Some Improved Forced Commutated Cycloconverter Structures

Full automation in manufacturing processes has generated a considerable demand for ac motor drives and in particular static frequency changers (FC´s). Forced commutated cycloconverters (FCC´s) are frequency changers that can provide a wide output frequency range with minimum energy storage requirements. For this reason they can be manufactured in integrated form with significant savings in price, weight, and volume. These factors have generated considerable research activity toward the development of FCC structures that can compete with the typical rectifier-inverter structures. Some advanced FC cycloconverter structures with improved performance characteristics are considered. Areas of improvement include voltage utilization and generated harmonic distortion.