In this dissertation the ac-link universal power converters, which are a new class of power converters, are introduced and studied in detail. The inputs and outputs of these converters may be dc, ac, single phase, or multi-phase. Therefore, they can be used in a variety of applications, including photovoltaic power generation, wind power generation, and electric vehicles. In these converters the link current and voltage are both alternating and their frequency can be high, which leads to the elimination of the dc electrolytic capacitors and the bulky low-frequency transformers. Therefore, the ac-link universal power converters are expected to have higher reliability and smaller size. Moreover, these converters are soft switching, which results in negligible switching losses and minimized current and voltage stress over devices. In the first part of the dissertation, the parallel ac-link universal power converter is studied in detail. This converter is an extension of the buck-boost converter. The series ac-link universal power converter, which is dual of the parallel ac-link universal power converter, is proposed in the second part of this dissertation. This converter is an extension of the Cuk converter. A modified configuration with fewer switches, named sparse ac-link universal power converter is proposed in the third part of this dissertation. The sparse ac-link universal power converters can appear as parallel or series. The performance of all these configurations is evaluated through simulations and experiments.

This thesis examines converter topologies suitable for Module Integrated Converters (MICs) in grid interactive photovoltaic (PV) systems, and makes a contribution to the development of the MIC topologies based on the two-inductor boost converter, which has received less research interest than other well known converters. The thesis provides a detailed analysis of the resonant two-inductor boost converter in the MIC implementations with intermediate constant DC links. Under variable frequency control, this converter is able to operate with a variable DC gain while maintaining the resonant condition. A similar study is also provided for the resonant two-inductor boost converter with the voltage clamp, which aims to increase the output voltage range while reducing the switch voltage stress. An operating point with minimized power loss can be also established under the fixed load condition. Both the hard-switched and the soft-switched current fed two-inductor boost converters are developed for the MIC implementations with unfolding stages. Nondissipative snubbers and a resonant transition gate drive circuit are respectively employed in the two converters to minimize the power loss. The simulation study of a frequency-changer-based two-inductor boost converter is also provided. This converter features a small non-polarised capacitor in a second phase output to provide the power balance in single phase inverter applications. Four magnetic integration solutions for the two-inductor boost converter have also been presented and they are promising in reducing the converter size and power loss.

The objective of the proposed research is to investigate feasible approaches to dynamic control of the power grid. Growth in the demand for electric power, and an increase in the penetration of renewable energy resources are causing congestion on an already aging power grid. Conventional grid control involves the use of static assets that operate on long time scales. These assets provide no dynamic control on the grid, and are typically used for scheduled support. Existing solutions (FACTS devices) to dynamic grid control have seen minimal market penetration because of high cost and low reliability. The proposed research provides a solution for dynamic control of the power grid that augments existing grid assets with a thin AC converter (TACC) to realize enhanced dynamic control. The TACC is a direct AC converter with filter elements and no bulk energy storage that dynamically reflects the asset value on the grid. The converter has a fail-normal mode of operation that returns the asset to its initial operating state, thereby not degrading system reliability. Some applications of TACCs include Inverter-Less STATCOMs and Controllable Network Transformers, which are realized by augmenting shunt VAR capacitors and load tap changers respectively. The principle of virtual quadrature sources is proposed to enable conditioning of AC voltages and currents. The concept is a novel method to realize control of phase angle and, or harmonics in single-phase AC converters, with no bulk energy storage. This concept is used to control the TACC and provides the asset with significantly enhanced control capabilities. Scaling of the TACC to utility voltage and power levels has been addressed by proposing a novel multilevel direct AC converter. The concept proposes the use of commercially available low cost semiconductor devices to realize high power converters. The specific application chosen to validate the concept of TACCs, through a medium voltage design, is the Inverter-less STATCOM.