Feasibility Study of Three-Phase Modular Converter for Dual-Purpose Application in DC and AC Microgrids

The modern concept of a universal converter is intended as a power converter (PC) suitable for application in both dc or ac grids using the same external connectors. This novel family was recently proposed to allow easier integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage systems (ESSs), interfacing with dc/ac grids and/or loads with a minimum redundancy of power switches and passive elements. This kind of solution and applications are expected to be a reality in the nearest decade, as ac and dc low voltage distribution networks will coexist. Nevertheless, the initial solutions proposed as universal converters were focused on ac single-phase power conversion systems. In this sense, this article proposes and describes a new member of the universal converter family suitable for dc–dc and dc–ac power conversion (both in three-phase three-wire and in three-phase four-wire). The proposed power topology is derived as a modular extension from the single buck-boost bidirectional cell. Its main operation modes (buck and boost) are discussed, and a pulsewidth-modulation technique is developed to generate the corresponding switching patterns. The proposed solution is successfully validated in open-loop mode both in simulation and experimentally with a laboratory prototype. The measured efficiency of the PC was above 97% in the dc–ac mode and around 99% in the dc–dc mode.