A New Modulation Method for the Three-Level-Output-Stage Matrix Converter

Variable voltage and variable frequency AC drives are widely used in commercial applications in order to control motion, improve efficiency of an electromechanical conversion chain etc. The major disadvantage of traditional AC-DC-AC power converter is the need for a bulky and limited lifetime energy storage electrolytic capacitor in the DC link. Alternatively, a matrix converter can be used, which is a forced-commutated AC-AC power converter topology that directly converts energy from an AC source to an AC load without the usage of an energy storage element. The most performant topology from this family is the three-level-output-stage matrix converter topology that can synthesize three-level voltage to improve the output performance in terms of reduced harmonic contents. This paper proposes a new modulation scheme for this topology. Realistic simulation results prove the ability of this converter topology to produce better output voltages when compared to a conventional matrix converter and also to maintain a sinusoidal input current.