2015 Tenth International Conference on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER)

Three Phase Boost Rectifier Dedicated to

PERFECTGEN – Adjustable Speed Generation
System
Wlodzimierz Koczara Tomasz Balkowiec
Warsaw University of Technology Warsaw University of Technology
Koszykowa 75 Koszykowa 75
00-662 Warszawa, Poland 00-662 Warszawa, Poland
Email: wlodzimierz.koczara@ee.pw.edu.pl Email: tomasz.balkowiec@ee.pw.edu.pl

Abstract—The paper presents three phase boost rectifier
delivering two DC symmetrical voltages. The boost rectifier
consists of three single phase boost rectifiers. The topology
of the boost rectifier is a modification of Warsaw and
Vienna rectifier. The boost rectifier is dedicated to
adjustable speed generation system delivering stiff neutral
potential similar to synchronous generator. The produced
two DC voltages are keeping very symmetrical and currents
drawn from the permanent magnet generator are
sinusoidal. The three phase boost rectifier is tested in
symmetrical and asymmetrical load conditions.
Keywords—AC/DC converter; AC boost rectifiers;
control of sinusoidal curent
steady or transient states, for instance in case of a short
circuit event. The same features have to fulfill any power
electronics supply systems. The problem of the generating
the neutral potential is partly solved by splitting a DC
voltage by two capacitors and equalization by parallel
resistors [1], [2], 4 leg converter [1], [2] or combination of
two above cases i.e. by control of neutral potential using
fourth leg, made from two transistors and inductor [1], [2].
The DC voltage may be produced by Warsaw rectifier [3]–
[6], Borogonovo [7] or Vienna rectifier [8]–[10]. All above
converters [1]–[10] produces single DC voltage but they
CBR

I. INTRODUCTION DC
C1 0 TPIN
Adjustable speed generation system (ASGS) as C2 IN1
AC DC
microturbine (MTD) or Diesel engine (DE) driven systems W1
consist of permanent magnet generator (PMG), controlled
boost rectifier (CBR) and three phase inverter (TPIN) AC N
producing sinusoidal voltage. The ASGS in order to be
L IN2
accepted in a distribution system, has to provide 5 wires DC W2
supply voltage as a classical synchronous generator (SG) as
PMG
is shown in Fig. 1.
AC N
Therefore, beside three phase wires W1, W2, W3 the SG N
delivers stiff neutral N wire independent to load i.e. in IN3 W3
DC
MS
E N
W1 AC
SG W2

W3 E
N

E Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of the PERFECTGEN – the adjustable speed

generation system (ASGS) with three phase permanent magnet generator
Fig. 1. Synchronous generator topology dedicated to supply distributed and AC/DC/AC converter dedicated to distribution system providing 5
grid. wires output.

