NEWMODULATION METHOD FOR MATRIX CONVERTERS USING SPACE

VECTORS
R. Petrocelli, B. A. Zahawi and C. Liu
University of Manchester, UK

ABSTRACT

strategy of a matrix converter [4], [5]. Using space

vector modulation, they presented a simpler control
structure in which a fictitious dc link is created
thus making possible the use of well tried control
techniques to develop innovative matrix converter
control strategies.

A novel matrix converter modulation method based

on space vector control is proposed and analysed.
The new scheme employs an original duty cycle
determination method and is particularly suited
to applications with high input frequencies, such
as direct drive turbogenerator systems. The new
method can cope with unbalanced input conditions
and/or failure of one of the input phases.

"m

i"
-n

INTRODUCTION
The matrix converter is a direct ac/ac power frequency changer capable of providing simultaneous
amplitude and frequency conversion in one single
step without the need for an intermediate energy
storage stage. Fig. 1 shows the basic topology of
a three-phase matrix converter. Sll
- S33 are bi- directional switches capable of controlling voltages and
currents of either polarity. Output waveforms of
the required amplitude and frequency can be synthesized from sinusoidal inputs, providing any input
power factor. The output phase waveforms are constructed by sampling each of the input phases sequentially, with a sampling frequency much higher
than both input and output frequencies. The duration of each sample is controlled such that the average value of the output over the sampling period is that of the desired output waveform. The input capacitors are needed to filter out the high frequency currents drawn by the converter and prevent supply distortion.

iA4
Figure 1: Basic topology of matrix converter.

In theory, the matrix converter provides an all-silicon

solution to the problem of converting ac power from
one frequency to any other offering almost all the features required of an ideal static frequency changer.
Attributes in its favour include a simple power circuit with minimum reactive components, inherent
bi-directional power flow, negligible low order harmonia and the ability to control the input displacement factor. One problem with the topology is the
mathematically complex control required, although
this is not considered insurmountable. Another difficulty is the high sampling frequency needed to synthesise the required output voltages, this is particularly a problem when very high frequency input voltages are employed, for example, if used as an electronic gearbox in direct drive turbine generator sets.
This paper presents a novel modulation method,
based on space vectors, that avoids these limitations.

Alesina and Venturini [l]established the principles

of modulation control of matrix converters in the
early 1980's. They proposed that a multi-phase
output could be synthesized from a multi phase
input by the direct connection of input to output.
The original theory limited the output/input voltage
transfer ratio to 112 in order to maintain a good
quality sine wave output from a sinewave input. The
same authors later showed [2] that the maximum
voltage transfer ratio could be raised to 4 1 2
by the use of third harmonic injection techniques.
Holmes and Lip0 [3] re-presented this work in a
mathematically simplified form, relating to threephase systems. In 1989, Huber et. al. presented
a new, intuitive approach towards the modulation

Power Electronics and Variable Speed Drives, 18-1 9 September 2000, Conference Publication No. 475 0 IEE 2000

461

The method can cqpe with high frequency input

voltages, is not mathematically intensive and has
the ability to extend the operation of the matrix
converter into the nonlinear overmodulation region
using the same control algorithm. in addition, the
algorithm has the ability to operate with unbalanced
input condition and/or failure of one of the input
phases.

MATRIX CONVERTER SPACE VECTOR

MODULATION
For the $switch matrix converter shown in Fig. 1,
the input phases must never be short-circuited and,
assuming an inductive load, the output phases must
not be left open-circuited. With these constraints,
the 9 switches can have only 27 permitted combiations. These states can be divided in three groups.

Figure 2: SVM vector diagram

The first group includes 6 combinations, where

each output phase is connected to a Merent input
phase. These generate output rotating vectors and
are not used in this scheme. The second group
includes 18 Combinations where two output phases
are connected to one input phase so that the output
line-to-lie voltage is zero. The third group includes
3 combinations in which all output phases are
connected to one input phase so that all output line
voltages are zero.

Figure 3: Fictitious dc l i d envelope voltage

If V, and Vp are concidered constant during the

Switch combinations from the second group may be

divided into three subgroups according to which
two input phase voltages are used to generate the
output waveforms. Output vectors in each subgroup form an output voltage hexagon similar to
that shown in Fig. 2. Vectors from the sub-group
with maximum absolute value of line input voltage
are used in order to obtain the maximum Vin/Vout
ratio. This produces the fictitious dc link and allows
the definition of the envelope voltage Venv as the
maximum absolute value of input voltages, as shown
in Fig. 3.

switching cycle period T, Eqn. 1becomes:

V = d,V,

+ dpVp + &VO

(2)

The duty cycles d,, dp can be calculated using the

graphic representation of Fig. 4.

d, = -sin(IVl
Venv

-0)
3

IVl
dp = -sin9
Venv

The desired output voltage space vector, called the

reference voltage vector V, can be approximated by
two adjacent switching-state vectors V, , Vp and
the zero-voltage vector VQas shown in Fig. 4. The
vectors are applied with a given duty cycle such that
the average within each sampling period T is equal to
the required reference vector V, as given in Eqn. 1.

(3)
(4)

Eqn. 2 assumes that Venv is constant over the

switching period T, or at least that the variation
in the envelope voltage is small within this period.
This is true in most dc link type converters due
to the presence of an inter-stage filter. This filter
does not exist in the fictitious dc l i of the matrix
converter. Therefore, in order to apply this method
the input voltage period should be several times
higher than the switching period T. This is a
significant limitation when the system is used with
high frequency input voltages.

NEW MODULATION METHOD

The method introduced in this paper can cope with
high frequency input voltages without increasing

where d,, dp are the duty cycles corresponding to

the switching state vectors V, and V,, respectively.
462

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Combining Eqns. 8,9 with Eqns. 5-7, we obtain:

'i
i
i
i
i.

