Simplified Analysis and Design of an AC/DC Power Conversion System for Traction Drives

An ac/dc power conversion system suitable for traction drives supplied by an ac feeder line is considered. In order to work out a simple procedure for the preliminary design of the conversion system, some simplifying hypotheses are made. These hypotheses allow a simple analysis of the overall steady-state behavior of the power conversion system. In this way the selection of the circuit components is very easy; it is also possible to determine the most suitable commutating instants of the power converter. Finally, the validity of the simplifying hypotheses is tested and confirmed taking into account the specifications of the converter employed in a traction drive.