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This thesis proposes to improve the efficiency of public illumination systems by means of AC chopper based power converters. A comparative study of high performance AC/AC converters feeding high pressure sodium lamps on mains frequency is presented. These converters are obtained using standard DC/DC topologies with bi-directional switches (four quadrants). A high pressure lamp ballast design methodology is also presented, based on the suppositions of high input power factor and without exciting acoustic resonances at destructive levels. The topologies used are the Buck-Boost, Ćuk, SEPIC and ZETA operating on continuous current mode, with or without input filter, and an ignition circuit. The converters' switching frequencies are 33 kHz feeding the lamp at low frequency (mains frequency). The ignition circuit providing the high voltage required to guarantee the initial arc to start-up the lamp, is presented, analyzed and optimized in the thesis. To control the ballast a 32 bits microcontroller is used, contributing to reduce the component count and the overall system cost. The base to propose a new control design methodology and power circuit parts specification is the Brazilian standards and a comparison with the electromagnetic ballasts output waveforms. Experimental results supplying a 70 W HPS lamp, connected to the mains (220 V ±20% e 60 Hz) through the proposed ballasts, are presented in order to validate the thesis. / Este trabalho visa aprimorar os sistemas de iluminação pública aplicando reatores eletrônicos baseados em conversores CA/CA. Apresenta-se um comparativo entre conversores tradicionais CC/CC, aplicando a eles interruptores bidirecionais em tensão e corrente, de modo a alimentar a lâmpada de alta pressão de sódio na frequência da rede de alimentação, formando um conversor estático CA/CA com alto rendimento. Apresenta uma metodologia de projeto para fonte de alimentação de lâmpadas de descarga em alta pressão baseada em reatores eletrônicos com alto rendimento e elevado fator de potência, que não excitam de forma destrutiva a ressonância acústica (AR). O reator consiste dos conversores Buck-Boost, Ćuk, SEPIC e ZETA bipolares operando por modulação de largura de pulso (PWM) em modo de condução de corrente contínua (CCM), com ou sem filtro de entrada acoplado e com um circuito de ignição. O conversor opera em 33 kHz e alimenta a lâmpada na frequência da rede. O circuito de ignição fornece a alta tensão para a formação inicial do arco elétrico e neste trabalho de doutoramento foi equacionado e otimizado quando comparado ao modelo tradicional. O controle do reator é implementado em um microcontrolador de 32 bits, o que contribui com a redução do número de componentes e do custo final do sistema, sem prejudicar a confiabilidade do mesmo. As formas de onda de saída de reatores eletromagnéticos e as normas vigentes servem de base para o dimensionamento dos componentes e a obtenção de uma nova metodologia de controle. Resultados experimentais para uma lâmpada HPS de 70 W alimentada a partir de uma rede de 220 V ±20% e 60 Hz são apresentados para validar os reatores propostos.

La thèse porte sur l'intégration fonctionnelle autour des composants commandables bidirectionnels en courant et en tension, avec pour application, la conversion AC-AC à prélèvement sinusoïdal (PFC). La première partie du document de thèse présente la mise en oeuvre d'un gradateur AC-AC à l'aide de dispositifs intégrables. Certains bénéfices sont clairement mis en évidence à travers une analyse fonctionnelle et une validation expérimentale complètes. La seconde partie du mémoire porte sur l'intégration fonctionnelle des périphériques nécessaires à la mise en oeuvre d'un composant de puissance à structure verticale. En particulier, les conditions d'intégration, le contexte technologique et les performances électriques sont abordés et analysés. L'étude est conduite à travers un effort de modélisation conséquent, tant au niveau des composants que des interactions entre composants. Une validation expérimentale conduite au CIME-Nanotech apporte des conclusions intéressantes sur la démarche suivie.

The goal of this master thesis is to summarise the theoretical knowledge and subsequently analyse the so-called Assessment Centre, a modern methodology used for recruitment of employees out of a larger pool of applicants. A unified approach to the recruitment process has been developed based on the results of this analysis The analysis includes a detailed insight into the preparation and the course of the Assessment Centre, a competency assessment of the committee members, assessment of the job description, job requirements and selection criteria and an analysis of satisfaction of the applicants themselves. The analysis was conducted on two workplaces of the Insurance Company "XY", with each of them having a different approach towards the assessment centre. Free as well as partially standardised observations were used as a methodological background for the assessment centre analysis. The assessment of satisfaction of the AC participants was conducted with the help of questionnaires.