978-1-4673-6785-1/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE

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Fig. 3. Three phase AC boost rectifier CBR providing two DC symmetrical voltage versus stiff neutral 0 – N wire dedicated to PERFECTGEN.
have a great advantage coming from simplicity of the
topology and ability to draw a sinusoidal current from the
AC source. The [11] demonstrates the need of stiff neutral
potential but it does not provide any solution. A case of
three phase DC boost rectifier providing two symmetrical
DC voltages with stiff neutral is presented in [12]. However
the DC boost rectifier used there [12] produces square-wave
AC current source.
II. THREE PHASE AC BOOST RECTIFIER
A. Rectifier topology
Fig. 2 shows proposed, new general concept of the
PERFECTGEN the adjustable speed generation system
(ASGS) with permanent magnet generator (PMG) and
AC/DC/AC converter providing 5 wires output. The
AC/DC/AC converter consists of two basic blocks:
Controlled Boost Rectifier CBR and three phase inverter
TPIN made from three single phase inverters IN1, IN2, IN3.
The CBR is supplied from the PMG by three phase output
and neutral wire N. To fulfill the requirements of stiff
neutral potential of the generation system, a special AC
controlled boost rectifier CBR is invented.
A schematic diagram of the three phase rectifier is
shown in Fig. 3. This is a modification of the Warsaw
rectifier [3]–[4]. As is shown in Fig. 3 the CBR consists of
three single phase AC boost rectifiers – CBR1, CBR2 and
CBR3. A three phase permanent magnet generator PMG
windings have a star topology and a neutral wire is
connected to all rectifiers to split DC output, made from
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capacitors C1 and C2. In this way its potential not depends
on the load i.e. is very stiff. The single phase boost rectifier,
for instance CBR1, is controlled by bidirectional switch
made from diodes D11, D12, D13, D14 and transistor T1.
Additional diodes D15 and D16 protects transistor T1 from
short circuit caused by output capacitors C1 or C2.
B. Principles of the rectifier operation
Operation of the three phase boost rectifier is presented
for the specified part of the phase voltage cycle that is:
0 ≤ ωt ≤ π/3 (1)
Principles of operation for the other sections are analogous.
Phase voltages are described by following equations:
va = Vm ∙sin(ωt) (2)
vb = Vm ∙ sin(ωt – 2π/3) (3)
vc = Vm ∙ sin(ωt + 2π/3) (4)
Phase voltage sign in the phase A (va) for the
aforementioned sector (1) is positive. In the case of turned
on transistor T1, phase current (ia) passes from the AC
voltage source (va) through resistor Ra, inductor La, choke
L1 and three semiconductor devices – diodes D11, D13 and
transistor T1. During this operation energy is stored in
inductor La and choke L1. If the transistor T1 is turned off
then energy from the AC voltage source (va) and the one
stored in the inductor La and choke L1, are transferred to the
capacitor C1 and resistor R1, through diodes D11 and D15.
 Operation of the rectifier in the phase B is postponed and transmitted to the capacitor C1 and resistor R1, through
a sign of the phase voltage vb is negative (1). However, diodes D31 and D35.
processes that occurs during the on– and off–state of the
Each phase is controlled by one transistor so if there are
transistor T2 are similar. When the transistor T2 is turned on,
three supplying phases, then eight possible states of the
current flows from the AC voltage source vb and continues
three phase boost rectifier operation may occur.
to flow through resistor Rb, inductor Lb, choke L2, diodes
Rectification process in each phase is independent to the
D22, D24 and transistor T2. The inductor Lb and choke L2
other one. Fig. 4 presents possible states of the three phase
store energy coming from the AC voltage source vb, in the
boost rectifier operation. In the Table I there are listed all
magnetic field. During the transistor T2 off–state operation
possible states, according to the sector described by (1).
the energy from AC voltage source vb, inductor Lb and the
choke L2 is delivered to the capacitor C2 and resistor R2. TABLE I
Operation of the rectifier in the phase C is very similar OPERATION STATES OF THE THREE PHASE BOOST RECTIFIER
to the operation in the phase A because both phase voltages State of transistors State of capacitors
va and vc have got positive signs. If the transistor T3 is turned ωt State
T1 T2 T3 Charged Discharged
on, current passes from AC voltage source vc through 1
ON ON ON none C1, C2

0 < ωt < 2π/3

inductor Lc, resistor Rc, choke L3, diode D31, D33 and the Fig. 4(a)
2
transistor T3. The energy is transferred from the AC voltage Fig. 4(b)
ON ON OFF C1 C2
source vc and is stored in respective inductor Lc and choke 3
ON OFF ON C2 C1
L3. During the off-state of the transistor T3, energy of the Fig. 4(c)
AC voltage source vc, inductor Lc and choke L3 is
Vdcp Vdcp
(a) D15 D25 D35 (b) D15 D25 D35 i
iC1 C1
ia ia
va Ra La L1 D11 D12 D21 D22 D31 D32 C1 R1 va Ra La L1 D11 D12 D21 D22 D31 D32 C1 R1
ib T1 T2 T3 ib T1 T2 T3
0 0
N vb Rb Lb L2 N vb Rb Lb L2
ic iC2 ic iC2
vc Rc Lc L3 R2 vc Rc Lc L3 R2
D14 D13 D24 D23 D34 D33 C2 D14 D13 D24 D23 D34 D33 C2
D16 D26 D36 D16 D26 D36
Vdcn Vdcn
Vdcp Vdcp
(c) D15 D25 D35 (d) D15 D25 D35 i
iC1
ia ia C1

va Ra La L1 D11 D12 D21 D22 D31 D32 C1 R1 va Ra La L1 D11 D12 D21 D22 D31 D32 C1 R1
ib T1 T2 T3 ib T1 T2 T3
0 0
N vb Rb Lb L2 N vb Rb Lb L2
ic ic iC2
vc Rc Lc L3 R2 vc Rc Lc L3 R2
D14 D13 D24 D23 D34 D33 C2 D14 D13 D24 D23 D34 D33 C2
D16 D26 D36 iC2 D16 D26 D36
Vdcn Vdcn
Vdcp Vdcp
(e) D15 D25 D35 i (f) D15 D25 D35 i
C1 C1
ia ia
va Ra La L1 D11 D12 D21 D22 D31 D32 C1 R1 va Ra La L1 D11 D12 D21 D22 D31 D32 C1 R1
ib T1 T2 T3 ib T1 T2 T3
0 0
N vb Rb Lb L2 N vb Rb Lb L2
ic ic iC2
vc Rc Lc L3 R2 vc Rc Lc L3 R2
D14 D13 D24 D23 D34 D33 C2 D14 D13 D24 D23 D34 D33 C2
D16 D26 D36 iC2 D16 D26 D36
Vdcm Vdcn
Vdcp Vdcp
(g) D15 D25 D35 i (h) D15 D25 D35 i
C1
ia ia C1

