Grid Tie Indirect Matrix Converter Operating With

Unity Power Factor Under Double Space Vector

Modulation
A. Ammar 1, 2, Member, IEEE, H. Y. Kanaan 1, Senior Member, IEEE, N. Moubayed 2, Senior Member, IEEE
M. Hamouda 3, Senior Member, IEEE, S. Rahmani 4, Y. Ounejjar4, K. Al-Haddad 4, 5, Fellow, IEEE
1
Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Faculty of Engineering ESIB, Mar Roukoz, Mkalles, B.P. 11-0514, Lebanon
2
Lebanese University, Faculty of Engineering, CRSI, LaRGES, Tripoli, Lebanon
3
Research Laboratory, LATIS, ENISO, University of Sousse, Tunisia
4
Canada Research Chair in Electrical Energy Conversion & Power Electronics CRC-EECPE, ETS, Montral, Canada
5
GREPCI, cole de Technologie Suprieure ETS, Universit du Qubec, Montral, Canada

AbstractThis paper discusses the design and topology of the

indirect matrix converter. The double space vector modulation
technique (DSVPWM) is applied on the system and a unity power
factor was accomplished along with desired sinusoidal input and
output waveforms. The whole system is simulated using
Matlab/Simulink, and the results prove to comply with the existing
power quality standards.

KeywordsAC-AC conversion; matrix converter; space vector

modulation; unity power factor

I. INTRODUCTION
In the present days, the demand for electrical power
controllability and efficiency is constantly increasing. The
invention of the thyristor prototype twenty years ago led to the
birth of the modern power electronics age, which aimed to assist
a complete effective power system. Modern power electronic
semi-conductor devices provide the availability to effectively
control power, enhance electric quality, and mask voltage and
current distortion. Maintaining high power quality is reflected
by feeding the load with clean and stable power under its
frequency and magnitude requirements. The guarantee to deliver
perfection in this quality is obtained by implementing the proper
power converter along with the competent control method, as in
[1-3].
AC-AC power conversion systems are built to achieve the
following targets:
Changeable frequency between extremities
Load voltage amplitude control
Input power factor control
Bi-directional power flow control
Fig. 1 shows the classification of ACAC frequency
converter topologies. The most popular industrial power
converters are Group-I indirect frequency topologies; the
voltage source inverters and current source inverters (CSI).
Group-II topologies consist of direct frequency converters
designed by static power switches without DC storage element.
Group-III topologies are hybrid combinations of the formers
with small-sized local energy devices. The indirect frequency
converter exhibits a highly defective feature due to presence of
Fig. 1. Classification of AC-AC converter topologies.
the electrolytic capacitor in its structure. This DC bus element
represents 30% to 50% of the total volume. Its lifetime
extremely falls under current ripple, voltage variations, and
temperature change. This component alters systems speed,
increases the maintenance cost, and expands the power losses
preventing its implementation in high power applications, as in
[4]. A promising alternative solution that may solve traditional
power converters drawbacks is adopting the No DC-Link
frequency converters also referred to as matrix converters. The
interest in this converter family originates from the absence of
the bulky storage element in addition to ensuring bidirectional
power flow, almost sinusoidal input and output waveforms, and
a controllable power factor. However, the primary weakness of
system appears in its degree of complexity due to the large
number of switches to be controlled, as in [5].
This paper presents the structure of matrix converter
topologies in section II. Section III explains the double space
vector modulation approach and all possible switch
combinations in the indirect matrix converter topology. It also
demonstrates deeply the system parts control. Finally, in section
IV, the structure and control of the indirect matrix converter will

