a
fundamental component has the desired waveform.

where, vm and vn are peak value of output and input voltages

o and i are output and input frequency respectively

For safe operation of MC, it is necessary that no two bi-directional switches of

input line voltages turn ON at same time to avoid short circuit condition. No switch
of output phase should be turned OFF at any time to avoid open circuit condition
that means at least three switches will be turn ON at every instant of time.
For computing modulation index matrix various modulation scheme proposed
Venturini modulation technique
This modulation scheme is same as that of Discreet Pulse Width Modulation
(DPWM) technique in which switch ON time is constant but predetermined value.
This scheme is first introduced for MC by Venturini hence it is known as Venturini
Modulation Technique