8th International Conference on Power Electronics - ECCE Asia

[ThB1-1] May 30-June 3, 2011, The Shilla Jeju, Korea

High Power Matrix Converter for Wind

Power Generation Applications
1 1 2 2
Jun Kang , Noriyuki Takada , Eiji Yamamoto , and Eiji Watanabe
1
Yaskawa America, Inc., 2121 Norman Drive South, Waukegan, IL 60085, USA
2
Yaskawa Electric Corporation, 2-13-1 Nishimiyaichi Yukuhashi Fukuoka 824-0031, JAPAN

Abstract-- The matrix converter has many advantages in

wind power system applications. Matrix converter is Voltage clamp circuit
compact and highly efficient because it directly converts
generated power from AC generator to AC grid without
intermediate DC bus while conventional back-to-back S11
converter systems requires many electrolytic capacitors in S21
DC link bus which are bulky and have short life-time. S31
Matrix converter has both motoring and regenerative power ER Ii_R S12 VU IO_U

flows keeping low harmonics current in grid. It also can ES Ii_S S22 VV IO_V
provide reactive power to the grid, which is important Ii_T VW IO_W
M
ET S32
characteristic for wind farms to stabilize power system S13
during and after grid failure. In this paper, high power
S23
matrix converter is introduced for wind power applications.
Major technical features and advantages are described. S33 = OR
Input filter
Experimental results with a PM generator show good Bi-directional
switches
feasibility for the wind power applications.
Fig. 2. Main circuit of the low voltage matrix converter
Index Terms-- AC-AC conversion, Fault Ride Through,
Matrix converter, and Wind power system. The topology in Fig. 2 is a typical configuration of
MxC but it is more suitable for the power rating of less
I. INTRODUCTION than several hundred kW and voltage rating below 690 V
The Matrix Converter (MxC) is a direct AC to AC because of its limitation in increasing current and voltage
power conversion topology 1) The main circuit of MxC rating. Therefore modular type matrix converters have
consists of input filter and nine bi-directional switches. 2) been developed based on the basic MxC topology [3]. It
It is fully regenerative and has sinusoidal input current provides an attractive solution to the market which needs
with power factor control capability. 3) The one of the high power drives with regenerative power capability
big advantages of the MxC is that DC link capacitor is such as paper winder, large power pump, steel mill, and
not necessary which is bulky and has short life-time [1]- wind power system. It is compact in size, has low
[4]. MxC is high-efficient and more compact than the harmonics in input and output waveforms. In this paper,
voltage source back-to-back converter system. A bi- basic modular concepts of the high power matrix
directional switch in Fig.1 typically consists of two anti- converter will be explained. After then application for
paralleled IGBT-diode pair [5]-[6]. By a unique PWM wind power system will be explained with experimental
control method, MxC can control output voltage as well results.
as input currents with low current harmonics. [7]-[9].

Fig. 1. Basic concept of the matrix converter for wind turbine drivetrain system

978-1-61284-957-7/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE

 T1 directional switches and ac capacitors. Basically this
circuit is a three-phase input single-phase output matrix
converter as simplified in Fig. 4. It generates single-
phase output voltage to according to the reference of
three-phase output voltage. It is similar to the H-bridge of
VSI. Power factor of input current is controlled by
R
adjusting conduction ratio of the each switch according to
S11 S21 S31
S the input voltage waveforms [8]-[9].
T The SPMC cell can be added in parallel or in series
according to the voltage and current ratings of the drives.
In Fig. 5(a), power cell input voltage is 690 V and single-
phase output voltage rating is 635 V. Two cells are
connected in parallel to increase current rating. Output
voltage can be designed up to line-line 1kV which has 5-
S12 S22 S32
Bidirectional
level characteristics.
T2
switch module In Fig. 5(b), the output voltage rating of each cell is
Fig. 3. Configuration of the single-phase matrix converter power cell. 635 V, and three cells are connected in series. Phase
voltage is 1905V and line-to-line voltage becomes 3.3 kV
S11 with 13 level output. Therefore it is very close to
S21 T1 sinusoidal wave as shown in Fig. 6. 1700 V class IGBTs
S31 are used for the power cell. The current rating of IGBT is
determined by the current rating of the SPMC cell.

