A simple dead-time compensation technique for single-phase full-bridge PWM rectifier

Dead-time is added into pulse width modulation (PWM) signals to prevent a short circuit of the DC bus. However, adding the dead-time can cause higher total harmonic current distortion (THD_I). In order to minimize this problem, this paper proposes a simple dead-time compensation technique for single-phase full-bridge PWM rectifier, which is used in power factor correction (PFC) application. The proposed technique uses a concept that estimates an average error voltage, which is the result from the dead-time effect, and then compensates this error by adding opposite value of error into the converter voltage reference. The proposed technique can be easily implemented on software-based microcontroller without any additional hardware and uses more resource to process slightly. In addition, a suitable PI current controller is proposed. The proposed technique was verified by a simulation. The simulation results showed that the proposed dead-time compensation technique can reduce the THD_I. Furthermore, when the proposed dead-time compensation technique was used together with the suitable PI current controller at lower output limits, the THD_I was further reduced.