18-pulse Rectifier with Electronic Phase Shifting with Autotransformer in Inverter and Rectifier Mode

To reduce harmonic distortion of the input current, multipulse rectifiers are used. They require the presence of phase-shifting transformers or auto transformers. Elimination of electromagnetic phase-shifting devices while maintaining small harmonic distortion of the input current and obtaining a power factor close to unity is possible with the use of electronic phase shift. The electronic phase shift is realized by means of the rectifier itself: the introduction of positive and negative control angles in the pairs of rectifiers' modules. At present, 12-pulse rectifiers with electronic phase shift are known. Unlike classic rectifiers, they do not use phase-shifting transformers and have a unit power factor. Increasing of the rectifier's pulse makes it possible to improve the harmonic composition of the input current. The use of the principle of electronic phase shift in 18-pulse rectifier leads to different levels of constant voltage at the output of the rectifiers. In this case, to equalize the currents of rectifiers' modules, one can use both an increase the voltage at the input of rectifiers operating with large control angles and a decrease the input voltage of the rectifiers operating with smaller control angles. The principles of constructing of matching auto transformers for the 18-pulse rectifier with an electronic phase shift are considered in the article. Comparison of 18-pulse rectifiers with use of step-up and step-down auto transformers is made. Data on the installed capacity of auto transformers, power losses are obtained. The results of thermophysical modeling are presented. When comparing the parameters of the matching magnetic elements, it can be concluded that it is more appropriate to use a step-down autotransformer.