A New Four-Step Commutation Method for Indirect Matrix Converter With Active-Voltage Vectors Being Applied

The existing two commutation methods of the rectifier stage for indirect matrix converter (IMC) are zero-current commutation and four-step commutation. The premise of zero-current commutation is that the inverter stage of IMC uses a zero-voltage vector, but when the inverter stage cannot use zero-voltage vectors (such as space overmodulation and common-mode suppression modulation), the four-step commutation is adopted. The conventional four-step commutation method has a complex switching sequence and requires additional sensors. Based on the natural freewheeling characteristic of IMC and the switching sequence of zero-current commutation, a new four-step commutation method is proposed when active-voltage vectors are applied in the inverter stage, first turn off the two switches at the first and second steps, and then turn on the two switches at third and fourth steps. The switching sequence of the new four-step commutation is not affected by the polarity of input voltage or output current direction, thus solving the complexity switching sequence problem of the conventional four-step commutation, and does not require additional voltage or current sensors, making the IMC commutation process safer and more reliable. Finally, this article verifies the effectiveness of the new four-step commutation method of IMC through experiments.