Improved Multilevel Rectifier-based PFC for Arc Welding Power Supply

this article suggests a suitable multi-level rectifier with low switching devices for DC arc welding power supply (DC-AWPS) to enhance the welding performance. The control of the recommended five-level rectifier is based on a simple PI regulator to maintain a constant output voltage while keeping the DC load disconnected from the neutral point of the DC link and providing a five-level voltage waveform at the input. Using a cascaded PI regulator, the proposed five-level rectifier provides increased efficiency, improved power factor correction (PFC), and total harmonic distortion (THD) at the AC grid. This five-level rectifier is followed by a half-bridge (HB) DC-DC converter, forming the second component of the suggested AWPS. The isolated HB converter works in regulated arc voltage mode. The suggested five-level rectifier-based AWPS is designed and its operation is tested in MATLAB software.