A New Universal Isolated Converter for Grid Connection

This paper proposes an isolated universal-link ac-ac power converter suitable for grid connection. The proposed power converter can have multiple ports to connect various loads or electric energy sources, and the configuration can be arranged according to the situation. The proposed power converter does not need to employ the large interface inductor at input side and the huge electrolytic capacitor at dc link. Moreover, it utilizes high-frequency transformers for the galvanic isolation instead of bulky line-frequency transformers. These characteristics of the proposed power converter result in the reduction of the system volume and weight remarkably. The proposed power converter is the modular structure, and an H-bridge works as a basic module of the converter. By stacking the modules, the power converter can be adapted to the high-voltage grid and the various types of loads and/or sources. This paper addresses the structure of the proposed power converter and the fundamental principle of power flow. The operation of the proposed converter is verified by both computer simulations and experimental results with a laboratory-level prototype system.