Digitally controlled high power switch-mode rectifier

High power switch-mode rectifiers offer advantages over conventionally used line-commutated thyristor rectifiers in terms of size and cost. This paper describes operation of the high power switch-mode rectifier based on an original control strategy which is digitally implemented. The rectifier is operated in a constant output current mode. The control strategy provides a fast transient response to disturbances and achieves equal current sharing between the buck converter modules which are paralleled within the switch-mode rectifier. Equal current sharing is maintained in steady-state as well as in transient operation. The paper demonstrates that the transient response to load disturbances achievable with the proposed control strategy is superior to the response obtained with the conventional control strategy in terms of the output current overshoot and the settling time. The control algorithm is digitally implemented on a DSP/FPGA based digital control platform and its performance is verified on a 2 kW scaled-down experimental setup of the switch-mode rectifier.