va Ra La L1 D11 D12 D21 D22 D31 D32 C1 R1 va Ra La L1 D11 D12 D21 D22 D31 D32 C1 R1
ib T1 T2 T3 ib T1 T2 T3
0 0
N vb Rb Lb L2 N vb Rb Lb L2
ic ic
vc Rc Lc L3 R2 vc Rc Lc L3 R2
D14 D13 D24 D23 D34 D33 C2 D14 D13 D24 D23 D34 D33 C2
D16 D26 D36 iC2 D16 D26 D36 iC2
Vdcm Vdcm
Fig. 4. Operation states of the three phase boost rectifier. (a) State 1. (b) State 2. (c) State 3. (d) State 4. (e) State 5. (f) State 6. (g) State 7. (h) State 8.

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 4
OFF ON ON C1 C2  input AC phase voltages va, vb and vc,
Fig. 4(d)
5
ON OFF OFF C1, C2 none  input phase currents ia, ib and ic,
Fig. 4(e)
6
OFF ON OFF C1 C2  output DC voltages vdc1 and vdc2.
Fig. 4(f)
7
OFF OFF ON C1, C2 none
Example of the control system that has been used in
Fig. 4(g) computer simulations is presented in Fig. 5. This control
8
Fig. 4(h)
OFF OFF OFF C1, C2 none system stabilizes the value of the output DC voltages vdc1
and vdc2 by using two voltage controllers, and controls each
Ia1* MUX1
of the phase currents (ia, ib, ic) to form sinusoidal current
Ia* ia * + eia ST1
waveforms as much as it is possible, by using one current
US1
X
–
Ria X PWM1 controller per phase.
sin(ωt)

sign(va)
* + –
Ia2 ia
va 0
III. COMPUTER SIMULATIONS
Vdc1* + evdc1 Ib1*
–
Rvdc1 MUX2
Simulations of the three phase boost rectifier were
Ia* ib * + ST2
vdc1
X
eib
Rib X
US2
PWM2 provided using PSIM software. Four different scenarios
–
Vdc2* + evdc2 were taken into account:
sign(vb)
sin(ωt-2π/3)

Ib2* + – ib
Rvdc2 vb
– 0
vdc2
Ic1 *  symmetrical load (Fig. 6),
MUX3
Ic*
X
ic* + eic
Ric X
US3
PWM3
ST3  temporary, symmetrical overload (Fig. 7),
–


sin(ωt+2π/3)

Ic2*
sign(vc)

+ –
vc 0
ic
asymmetrical load (Fig. 8),
 temporary, asymmetrical overload (Fig. 9).
Fig. 5. Three phase boost rectifier control system. Basic circuit parameters that were used during simulations
are listed in Table II. It was also assumed that the load is
Three phase boost rectifier operation states is described purely resistive.
by mathematical equations. Following set of equations (5)–
(9) refers to the eight states presented in Fig. 4 and Table I.
They were generalized by using control signals of all three
TABLE II
transistors – ST1, ST2 and ST3, that controls the states of
transistors T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Their values can be BASIC SIMULATION PARAMETERS OF THE TESTED BOOST RECTIFIER
either 0 which represents turned off transistor, or 1 which Circuit parameter Value
represents turned on transistor. Negations of the control Phase voltage amplitutde 325 V
signals were marked as ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅
ST1 , S ̅̅̅̅
T2 and ST3 .
Phase voltage frequency 400 Hz
̅̅̅̅
dia (va –Ra ∙ia –∆VD11 )–ST1 ∙(∆VD13 +∆VT1 )–S T1 ∙(∆VD15 +vdc1 ) Ra, Rb, Rc 1 mΩ
= (5)
dt La +L1 La, Lb, Lc 10 μH
̅̅̅̅
dib (vb –Rb ∙ib –∆VD24 )–ST2 ∙(∆VD22 +∆VT2 )–S T2 ∙(∆VD26 +vdc2 )
= (6) L1, L2, L3 130 μH
dt Lb +L2
C1, C2 5 mF
dic (vc –Rc ∙ic –∆VD31 )–ST3 ∙(∆VD33 +∆VT3 )–S ̅̅̅̅
T3 ∙(∆VD35 +vdc1 )
= (7) PWM frequency 25 kHz
dt Lc +L3
Nominal output power 120 kW
̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅ vdc1
dvdc1 S T1 ∙ia +S T3 ∙ic +[(ST1 ∙ST3 )–(S T1 ∙S T3 )]∙ 144 kW
R1 (8) Asymmetrical load power case
= (60 kW + 84 kW)
dt C1
̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅ vdc2
dvdc2 ST2 ∙ic +(ST2 –ST2 )∙ R2 (9) Table III shows THDI and power factor (PF) of the
= current drawn from the permanent magnet generator by the
dt C2
AC boost rectifier in case of symmetrical load. Therefore,
the boost AC rectifier operates as power factor correction
C. Rectifier control system system. The current distortion THDI is very low whereas
Control system of the three phase boost rectifier requires the power factor is close to 1.
measurements of following values:

