370
2, APRIL 2002
Matrix Converter Modulation Strategies: A New
General Approach Based on Space-Vector
Representation of the Switch State
Domenico Casadei, Associate Member, IEEE, Giovanni Serra, Associate Member, IEEE, Angelo Tani, and Luca Zarri
AbstractIn this paper, a novel representation of the switch
state of a three-phase to three-phase matrix converter is presented.
This approach, based on space-vector notation, simplifies the
study of the modulation strategies, leading to a complete general
solution of the problem and providing a very useful unitary point
of view. The already established strategies can be considered
as particular cases of the proposed general solution. Using this
approach, it can be verified that the space-vector modulation
technique, owing to the intrinsic two degrees of freedom, repre-
sents the general solution of the modulation problem of matrix
converters. This technique can be considered the best solution for
the possibility to achieve the highest voltage transfer ratio and to
optimize the switching pattern through a suitable use of the zero
configurations.
Index TermsACAC power conversion, converters, frequency
conversion, harmonic distortion, matrix converters, pulsewidth
modulation, voltagefrequency conversion.
NOMENCLATURE
. voltage waveforms has been successfully adopted in [2] to
Line-to-neutral input voltage space vector.
Line-to-neutral output voltage space vector.
Input current space vector.
Output current space vector.
Arbitrary space vector defining the direction along which
the input current is modulated (input current modulation
space vector).
Voltage transfer ratio.
Superscript denoting complex conjugate.
Scalar product.
I. INTRODUCTION
T HREE-PHASE matrix converters have received con-
siderable attention in recent years because they
may become a good alternative to voltage-source inverter
pulsewidth-modulation topology. This is because the matrix
converter provides bi-directional power flow, nearly sinusoidal
input/output waveforms, and a controllable input power factor.
Furthermore, the matrix converter allows a compact design due
to the lack of dc-link capacitors for energy storage.
Manuscript received April 9, 2001; revised September 14, 2001. Abstract
published on the Internet January 9, 2002.
The authors are with the Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica,
Universit degli Studi di Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy (e-mail:
domenico.casadei@mail.ing.unibo.it).
Publisher Item Identifier S 0278-0046(02)02885-X.
0278-0046/02$17.00 2002 IEEE
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS, VOL. 49, NO.
On the other hand, the complexity of the matrix converter
topology makes the study and the determination of suitable
modulation strategies a difficult task.
Two different mathematical approaches have been considered
in the past to face this problem, namely, the modulation duty-
cycle matrix (MDCM) approach and the space-vector modula-
tion (SVM) approach.
The MDCM approach has been initially used in order to put
the matrix converter theory on a strong mathematical founda-
tion, and several fundamental papers have been published.
In [1], the first modulation strategy (in the following
AlesinaVenturini (AV) method) allowing the full control of
the output voltages and of the input power factor has been
derived. The maximum voltage transfer ratio of the proposed
algorithm is limited to 0.5 and the input power factor control
requires knowledge of the output power factor.
The inclusion of third harmonics in the input and output
increase the maximum voltage transfer ratio up to 0.866, a
value which represents an intrinsic limitation of the three-phase
to three-phase matrix converter, with balanced supply voltages
and balanced output conditions. In [3], the same technique has
been extended with input power factor control leading to a very
powerful modulation strategy (in the following optimum AV
method).
The scalar control modulation algorithm proposed in [4], al-
though based on a different approach, leads to performance sim-
ilar to that obtained by using the optimum AV method.
A sensible increase of the maximum voltage transfer ratio up
to 1.053 is a feature of the fictitious dc link algorithm, presented
in [5]. This strategy considers the modulation as a two-step
process, namely, rectification and inversion. The higher voltage
transfer ratio is achieved in spite of low frequency distortion in
the input and output variables.
The SVM approach, initially proposed in [6] to control only
the output voltages, has been successively developed in [7][10]
in order to completely exploit the possibility of matrix con-
verters to control the input power factor regardless the output
power factor, to fully utilize the input voltages, and to reduce
the number of switch commutations in each cycle period. Fur-
thermore, this strategy allows an immediate comprehension of
the modulation process, without the need for a fictitious dc link,
and avoiding the addition of the third-harmonic components.