A control method to realize sinusoidal input and output current waveforms for matrix converters based on PWM

A matrix converter (MC) is a three‐phase AC‐to‐AC direct converter without any energy storage requirement. It is expected to be a next‐generation converter by reason of possibilities of small size and high efficiency. At present, there are some problems preventing it from being used practically. One of the problems is the distortion in the input current. The control methods proposed so far have not realized sufficient reduction of the input current harmonics compared with conventional PWM rectifiers. As a solution to these problems, many approaches have been proposed. In the present paper, an improved PWM method that can achieve both sinusoidal input and output currents simultaneously is considered. In this method, the MC is treated as a controlled voltage source viewed from the load side. On the other hand, it is treated as a controlled current source viewed from the line side. The proposed control method is based on the mathematical expression of the function of the PWM operation of MC. To improve the input current waveform, two line‐to‐line voltages of the three‐phase line are used to control the output current. The output duty ratio of the two line‐to‐line voltages is utilized to improve the input current waveform without affecting the controllability of the output current. In addition, the compensation of the variations in the line voltage and the output current are introduced. In this way, the proposed method can realize the sinusoidal input and output currents. The effectiveness of the proposed control method is confirmed by some experimental results employing a laboratory prototype. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 161(1): 66–76, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20242