Direct AC-AC buck converter as an AC chopper

What is it about?

The direct AC-AC voltage converters have higher efficiency, lower cost and higher reliability compared to conventional double conversion topologies. In this paper we have developed a novel topology for an AC-AC buck converter that doesn’t need any snubber circuits and is not based on a selective switching pattern. The proposed topology can produce a PWM controlled AC voltage that is lower than the mains voltage.

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Why is it important?

The commutation issue is the most important limiting factor of expanding AC chopper applications which in most cases is solved by employing snubber circuits, implementing sensor based selective switching patterns and utilizing resonant circuits. In order to overcome the commutation problem, this paper proposes a novel non-resonant AC/AC buck converter with no snubber circuits and no sensor-based switching patterns. The introduced hardware configuration and the proposed control strategy provide a path for an inductive load current in all switching states. This converter offers higher reliability and efficiency as well as lower cost compared to the AC choppers with snubber circuits or voltage and current sensors for performing a selective switching.

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