Revisit power conversion circuit topologies-recent advances and applications

Traditionally, dc-dc converters, dc-ac inverters, and ac-ac matrix converters have been taught and studied separately. The topological and characteristic connections among them have been often overlooked. Also the basic switching elements to construct these conversion circuits have been hidden and often misunderstood. In this paper, we go back to the basics, revisit the traditional power converter topologies, categorize and characterize them in a more general and unified fashion. The voltageand current-source topologies are extended to dc-dc converters and matrix converters. This insightful categorization and characterization has led to many new developments: the concept of basic switching cells (or elements to construct all conversion circuits), mirror circuits (dc-dc converters) of the existing dc-dc converter for negative input voltage, and the introduction of new converter topologies, such as the Z-source networks and new matrix converters. Recent advances and their application areas of power conversion topologies will be summarized, general trends and application needs will be addressed in this paper.