This paper proposes two new topological arrangements consisting in connecting the AC power supply in series with two DC converters, one operating during the positive half-cycle and the other during the negative half cycle. It is noteworthy that these DC converters in series in a case are Buck EIE converters and on the other a buck. The results obtained with both arrangements are analyzed and compared. The control strategy is developed with the goal of imposing an AC voltage output within the limits imposed by the rules in order to mitigate the problems associated with Sags and Swells from the AC power supply . The principles of operation as well as the experimental and simulation results obtained in both steady and transient state are presented and validated for a 1kVA experimental prototype. Finally, some works still on progress related to this dissertation are presented, like the multilevel compensation and the three phase compensation. / Este trabalho propõe dois novos arranjos topológicos que consistem em se conectar a alimentação CA em série com dois conversores CC, um para operar durante o semiciclo positivo e o outro durante o semiciclo negativo. Vale ressaltar que estes conversores CC em série, em um caso são conversores Buck EIE e no outro um conversor Buck. Os resultados obtidos com ambos os arranjos são analisados e comparados. A estratégia de controle é desenvolvida com o intuito de impor uma tensão de saída CA dentro dos limites impostos pelas normas de forma a mitigar os problemas associados com Sags e Swells da rede de alimentação CA. Os princípios de operação, os resultados experimentais e de simulação obtidos, tanto em regime permanente quanto em condições transitórias de operação, são apresentados e validados para um protótipo experimental de 1kVA. Por fim apresentam-se os trabalhos relacionados a esta dissertação que ainda estão em desenvolvimento, que são a compensação em multinível e a compensação trifásica. / Mestre em Ciências

Η διατριβή αυτή επικεντρώθηκε στη διερεύνηση της λειτουργίας των ηλεκτρονικών μετατροπέων ισχύος τοπολογίας μήτρας (matrix converters) και, ειδικότερα, των άμεσων μετατροπέων τοπολογίας μήτρας. Ο άμεσος μετατροπέας τοπολογίας μήτρας με τρία σκέλη αποτελείται από 18 τρανζίστορ ισχύος και 18 διόδους ισχύος και χρησιμοποιείται για τη μετατροπή μίας τριφασικής εναλλασσόμενης τάσης σε τριφασική εναλλασσόμενη τάση στην έξοδό του, με δυνατότητες ρύθμισης του πλάτους και της συχνότητας της τάσης εξόδου, διαμόρφωσης του ρεύματος εισόδου, ρύθμισης του συντελεστή ισχύος στην είσοδο και αμφίδρομης ροής ισχύος. Η μετατροπή αυτή γίνεται σε ένα στάδιο, χωρίς ενδιάμεσο στάδιο συνεχούς τάσης (ή συνεχούς ρεύματος), με αποτέλεσμα την αποφυγή χρήσης πυκνωτών μεγάλης χωρητικότητας και πηνίων μεγάλης επαγωγιμότητας. Οι μετατροπείς τοπολογίας μήτρας χαρακτηρίζονται από υψηλούς βαθμούς απόδοσης, υψηλές πυκνότητες ισχύος και πολύ μεγάλους λόγους ισχύος προς μάζα, ενώ το αρμονικό περιεχόμενο της τάσης εξόδου και του ρεύματος εισόδου αυτών είναι μικρό. Η πολυπλοκότητα αυτών των μετατροπέων είναι υψηλή και η δυσκολία υλοποίησής τους σημαντική. Η διερεύνηση των άμεσων μετατροπέων τοπολογίας μήτρας στα πλαίσια της παρούσας διατριβής εστιάστηκε κυρίως στην ανάπτυξη μεθόδων διάγνωσης σφαλμάτων ανοικτοκυκλώματος που συμβαίνουν στο