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A review of AC Choppers
1
Julio C. Rosas-Caro, 2Fernando Mancilla-David, 3Juan M. Gonzalez-Lopez,
4
Juan M. Ramirez-Arredondo, 1Aaron Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 1Nacu Salas-Cabrera,
1
Mario Gomez-Garcia, 1Hermenegildo Cisneros-Villegas,
1
Madero City Technological Institute, Tamaulipas State Mxico.
2
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado-Denver, U.S.A.
3
Manzanillo Technological University, Mexico.
4
Guadalajara Campus of CINVESTAV IPN, Mexico.
E mail: rosascarojc@hotmail.com
Abstract
AC choppers are a family of ac-to-ac power converters that
can be derived from the traditional dc-to-dc converters.
Research activity in this kind of converter has recently
increased in applications for power conditioningsuch as
voltage control in the distribution system and power flow
control in the transmission systemas an alternative for
the dc-link approach compensators based on voltage
source converters. The control is simpler and the power
rating of the devices is smaller for compensators with the
same power rating; the main drawback is they cannot
control the output-voltage frequency as the matrix
converter.
This paper presents a state-of-the-art review on the
development of ac-choppers. The principle of operation is
explained by using the six switches three-phase buck
converter as an example. The main applications used in
power conditioning and power flow control are
introduced along with emerging topologies.
1. Introduction
Fig. 1. Ac-choppers (a) buck, (b) boost, (c) buck-boost, (d) Ck.
3. Emerging Topologies
The main draw back of the two switches topologies family two switches topologies are (i) the conduction losses
is that some connections in the three-phase input voltage or increase because there are more devices draining the current
load need to be open, for example in the buck converter, see and (ii) the number of switching devices decreases but the
Fig. 7(a) where the input voltage is located in an open total installed power in switching semiconductors holds the
connection (neither Y not ). The same thing occurs with same because each device in a two switches topology drain
the output voltage in the boost converter and the input and three times the current of each device in a six switches
output in the buck-boost converter. The Ck converter is topology, the switch is three times bigger.
the only one in the family that doesnt need an open On the other hand, as only two gate drives and two
connection, which makes the two switches three-phase Ck snubber circuits are needed, the switching process becomes
converter attractive for voltage regulation in sensitive loads. a one quadrant switching.
Another advantage of reducing the number of switches is
that it reduces the number of snubber circuits.
Other new converter topologies such as the Z-source
converter [22] can be also used in dc-dc conversion [23] and
adapted to become a three-phase ac-chopper [24] in the six
switches topology, see Fig. 8(a), or in the two switches
topology [24], see Fig. 8(b).
Fig. 8. Z-source ac chopper (a) six switches based (b) two switches
based.
If the switches are controlled by PWM in Fig. 10, it is choppers and chopper compensators can be represented as
possible to define duty cycles for each switch if t1closed is the a specific case of the VeSC approach.
time when S 1 is closed, and t2closed is the time when S 2 is The main difference between a VeSC and a classical matrix
closed, then duty cycles for each switch can be defined as: converter is the realization of the power switching structure
that in a classical matrix converter for three-phase power
t1closed ; t 2 closed ; (9)
d1 = d2 = flow control requires switches with bi-directional current
T T
control and voltage blocking capability usually implemented
Both switches cannot be closed at the same time because with 18 transistors. On the other hand, due to the ganging
the input voltage sources would be in short circuit, and together of appropriate throws, all three phases of a pole are
both switches cannot be open at the same time because the switched simultaneously. As a result, due to inherent
load would get in an open connection (the load is symmetry in three-phase voltage and current waveforms,
considered inductive and modeled as a current source when all the three-phase ac ports are three wire systems, the
during the switching process); one of them should be throws may be realized using the bi-directional current
closed while the other is open and so on. That can be conducting, but unidirectional voltage blocking capability
expressed as: as illustrated in Fig. 10. As already mentioned, when all
switches are open even if diodes can drain current at any
t1closed + t 2 closed (10)
= d1 + d 2 = 1 time transistors will block the voltage. Furthermore, as the
T
duty ratio arises directly from the average value of the
According to the state of the switches, the circuit can get switching function, the modulation strategy can be
two equivalent circuits, see Fig. 10, one with the load performed by comparing the duty ratio with a saw-tooth (or
connected to v1 and the other one with the load connected triangular) high frequency carrier, as it is done with dc/dc
to v2. The average voltage (in a switching cycle) in the load converters. It doesnt need to be synchronized with the
terminals can be expressed in terms of the duty cycles for grid.
the switches and the input voltages as: The fundamental component averaged vector (or single-
phase) equivalent circuit of the converter system may be
v a (t ) v1a (t ) v 2 a (t )
d1 (t ) (11) represented as shown in Fig. 11, representing the converter
vb (t ) = v1b (t ) v 2b (t ) d (t ) by means of dependent sources.
vc (t ) v1c (t ) v 2 c (t ) 2
the locations of the corresponding throw voltages and the ac-chopper. The main applications in voltage control of the
phasor origin. More information of the phasor distribution system and power flow control in the
representation can be found in Refs. [27, 31]. transmission system were explained. Emerging topologies of
New FACTS devices have been recently proposed based ac choppers with few switches were discussed.
on the VeSC [27-28] and the inclusion of those new FACTS The vector switching converter shows a global approach
controllers in the power system has been investigated [29]. to representing ac choppers and new FACTS controller
Following the trend in ac chopper development, a based in this approach have been recently proposed, With
these applications and the advent of SiC devices, the ac
simplification of the VeSC was proposed by Rosas-Caro,
chopper and VeSC promises to become a hot topic in power
Ramirez, and Peng [25] by using few switches for each
electronics research, especially in power conditioning and
FACTS device.
power flow control where VeSC promises the development
Future power systems will involve complex distribution of power compensators with smaller capacitors and a
systems with advanced solid state transformers and power potential lower cost.
compensators. Silicon carbide (SiC) devices can break the
limits of using power converters in the power system 6. References
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