Novel com nutation technique of AC-AC converters

B.-H. Kwon
6.-D.Min
J.-H.Kim

Indexing terms: AC-AC conver Matrix converter, Commutation problem

the commutation process [5]. Since the available cur-

Abstract: The AC-P converter called the matrix rent sensors have hysteresis characteristic of the core,
converter is very 5 .ple in structure and has the exact detection of the load current is very difficult.
powerful controllab y. However, to date there This paper proposes a novel commutation technique
have been few pract 1 applications, especially in which is very simple to implement. The commutation
power electronics fie ;. One of the major reasons scheme allows the dead time to avoid current spikes of
is the commutation 2blem. The paper proposes switches and at the same time establishes a current
a novel commutati technique which is very path of the inductive load to avoid voltage spikes. The
simple to implemen This commutation scheme switching policy is described for AC choppers and
allows the dead tirr to avoid current spikes of unlimited frequency changers, respectively. The pro-
nonideal switches an it the same time establishes posed AC choppers use regenerative DC snubbers
a current path of ; inductive load to avoid attached directly to power semiconductor modules to
voltage spikes. Expe iental results obtained on a absorb energy stored in line stray inductance. These
5kW prototype are cussed. DC snubbers enhancing the conversion efficiency fea-
ture a very simple structure consisting of a capacitor
only with no need for discharge resistance or for a
complicated regenerative circuit for snubber energy.
1 Introduction Experimental results obtained on a 5kW prototype are
discussed.
Since the matrix conve r was originally introduced in
[l], it has received insiderable attention [2-131, 2 Switching policy solving the commutation
because of the followin tdvantages: problem
1. A large capacity an( :ompact converter system can
be designed because thi ystem does not have any DC- 2. I Commutation problem
link circuit and, as a r ilt, does not need any energy The switches of the matrix converter shown in Fig. 1
storage component suc 3s a smoothing inductor or a are four-quadrant switches. Four-quadrant switches are
smoothing capacitor. able to block voltage of both polarities and may con-
duct current of both polarities. As four-quadrant
2. The system has higl fficiency, because the number switches are not available to date, they can be imple-
of devices connected in ries is less in this system than mented by connection of two diodes and two switches.
in the conventional rec er-inverter system. Four-quadrant switches have the commutation prob-
3. Four-quadrant open In is very easy. What is more, lem. To understand this problem, a single-phase AC-
by controlling switchii patterns appropriately, both AC converter called a single-phase AC chopper with
output voltages and in t currents become sinusoidal. two four-quadrant switches shown in Fig. 2 is consid-
Thus the matrix conve c has its major potentiality to ered. Suppose that a four-quadrant switch SI is turned
provide direct ACIAC nversion without energy stor- on and conducts the load current iL. After a time, we
age elements except fi a small AC input filter for wish to commutate the current iL to the switch S,.
elimination of switchir ripples. However, there have
been few practical ar cations, especially in power -+ %a
electronics fields. One the major reasons is the com-
mutation problem. Foi afe commutation of the four-
quadrant switches, a IT tistepped switching procedure
has been given in [5]. 1 wever, the switching policy is
complex to implement i also requires exact detection
of the load current dii tion. Inexact detection of the inductive
load current direction iblishes a short circuit during load

Q IEE, 1998
ZEE Proceedings online no. 195 $69
Paper first received 26th Augui nd in revised form 12th December 1997
The authors are with the I
Engineering, Pohang Universit
San 31 Hyoja Dong, Pohang, '
artment of Electronic and Electrical
.Science and Technology (POSTECH),
,784 Republic of Korea
Ld
Fig. 1 Three-phase to three-phase converter with an AC inputJilter

