A 20-kW, 10-kHz, Single-Phase Multilevel Active-Front-End Converter with Reactive Power Control

Abstract

A 20-kW single-phase multilevel active-front-end converter has been developed as a high-performance alternative to traditional line-frequency rectifiers. The newly introduced generalized average-current-mode-control (GACMC) scheme utilizes the leading-phase admittance cancellation method (LPAC) to allow a low 10-kHz switching frequency, which reduces switching losses and increases converter efficiency, without the line current phase shift inherent to the traditional average-current-mode control when a low switching frequency is used. The GACMC features reactive power source capability, which allows the converter to be used as a static reactive power compensator in the power system independently of its function as an ac-dc converter. The medium-voltage (2.4 kV) or distribution-system-voltage (13.8 kV) level converter can be implemented with high-voltage IGBTs or high-voltage silicon carbide devices