A Hybrid 18-Pulse Rectification Scheme for Diode Front-End Rectifiers With Large DC-Bus Capacitor

Diode rectifiers with large dc-bus capacitors, used in the front ends of variable-frequency drives (VFDs) and other ac-to-dc converters, draw discontinuous current from the power system, resulting in current distortion and, hence, voltage distortion. Typically, the power system can handle current distortion without showing signs of voltage distortion. However, when the majority of the load on a distribution feeder is made up of VFDs, current distortion becomes an important issue since it can cause voltage distortion. Multipulse techniques to reduce input current harmonics are popular because they do not interfere with the existing power system either from higher conducted electromagnetic interference, when active techniques are used, or from possible resonance, when capacitor-based filters are employed. In this paper, a new 18-pulse topology is proposed that has two six-pulse rectifiers powered via a phase-shifting isolation transformer, while the third six-pulse rectifier is fed directly from the ac source via a matching inductor. This idea relies on harmonic current cancellation strategy rather than flux cancellation method and results in lower overall harmonics. It is also seen to be smaller in size and weight and lower in cost compared to an isolation transformer. Experimental results are given to validate the concept.