R
S Vcell
T
From
transformer S12
S22 T2
S32
Fig. 4. Simplified single-phase matrix converter circuit. 㪮㪉
㪭㪈

㪮㪈
㪭㪉

II. MATRIX CONVERTER TOPOLOGY FOR WIND POWER

APPLICATION
A. Modular Concept of Matrix Converter (a) Configuration for high current rating drive
Flexibility of power and voltage ratings in converter
design is important to meet various customers' request.
The matrix converter for wind turbine drivetrain system
employs modular design concept which has great
flexibility in providing quick and optimal solutions to
various demands in power and voltage ratings. Wind
power system voltage is expected to increase gradually
from standard 690 V to Medium Voltage (MV) as the
power ratings of the system increase. The advantages of
MV are lower transmission loss between the generator
and the power converter and reduction of volume and
weight of nacelle, and cost [10].
A basic module for the modular drive is Single-Phase
output Matrix Converter (SPMC) as shown in Figs. 3-4.
The cascaded H-bridge voltage source inverter topology
and three-level inverter using high voltage power
switches are popular in medium voltage drives [11]-[16].
But back-to-back converter-inverter system should be (b) Configuration for medium voltage rating drive
used for the applications which require regenerative Fig. 5. Modular concept of matrix converter for high power applications.
power flow. The power cell in Fig. 3 consists of six bi-
 690 V. Phase shifts of +20, 0, and -20 degree in the
secondary windings improve input current harmonics. It
is the same principle as widely known the 18-pulse
rectifier [13]-[14]. The phase-shifting is also helpful to
Line-to-line voltage

eliminate input voltage ripple in the output voltage

waveform. It also compensates the relatively lower output
voltage issue than inverter topology [3]. The standard low
voltage MxC requires LC filters to reduce PWM
harmonics in the grid but in the modular MxC topology,
the reactors are eliminated by using leakage inductance
portion of the transformer. PWM timing of the power
Fig. 6. Line-line output voltage of 3.3 kV medium voltage cells are shifted by 120 degree with each other to achieve
matrix converter. smooth output voltage step change. For 6.6 kV line-line
voltage drive, six power cells are connected in series.

III. MAIN FEATURES OF MATRIX CONVERTER SYSTEM

High power MxC has advantages in reliability (life
time), size, and efficiency thanks to the elimination of the
DC bus capacitor which has a relatively short lifetime.
Higher reliability reduces maintenance cost. Modular
design MxC using power cells is very compact, and
maintenance and service are very easy. Small individual
modules can be quickly replaced therefore it reduces
down time.
TABLE I. MV MATRIX CONVERTER SYSTEM FEATURES.
Items MV Matrix Converter

3-ph
Circuit Diagrams

transformer
Power cells

Harmonics to the grid Less than 5 %

System Efficiency 98%
Fig.7. Schematic of matrix converter for wind turbine drivetrain . No DC bus capacitor
Maintenance Maintenance of the modular
B. Configuration of High Power Matrix Converter power cells is easy
Fig. 7 shows overall configuration of the 3.3 kV Total footprint Small
medium voltage matrix converter including a multi- No external transformer
winding transformer which steps down from 3300 V to

Fig. 8. External view of the matrix converter for wind turbine system (1.5 MVA).
 Fig. 8 shows the external view of the matrix converter
for wind power application. It consists of a controller
panel, a multi-winding transformer panel, and a main
circuit panel. The power cells are stacked in the main
circuit panel. Standard product lineup includes 2 MW and
3 MV drives for 1 kV class, and 2 MW 3 MW drives for
3 kV class. The possible output power ratings are in the
range from 200 kW up to 6 MW, and voltage ratings are
in the range from 690 V to 6.6 kV.
Fig. 9 shows speed, torque, power, and input/output
currents of 3.3 kV, 800 kVA matrix converter during four
quadrant operations which are fundamental Fig. 10. Eon code : Limit curve for voltage pattern at the grid
connection.
characteristics of the wind turbine drive train. 600 kW,
1200 rpm induction motor is used in the experiment. It
shows smooth transition from motoring to regeneration.
Torque and motor current are controlled well during
acceleration and deceleration. The motor speed also
follows the speed reference nicely. Overall efficiency of
3.3 kV system including the multi-output transformer is
about 98% while typical back-to-back converter inverter
system efficiency is about 97%.