l-))) 
be verified by simulating the system using SimPowerSystems; 8VD /VD
the obtained results will be analyzed and discussed to show the
high quality of the input/output signals generated by the
converter. 6D$ 6D% 6D&
8VE /VE
II. TOPOLOGIES OF MATRIX CONVERTERS
In this section, direct frequency converters, accomplishing
AC-AC power conversion without passive components, are 6E$ 6E% 6F&
studied. Over decades, the idea of no DC link conversion has 8VF /VF
advanced to present two ethical sub-groups of the matrix family.
A. Direct matrix converter (DMC)
6F$ 6F% 6F&
The first member group contains the classical matrix
&VD &VE &VF
converter, which can operate in two modes, depending on the
kind of power supply, a voltage source matrix converter, or a
current source matrix converter. Generally, the matrix converter
is a single stage converter which has an array of mn bi-
directional power switches to connect directly an m-phase
voltage source to an n-phase load. The principle of a three-to-
three phase classical matrix converter is presented in Fig. 2, Fig. 2. Direct matrix converter (DMC).
where each ideal switch of a total of nine describes a bi-
directional switch which can conduct current and block voltage III. SPACE VECTOR MODULATION OF IMC
in both directions depending only on the control gate signal of The main circuit in Fig. 3 consists of the PWM current source
the switch. The requirement of passive ac filter components is rectifier, PWM voltage source inverter, and AC source second-
an obligation to minimise the high frequency harmonic order low-pass filter that are connected in a cascaded manner so
components in the input currents and reduce the impact of the that a split modulation process could be applied, as in [11-13].
disturbances from the input grid, as in [6-7]. In this manner, the space vector theory is employed to present
B. Indirect matrix converter (IMC) the three-phase instantaneous system voltage/current quantities
The second group of frequency converters without DC x1 , x2 , and x3 as a space vector X in the case of (1).
energy storage elements, which is by theory identical to the
matrix converter, is the indirect matrix converter (IMC) 2
X= ( x1 + ax2 + a x3 )
2
presented in Fig. 3. The letter p stands for positive, represents 3
the upper bar of the virtual DC link and the letter n stands for (1)
j 2
negative, and represents the lower bar of the link, as in [8]. The a=e 3
central ambition in applying the two stage matrix converter in
the main power block-chain of applications rating from KW to
A. Grid side converter: rectifier stage
MW is to obtain the energy conversion even after eliminating
the storage component from the virtual DC-link. In addition, a The main role of this stage is to be able to grant sinusoidal
very crucial feature to examine is the reliability of the overall input currents and controllable input displacement angle and this
system which is reflected by obtaining consistent results over takes place by issuing a reference current to follow, as in [14]. It
several operations. The advantages of the presented topology are is possible to describe the switching states of the input phases a,
summarized in increasing the systems efficiency, increasing the b, and c by the following switching functions Sa, Sb, and Sc in the
converters life time, decreasing the systems overall weight, case of (2).
reducing the cost, and increasing the reliability, as in [9]. A brief
comparison between the traditional PWM indirect frequency 1 if S p a = 1 & Sn a = 0
converters found in the industry and the direct frequency
converters is presented in Table I, as in [10]. S a = 0 if S p a = 0 & Sn a = 0
1 if S p a = 0 & Sna = 1
TABLE I. COMPARISON OF PWM FREQUENCY CONVERTERS
VSC BB-VSC CSC DMC/IMC 1 if S p b = 1 & S n b = 0
Diodes 12 12 12 18

IGBTs 6 12 12 18 Sb = 0 if S p b = 0 & S n b = 0 (2)
DC Link Capacitor Capacitor Inductor Virtual
Input Distorted Sinusoidal Sinusoidal Sinusoidal 1 if S p b = 0 & S n b = 1
Current
Voltage Max. = 1 Max. = 1
ratio
Max. =
Max. =
1 if S p c = 1 & S n c = 0
Input filter Absent Dependent Necessary Necessary
Sc = 0 if S p c = 0 & S n c = 0
1 if S p c = 0 & S n c = 1


 Fig. 3. Indirect matrix converter (IMC).

Among the 27 combinations of the switching states, only 9 sin( i )

states are possible for the correct operation of the converter since d 2 _ Rec = (4)

they allow avoiding any short-circuit of the input voltages and cos( i )
open-circuit of the load currents. The 9 possible switching states 6
give rise to 6 active vectors and three zero vectors. Fig. 4 depicts
the space vector diagram of the rectifier built in the complex

,P
plane. The reference input current vector to be followed can
possibly lie in any of the 6 space sectors. In other terms, this
referenced vector could be obtained by a combination of the two
adjacent active switch combinations with an applied time width
on every combination. These 2 time widths are a fraction of the
systems switching time Ts and are expressed by the duty ratio
terms d1_Rec and d2_Rec with a summation of unity. Fig. 5
explains the above strategy supposing that input current
reference vector lies in sector i (i=I, II, III, IV, V, VI); i is the
phase angle within the operating sector of the space vector. In
case of unity input displacement factor requirement, the
direction of the input current reference vector should be
identical to the one of the grid voltages space vector. The latter
is usually determined by a PLL system, as in [15]. By projecting
the reference vector ( ) on the two adjacent active vectors
) which have inherently the same amplitude, and
(  Fig. 4. Input current switching-state.
using a geometrical construction, we can deduce the
expressions of the duty cycles in (3) and (4).

sin( i )
d1_ Rec = 3 (3)

cos( i )
6

Fig. 5. Input current reference vector synthesis.


 Fig. 6 clarifies the position of the input line-to-line voltage
space vector with respect to input current sectors, which leads to
expressing the average voltage across the DC-link during a
switching period as in (5).
cos( i i )
cos( i + i ) + d 2 _ Re c.Uin
Vdc = d1_ Re c.Uin (5)
3

i is the target input displacement angle. In case of normal grid

voltages operation, it is preferred to set this phase angle to zero
so as to achieve unity power factor operation and therefore
minimizes the losses in the transmission line. By substituting (3)
and (4) in (5), and using the line to neutral voltage we get the
following relationship in (6).
3 cos( i ) (6) Fig. 6. DC-link voltage synthesis.
Vdc = Vin
2
cos( i )
3
B. Load side converter: inverter stage
The main role of this stage is to be able to grant sinusoidal
output voltages with desired amplitudes and frequencies issuing
a reference output vector to follow, as in [16-18]. It is possible
to describe the switching states of the output phases A, B, and C
by the following switching functions SA, SB, and SC in (7).