IEE Proc-Electr. Power Appl,, V 145, No. 4,July 1998 295

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 control is not possible. Two four-quadrant switches are
connected alternatively to the inductive load according
to the duty ratio D determined by the control strategy.
Sly denotes the forward directional switch in the cur-
rent direction side from the input voltage to the output
and SI, the reverse directional switch. Suppose that
two-quadrant switches Slyand S1, are turned on. The
load current flows through one of these switches,
depending on its direction. If we attempt to turn off SI
Fig.2 Single-phase A C chopper with an inductive load (or S l f and SI,)and turn on S2 (or S2s and S,,) simulta-
neously, the commutation problem described will
Unfortunately it is impossible to define the timing occur. The dead time is requisite to avoid current
which will lead to safe commutation of these switches. spikes of practical nonideal switches and at the same
Theoretically the switching must be instantaneous and time a current path of the inductive load has to be pro-
simultaneous. For practical realisations we have to take vided to avoid voltage spikes. For this, a switching pol-
into account finite switching times and delays in the icy solving the commutation problem is based on the
drive circuits and switches. So, if the switch S2 is polarity of the switch-to-switch voltage e, across two
turned on before S1is turned off, a short-circuit path is bidirectional switches; two unidirectional switches S1,
established through e,-SI-S2. Current spikes generated and S2f are additionally turned on during the positive
this way will destroy the switches. Similarly, if SI is period of e, and the switches Slf and S2, during the
turned off before S2 is turned on, a dual situation will negative period of e, without respect to the control
occur: there is no path for the conduction of the cur- strategy determining the duty ratio. Then the inductive
rent of the inductive load. Voltage spikes are induced load is bypassed through the input side or output side
on the opened switches and will destroy the switches. depending on its direction during the dead time.
The basic elements for construction of four-quadrant
switches are two-quadrant switches which are commer-
cially available. To construct a fully four-quadrant
switch, two-quadrant switches are connected anti-
parallel or antiseries as shown in Figs. 3a and c. Volt-
age two-quadrant switches are able to block voltage of
both polarities and may conduct current only in the a
given reference direction of i,, depending on the gate
control signal. On the other hand, current two-quad-
rant switches are able to conduct current of both polar- e,>O
ities and may block voltage only in one direction.
Four-quadrant switches can be constructed connecting
two voltage two-quadrant switches antiparallel or two b c
current two-quadrant switches antiseries and then are
able to block voltage of both polarities and conduct
current of both polarities. Therefore, an equivalent e,<O
symbol of a four-quadrant switch can be expressed as
shown in Figs. 36 and d.
d e
Gf Fig.4 Current paths during dead tunefor single-phase A C chopper
a Circuit symbol
b For e, > 0 and zL > 0
c For e, 9 0 and zL c 0
dFor e, < 0 and zL > 0
e For e, c: 0 and zL < 0
Gr
a b
During the powering mode connecting the input and
output, the switch S,, is turned off during the positive
period of e, but S2, during the negative period of e,. All
the other switches are turned on. As a result, the input
voltage is connected to the inductive load, providing
energy. The freewheeling mode giving zero output volt-
C d
age is complementary to the powering mode. During
Fig.3 Constructions and symbol of four-quadrant switch this mode, the switch Slf is turned off during the posi-
a Using two voltage two-quadrant switch
b Equivalent symbol
tive period of e, but SI, during the negative period of
c Using two cuirent two-quadrant switch e,. All the other switches are turned on so that the out-
d Equivalent symbol
put current may be freewheeled. Figs. 46-e show possi-
ble current paths during the dead time. Thus, a current
2.2 Single-phase AC chopper path of the inductive load always exists every current
The switching policy solving the commutation problem direction and the two switch pairs (Sly,S2f) and (SI+
for a single-phase AC-AC chopper with an inductive S2,) are turned on alternately every half-period of e,. It
load will be introduced using Fig. 4a. In this system, is noted that these switch pairs also have the switching
voltage control of the output is possible but frequency at zero voltage of e,.
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2.3 Modified sing/( AC chopper Fig. 5c, the commutation policy is that two unidirec-
tional switches SI, and S2r in one leg are additionally
turned on during the positive period of e, and the
switches Slf and S,, in another leg during the negative
period of e , without respect to the control strategy
determining the duty ratio. The other switches except
switches for safe commutation are modulated accord-
ing to the duty ratio.

2.4 Three-phase to single-phase AC-AC

converter
The commutation policy can be extended to three-
phase to single-phase AC choppers using regenerative
DC snubbers. Let us define emlnand emaxas follows:
emaz = ma+,, e,, e,]
emzn = min[e,, e,, e,]
Thus emax selects the highest phase voltage and emin

line stray
inductance - selects the lowest phase voltage among the input volt-
ages U, v and w.

-- l a
" I
inductive
load

i L

[bower semiconductor module

bers A three-phase to single-phase converter with an

inductive load is shown in Fig. 6u. In this system, both
Therefore, the snubtier circuit of four-quadrant voltage and frequency of the output can be controlled
switches must be an AC snubber circuit that can simultaneously. Three four-quadrant switches are con-
absorb a bidirectional turn-off spike energy due to line necting alternatively the input voltage sources e,, e, and
stray inductance. Further, since each four-quadrant e, to the inductive load. The load current flows
switch is turned on or off at high frequency, a circuit through one of these three bidirectional switches,
for regenerating the snubber energy needs to bo pro- depending on its direction. Similarly, if we attempt to
vided for enhancing t1.e conversion efficiency of the turn off S, and turn on S , simultaneously, the commu-
equipment. However, the circuit shown in Fig. 5c is tation problem described will occur. The dead time is
regenerating the snubber energy without using any requisite to avoid current spikes of nonideal switches
additional regenerative circuit. In the configuration of and at the same time a current path of the inductive
IEE Proc -Electr Power Appl, Vcl 145, No 4, July 1998 297