.'

Eqns. 11 and 12 show that, at any moment, vBcand

vCAcan be produces by applying only one of the two

i-

switching state vectors V, and Vp. This may also

be demonstrated using Fig. 4 which shows V, and
V, to be orthogonal to the d413=and d213=axes,
respectively.

i
i @ m

Figure 4: Reference output voltage space vector and

axes projections

Thus, instead of pre-calculating the two duty cycles

d, and dp, V , is simply applied until Eqn. 11 is
satisfied, then V, is applied until Eqn. 12 is satisfied
and finally, the zero vector VO is applied until the
end of the sampling period T to produce the three
output line voltages.

sampling frequency since it does not assume that

Veri, is Constant during the sampling period T.
Referring back to the conventional SVM method
outlined above, the three output line voltages vAB,
vBC and vCAare given by projections of the reference
axes shown in
vector V on the do,ej213=and d413=
Fig. 4, respectively.

Fl
1

vAB

The new method can cope with high input frequencies since the decision to change from one input phase
to another need only be taken by sensing the values of input voltages and is independent of the output state. The new method also has the capability of working with a non-constant dc-bus voltage allowing the converter to operate with unbalanced voltage inputs or with a failure of one of the input phases. Using the new method it is also possible to operate in the non-linear overmodulation region using the same control algorithm.

d,T

fi[v,]d+

Re rvsl dt

(5)

SIMULATION RESULTS
R e [Vpe-jgm]dt

f /d

da T

vCA=

Re [V,e-j$=] dt +

(da+dB)T

Re [Vpe-j"] dt
+

The new modulation algorithm was simulated under

several operating conditions assuming ideal devices
with instantaneous switching. Fourier analysis of
the output voltage waveform was performed to
examine its harmonic content. Figs. 5 and 6
show the unfiltered output voltage waveform and
correspondingfrequency spectrum for an input peak
voltage of 10 V and 500 Hz, and an output peak
voltage of 8.66 V at 50 Hz. Figs. 7 and 8 show
the matrix converter working in the overmodulation
mode, with a voltage transfer ratio of almost unity.
Figs. 9 and 10 show the converter output voltage
under unbalanced input voltage conditions with one
of the input phases missing. The proposed algorithm
produces slightly bigger harmonics than conventional
SVM method. The new algorithm does not generate
subharmonics.

(6)

T/d.T

v, and vfi may be

terms of the envelope voltage Veri, as.
Also, the vectors

-v
2
&

in

(8)

enu

2
Vp = -VenuefT
&

(7)

.*

('1
463

--,

f>

10

30

20

40
t [msegl

Figure 9: Simulated line voltage waveform and

frequency spectrum with unbalanced input voltage

Figure 5: Simulated line voltage waveform with

voltage transfer ratio of 0.866, fi = 500Hz, fo =
50Hz

"'On-l

$10

4Q

i
-

5> 5

9 5

B
f>

frequency [Hz.]

I .I
.

90

.
100

.,.,

.,d
1OK

1K

frequency [Hz.]

Figure 10: Freq. spectrum corresponding to Fig. 9

Figure 6: Frequency spectrum corresponding to the

line-to-line voltage shawn in Fig. 5

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

The new modulation method was implemented using

a low power matrix converter in order to verify the
control algorithm. Digitised forms of Eqns. 11and 12
were implemented using a digital signal processor
(DSP) without any additional circuitry.
Figs. 11 and 12 show unfiltered output voltage
waveforms for voltage transfer ratios of 0.866 and
1, respectively. In both cases, an input frequency of
lOOHz was used to produce 50Hz and 40Hz outputs.
A sampling frequency of 1KHz was used.

Figure 7: Simulated line voltage waveform with

voltage transfer ratio of almost 1, fi = 500Hz,
f 0 = 50Hz

10

:
20
a

5i
W

>

U)

:
2
4-

90

=9 o
t
.

4-

100

1K

1OK

frequency [Hz.]

-20

Figure 8: Freq. spectrum corresponding to Fig. 7

Figure 11: Experimental lineto-line output voltage
waveform with voltage transfer ratio of 0.866, fi =
100Hz, f o = 50Hz

464

g3

20

CD

=9

t.

4 4

3
0

4:>

-20
10 20 30 40

50 60 70 80
t egl

Figure 12: Experimental line-to-line output voltage

waveform with voltage transfer ratio of almost 1,
f i = 100Hz,fo = 40Hz

CONCLUSION

A new modulation method for a matrix converter using space vectors is proposed and analysed. The
new method is particularly suited to applications
such as direct drive turbogenerator systems because
it can cope with very high frequency input voltages. It is also capable of working in the overmodulation mode using the same algorithm. The
new method also allows matrix converter operation with unbalanced voltage inputs or with a failure of one of the input phases The proposed algorithm produces bigger harmonics than the conventional SVM method but requires minimum mathematical effort for its realization.

REFERENCES
[l] Alesina, A. and Venturini, M. G. B., 1981.IEEE
Tran. Circ. Syst., vol. 28, no. 4,pp. 319-330.

[2]Alesina, A. and Venturini, M., 1989. IEEE

Tran. Power Elec., vol. 4. pp. 101-12.
[3]Holmes, D. and Lipo, T., 1992. IEEE Tran.
Power-Elec., vol. 7, pp. 240-50.
[4]Huber, L., Borojevic, D., and Burany, N.,
1992. IEE Proc.-B Elec. Power App., vol. 139,
no. 2, pp. 103-113.
[5]Huber, L., Borojevic, D., Zhuang, X., and Lee,
F.,1993. Proc. APEC 93,pp. 860-5.

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