1 if S p A = 1 & Sn A = 0
SA =
0 if S p A = 0 & Sn A = 1 Fig. 7. Output voltage reference vector synthesis.

1 if S p B = 1 & Sn B = 0 d 2 _ Inv.Vdc = Vout sin( j )

SB = (7) (9)
0 if S pB = 0 & Sn B = 1 Vout sin( j )
d 2 _ Inv =
Vdc
1 if S p C = 1 & S n C = 0
SC = Define the voltage transfer ratio R = Vout / Vin ; therefore
0 if S p C = 0 & S n C = 1
by substituting the term Vdc by its expression given in (6) leads
Among the 27 available switching states, only 8 states are to the semi-final inverter duty cycles in (10).
possible to apply according to the operation rules of the inverter
stage. Indeed, the switching states must avoid any short-circuit
sin( j ) cos( i )
across the dc link and any open circuit of the load currents. The 2 3 6
d1_ Inv = R
8 switching states provide 6 active vectors and two zero vectors. 3 cos( i)
According to the space vector modulation principle of voltage
source inverters, the target output voltage reference vector ( ) 2 sin( j ) cos( i) (10)
d 2 _ Inv = R
can be synthesized with a proper combination of the two 3 cos( i)
adjacent active vectors and the two zero vectors as shown in Fig. d 0 _ Inv = 1 d1_ Inv d 2 _ Inv
7. d1_Inv and d2_Inv are the duty cycles that correspond to the
application times of the active vectors  . Let us d 0 _ Inv is the duty cycle of the zero voltage state;
consider is lying in a sector j of the complex plane and j is
C. Final duty cycle calculations
its phase angle within this sector. Projecting therefore on
the two adjacent active vectors and using a geometrical Intuitively, and with the help of the above explanation, the
construction leads to the following relationships expressed in final duty cycles of the inverter switches are the resulting
product of the rectification duty cycles stated in (3) and (4) and
term of the average dc-link voltage Vdc as in (8) and (9). the semi-final duty cycles stated in (10). The below expressions
define the final second stage duty cycles noting that the duty
d1_ InvVdc
. = Vout sin( j ) cycles of stage 1 are the same and as stated above.
3 (8)

Vout sin( j )
3
dInv _11 = m sin( i ) sin( j ) (11)
d1_ Inv = 3 3
Vdc



dInv _12 = m sin( i ) sin( j ) (12)
3
dInv _10 = d1_ Re c dInv _11 dInv _12 (13)

dInv _ 21 = m sin( i ) sin( j ) (14)
3
dInv _ 22 = m sin( i ) sin( j ) (15)

dInv _ 20 = d 2 _ Re c dInv _ 21 dInv _ 22 (16)

m is the modulation index expressing the power factor and the
voltage transfer ratio. Fig. 9. Source line currents.

2 R
m= (17)
3 cos( i )
With a unity power factor operation and a feasible control
3
strategy, cos( i ) = 1, & m 1 achieving R max = [18].
2
IV. SIMULATION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The topology along with the space vector modulation is
tested using Matlab/Simulink/SimPowerSystems and the
results are shown in the Fig. 8, 9, 10, and 11. The results prove
that the topology and control work well enough, as in [19-20]. Fig. 10. Load line currents.
Table II below states the parametrical values used. Fig. 9 proves
that the input current waveforms are sinusoidal and in phase
with the grid voltages shown in Fig. 8. In addition, Fig. 11
shows that the waveforms of the output voltage is also
sinusoidal and follows the inductive load current waveforms
shown in Fig. 10.

TABLE II. PARAMETERS VALUES

Parameter name value
Source voltage magnitude 110 v
Source frequency 60 Hz
Voltage Transfer ratio 0.8
Load frequency 50 Hz
Input filter capacitance 12 F
Input filter inductance 2 mH
Input filter resistance 0.15 Fig. 11. Load line to neutral voltage.
Load inductance 10mH to 0.01 mH
Load resistance 50 V. CONCLUSION
In this paper, the working principle of the indirect matrix
converter controlled with DSVPWM has been presented. The
model reproduces a very good waveform on the input and the
output side knowing that the matrix converter can generate any
output frequency required. The simulation results agree with the
theoretical expectations that the direct frequency converters are
worth to be developed and studied.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors gratefully thank the Agence Universitaire de la
Francophonie (AUF), the Lebanese National Council for
Scientific Research (CNRS-L), the Research Council of Saint-
Joseph University, and the Canadian Research Chair in Energy
Conversion and Power Electronics for their financial support.
Fig. 8. Source line to neutral voltages.


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