IV. FAULT RIDE THROUGH OF MATRIX CONVERTER

As the impact of the wind power generation on the
power system is getting stronger world-wide, fault ride-
through (FRT) capability is an important factor for large Fig. 11. Eon code : The principle of voltage support in the event of grid
scale wind farms to secure the reliable operation of the faults (reactive power demand).
grid [17]-[21]. Under a sudden low voltage condition,
The reactive current of the grid side is determined by
wind power systems must remain connected to the grid
following control variables:
for a given time duration and contribute to the power
- Generator side current amplitude
system stability by supplying reactive power during and
- Generator side power factor
after fault clearance. Fig. 10 shows low voltage ride
- Grid side power factor.
through requirement described in Eon grid code [22].
Above the voltage limit curve, there must be no The grid side current amplitude of the matrix current
disconnection from the grid. Wind power systems have to depends on the generator side active current component
provide reactive current (capacitive or inductive) during a because the reactive current component circulates at the
voltage drop and in the event of a voltage rise as shown generator side, and it does not affect the grid side. During
in Fig. 11. low voltage power failure, the reactive current of the grid
Grid side current control of the matrix converter are side is controlled by adjusting input power factor and
similar to a current source rectifier [23],[26]. output voltage reference waveforms.

+100%
10sec
Speed
reference -100%
0㪄
0㪄
speed
+100%

0㪄 Torque reference

0㪄 Power
Input current
0㪄

0㪄
Motor current
Fig. 9. Experimental 4-quadrant operation of 3.3kV, 800kVA matrix converter.
 Fig. 12 shows the experimental setup for the low voltage
ride through test based on the standard IEC 61400-
21(2008) [24]. The grid voltage dip is emulated with a
simple voltage divider circuit. The matrix converter input
voltage is determined by the impedance ratio of two
inductors Z1 and Z2. Fig.13 shows the switching
sequence of the switches. S1 is closed and S2 is open
under normal operation. Voltage dip occurs during S1 is
open and S2 is closed. Fig. 14 shows small scale LVRT
Fig. 12. Ride through test setup for matrix converter based on IEC test results using a 440V, 100 kVA matrix converter and
61400-21. a 400V class PM generator. When switch S2 is closed,
input voltage drops to almost zero, and the matrix
converter starts providing reactive component current to
the grid because the grid voltage is lower than normal
level. In the real wind farms, the reactive current
command is calculated based on the requirement from
TSO [25] but, for the test, the compensation level is
predetermined according to the percentage voltage drop
of the grid. In the test, the reactive current reference is
100%. The active current of the grid side decreases to
Fig. 13.Switching sequence of the breakers for the low voltage ride zero as the generator torque is reduced. After the grid
through test. failure is cleared, the reactive current is reduced to zero
and active current returns to the previous normal level.
Fig. 15 shows fault ride through test results under 50%
voltage dip condition. The reactive current compensation
level is set to 100 %. Maximum output voltage is reduced
due to decrease in the input voltage and increase in the
grid-side displacement angle [26]-[27], the generator
torque control capability is limited. When the grid voltage
is very low, the grid voltage phase angle can be shifted
for the better reactive current control. Figs. 14 and 15
prove that the reactive current compensation of the matrix
converter is possible during fault ride through condition.

V. CONCLUSION
In this paper, high power matrix converter technology
is introduced for the wind power application. Modular
design concept using a single-phase MxC cell is
employed to implement high power drive. The modular
concept provides great flexibility in power and voltage
ratings. High power matrix converter has advantages in
Fig. 14. Zero voltage ride through test setup for matrix converter using efficiency, sizing, and reliability over the back-to-back
test setup in Fig. 12.
converter inverter system. Four-quadrant speed torque
operation proves the fundamental performances of the
matrix converter, and low voltage ride test results prove
the feasibility of the matrix converter for the wind power
applications.

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