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 load has to be provided. For this, a switching policy is of three inductive load currents, three reverse switches
based on the magnitude of the switch-to-switch volt- corresponding to the highest voltage emaxand three for-
ages euv, evwand ewu across two bidirectional switches; ward switches corresponding to the lowest voltage emin
two unidirectional switches of the reverse switch corre- among the switch-to-switch voltages across two bidirec-
sponding to the highest voltage emax and a forward tional switches as shown in Fig. 9 are additionally
switch corresponding to the lowest voltage emin among turned on without respect to the control strategy.
the switch-to-switch voltages are additionally turned on According to this switching policy solving the commu-
for safe commutation without respect to the control tation problem, the six unidirectional switches with
strategy, as shown in Fig. 6b. This concept can also be bold arrows in Fig. 8 are shown to be turned on during
extended to multiphase to multiphase unlimited fre- the time interval I.
quency changers. Turn-on and turn-off of bidirectional
switches are made according to the control signal.
Therefore during the dead time the unidirectional
switches for commutation, i.e. the reverse switch corre-
sponding to the highest voltage emax and forward
switch corresponding to the lowest voltage emin, remain
to be turned on. Then the inductor current is bypassed
induction
through the input side or output side depending on its motor
direction during the dead time. Figs. 7a and b show
possible current paths during the dead time for the time
interval I. Thus, a current path of the inductive load
always exists every current direction during the dead
time. Additional turn-on of the unidirectional switches
for commutation of the load current does not give any
hazard such as current spikes.

tgi
Fip.8, Power circuit of three-phase to three-phase converter with sym-
bo I C signals
e"
-@+

j Sua, j Svar j Swar j

a i S,br %br i Swbr

__-_.j - - _s_u,,_- - - --j - - -svcr

I-
j swcr j
-r---------7-----__-
Svaf I Swaf I Suaf I %af
'vbf j 'wbf 'ubf 'vbf
SVCf ; Swcf j Sucf ; Svcf

Fig.9 Turn-on switches for safe commutation for three-phase to three-

phase converter

3 Experimental results
To show the validity of the proposed scheme, the 5kW
AC chopper shown in Fig. 5c is implemented with the
following parameters:
Load inductance L = 0.2mH
Load resistance R = 2 Q
b Regenerative DC snubber CL = 1CLF
Fig. 7 Three-phase to single-phase converter with an inductive load
a Current path for iL < 0 during time interval I Line frequency f = 60Hz
b Current path for iL > 0 during time interval I
Input peak voltage V,, = 170V
2.5 Three-phase to three-phase matrix Output peak voltage V,, = 170V
converter Duty ratio D = 0.8.
A three-phase to three-phase matrix converter basically A test model of the converter is built using 600V, 1OOA
consists of nine bidirectional switches arranged in a insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) with the car-
matrix so that any input phase can be connected to any rier frequency 15.4kHz. To obtain the information of
output phase at any time as shown in Fig. 8. The previ- the input voltage, only one operational amplifier is
ous commutation concept is applied to the three-phase additionally used in control circuits. So the implemen-
to three-phase matrix converter. For safe commutation tation of the switching policy is possible with a small
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 increase of system costs. Fig. 10 shows a picture of the
whole set-up. Fig. 11 shows the case when the switch-
ing policy is implemented and the dead time of 2 p is
used. As expected, not only the voltage but also the
current waveform is without spikes. The current com-
mutation from switch SIfto S2, occurs during the dead
time. Fig. 12 shows gate-source voltages of the switches
during one period of the input voltage. Each switch is
additionally turned on during a half-period of the line
voltage for safe commutation. Negative gate-source
voltage (-5V) is provided for faster turn-off of the
IGBTs. Fig. 13 shows the drain-source voltage of Slfi
output voltage and output current. Owing to proper
commutation, the voltage stress of the switch is limited
to the peak line voltage.
Fig.10 Picture of whole set-&

I + I
a t
a

I.
" I I

I I
C Fia. 13 Waveforms o f switch and outaut
TiGe scale: 2msidiv "
a Drain-source voltage of S,, (SOVidiv)
b Output voltage (SOVidiv)
c Output current (5OAidiv)

d 4 Conclusion

This paper has proposed a novel commutation tech-

nique which is very simple to implement. The switching
e policy is based on the magnitude of the switch-to-
Fig. 11 Voltare and current haveforms o f switches at switchina switch voltages across two bidirectional switches
Time scale: lOp& related to one inductive load: two unidirectional
a Gate-source voltage of SI (2.51
b Drain-source voltage of dz,
(50' switches of the reverse switch corresponding to the
c i, (50Ndiv) highest voltage and a forward switch corresponding to
d iz (50Aidiv)
e Inductor current iL (50Aidiv) the lowest voltage among the switch-to-switch voltages
are additionally turned on for safe commutation with-
I l l I
out respect to the control strategy. This commutation
scheme also allows the dead time to avoid current
spikes of nonideal switches and at the same time estab-
lishes a current path of the inductive load to avoid
voltage spikes. The switching policy has been described
I I t I for AC choppers and unlimited frequency changers,
respectively. The proposed AC choppers use regenera-
tive DC snubbers attached directly to power semicon-
ductor modules to absorb energy stored in line stray
inductance. These DC snubbers enhancing the conver-
I I t I sion efficiency feature a very simple structure consisting
of a capacitor only with no need for discharge resist-
ance or for a complicated regenerative circuit for snub-
ber energy. Experimental results obtained on a 5kW
prototype have been shown.

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