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 TABLE III
VALUES OF CURRENT TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND POWER
FACTOR OF THE TESTED BOOST RECTIFIER FOR CASE OF SYMMETRICAL
LOAD WITH A NOMINAL OUTPUT POWER 120 KW ib
THDI PF
Phase A 4.83 % 0.99

Phase B 4.63 % 0.99

Phase C 4.73 % 0.99

ia ic

Fig. 6 shows three phase currents and voltages of the

PMG and DC output voltages for case of the symmetrical
load power with a value of 120 kW. The phase voltages (va,
vb, vc) are not distorted and currents (ia, ib, ic) are sinusoidal.
The DC output voltages (vdc1, vdc2) are almost equal. Fig. 7
shows transient state of the AC boost rectifier in case of step vdc2
load power change that lasts about 10 ms and its value is vdc1
four times higher than the nominal power. The DC output
voltages drops but they are similar and when the load is
reduced they came back symmetrically.
Fig. 8. presents three phase currents and voltages of the
PMG and DC output. Adequately to the load asymmetry the
PMG phase currents are asymmetrical but output voltages Fig. 7. Three phase currents of the PMG and DC output voltages for
are kept symmetrical, for case of the asymmetrical load case of the temporary symmetrical power overload with a value of
(60 kW + 84 kW). 480 kW. (a) Phase currents (ia, ib, ic). (b) DC output voltages (vdc1, and
reversed vdc2).

va vb vc va vb vc
ia ib ic ia ib ic

vdc2 vdc1 vdc2 vdc1

Fig. 6. Three phase currents and voltages of the PMG and DC output Fig. 8. Three phase currents and voltages of the PMG and DC output
voltages for case of the symmetrical load power with a value of voltages for case of the asymmetrical load power (Table II). (a) Phase
120 kW. (a) Phase voltages (va, vb, vc) and currents (ia, ib, ic). (b) DC voltages (va, vb, vc) and currents (ia, ib, ic). (b) DC output voltages (vdc1,
output voltages (vdc1, and reversed vdc2). and reversed vdc2).

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ia ib ic
vdc1
vdc2
Fig. 9. Three phase currents of the PMG and DC output voltages for
case of the temporary asymmetrical load power (Table II). (a) Phase
currents (ia, ib, ic). (b) DC output voltages (vdc1, and reversed vdc2).
Fig. 9. shows the three phase currents of the PMG and
DC output voltages for case of the step of asymmetrical load
60 kW supplied by vdc1 and 84 kW connected to vdc2. The
vdc2 output voltage drops not significantly but the vdc1 is not
disturbed. After few miliseconds of transient state both
voltages are equal.
IV. SUMMARY
 The paper presents three phase boost rectifier
delivering two DC symmetrical voltages.
 The simulations case of 120 kW generation
system confirms high quality sinusoidal current
drawn from the generator at 230V/400Hz.
 The produced two DC voltages are keeping very
symmetrical.
 Presented topology of the three phase boost
rectifier proves stiffness of the neutral potential.
Even during temporary asymmetrical load in one
of the DC output voltages, potential of the second
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output voltage has not significantly changed
(Fig. 9).
 The developed PWM controlled three phase
boost rectifier does not need any dead time what
makes this topology very suitable for high
frequency applications.
 The three phase boost rectifier comprise great
number of diodes but needs only three transistors
and produces two DC symmetrical voltages
regarding to the stiff neutral wire.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Authors thanks to the NATIONAL SCIENCE
CENTRE, Poland for the project financial support –
project decision DEC-2013/11/B/ST8/04420.
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