The essence of three-phase AC/AC converter systems

In this paper the well-known voltage and current DC-link converter systems, used to implement an AC/AC converter, are initially presented. Using this knowledge and their space vector modulation methods we show their connection to the family of indirect matrix converters and then finally the connection to direct matrix converters. A brief discussion of extended matrix converter circuits is given and a new unidirectional three-level matrix converter topology is proposed. This clearly shows the topological connections of the converter circuits that directly lead to an adaptability of the modulation methods. These allow the reader who is familiar with space vector modulation of voltage and current DC-link converters to simply incorporate and identify new modulation methods. A comparison of the converter concepts, with respect to their fundamental, topology-related characteristics, complexity, control and efficiency, then follows. Furthermore, by taking the example of a converter that covers a typical operation region in the torque-speed plane (incl. holding torque at standstill), the necessary silicon area of the power semiconductors is calculated for a maximum junction temperature. This paper concludes with proposals for subjects of further research in the area of matrix converters.