μετατροπέα, καθώς και στην ανάπτυξη μεθόδων παλμοδότησης αυτών που βασίζονται στη χρήση φορέα για την κανονική και επανορθωτική τους λειτουργία. Η διατριβή αυτή περιλαμβάνει οκτώ κεφάλαια, το περιεχόμενο των οποίων περιγράφεται ακολούθως. Στο Κεφάλαιο 1 γίνεται μία εισαγωγή στους στόχους και τη διάρθρωση της παρούσας διατριβής. Στο Κεφάλαιο 2 γίνεται μία εισαγωγή στους ηλεκτρονικούς μετατροπείς ισχύος εναλλασσόμενης τάσης σε εναλλασσόμενη τάση μεταβλητής συχνότητας και πλάτους. Στο κεφάλαιο αυτό περιλαμβάνεται η περιγραφή και η σύγκριση διαφόρων μετατροπέων τοπολογίας μήτρας, καθώς και η περιγραφή των συμβατικών μετατροπέων που χρησιμοποιούνται για την ίδια μετατροπή τάσης και η σύγκριση τους με τις δύο βασικότερες παραλλαγές των μετατροπέων τοπολογίας μήτρας. Στο Κεφάλαιο 3 περιγράφονται οι μέθοδοι που εφαρμόζονται για τον έλεγχο του άμεσου μετατροπέα τοπολογίας μήτρας. Συγκεκριμένα, περιγράφονται και συγκρίνονται διάφορες μέθοδοι παλμοδότησης που χρησιμοποιούνται σε αυτούς τους μετατροπείς, καθώς και οι βασικότερες μέθοδοι μετάβασης του ρεύματος. Στο κεφάλαιο αυτό περιλαμβάνεται η περιγραφή μίας νέας μεθόδου παλμοδότησης με τη χρήση φορέα που αναπτύχθηκε στα πλαίσια της παρούσας διατριβής και οδηγεί σε μειωμένες διακοπτικές απώλειες για χρήση στην περίπτωση που ο επιθυμητός λόγος μεταφοράς τάσης είναι μικρότερος ή ίσος του 50%. Στο Κεφάλαιο 4 περιγράφονται ο άμεσος μετατροπέας τοπολογίας μήτρας που σχεδιάσθηκε και κατασκευάσθηκε στο Εργαστήριο Ηλεκτρομηχανικής Μετατροπής Ενέργειας και τα υπόλοιπα στοιχεία της πειραματικής διάταξης. Επιπρόσθετα, παρατίθενται ορισμένα αποτελέσματα πειραματικών δοκιμών που αφορούν τη λειτουργία επιμέρους τμημάτων του μετατροπέα. Στο Κεφάλαιο 5, αρχικώς, γίνεται μία σύντομη περιγραφή του μοντέλου του υπό μελέτη συστήματος στο περιβάλλον του λογισμικού Matlab/Simulink, παρατίθενται οι τιμές διαφόρων παραμέτρων αυτού και παρουσιάζονται και σχολιάζονται αποτελέσματα προσομοιώσεων της κανονικής λειτουργίας του άμεσου μετατροπέα τοπολογίας μήτρας. Επιπρόσθετα, περιγράφεται μία μέθοδος διανυσματικού ελέγχου της ταχύτητας περιστροφής μίας ασύγχρονης μηχανής τροφοδοτούμενης από άμεσο μετατροπέα τοπολογίας μήτρας και παρουσιάζονται αποτελέσματα προσομοιώσεων της λειτουργίας ενός τέτοιου συστήματος. Τέλος, στο κεφάλαιο αυτό παρουσιάζονται και σχολιάζονται αποτελέσματα πειραματικών δοκιμών της κανονικής λειτουργίας του άμεσου μετατροπέα τοπολογίας μήτρας. Στο Κεφάλαιο 6 εξετάζονται τα πιθανά σφάλματα στον άμεσο μετατροπέα τοπολογίας μήτρας και παρουσιάζονται αναλυτικά οι μέθοδοι διάγνωσης σφαλμάτων ανοικτοκυκλώματος και εντοπισμού ανοικτοκυκλωμένων τρανζίστορ σε αυτόν το μετατροπέα που αναπτύχθηκαν στα πλαίσια αυτής της διατριβής. Περιγράφονται, επίσης, ορισμένες τεχνικές επεξεργασίας σήματος και στοιχεία της θεωρίας των ασαφών έμπειρων συστημάτων, τα οποία χρησιμοποιούνται στις μεθόδους διάγνωσης που προτάθηκαν στα πλαίσια αυτής της διατριβής. Στο Κεφάλαιο 7 περιγράφονται τοπολογίες και μέθοδοι παλμοδότησης για την επανορθωτική λειτουργία κινητηρίων συστημάτων με άμεσους μετατροπείς τοπολογίας μήτρας μετά την εμφάνιση σφαλμάτων στο μετατροπέα. Στο κεφάλαιο αυτό περιλαμβάνεται η περιγραφή δύο μεθόδων παλμοδότησης με χρήση φορέα για την επανορθωτική λειτουργία του άμεσου μετατροπέα τοπολογίας μήτρας μετά από ένα σφάλμα ανοικτοκυκλώματος, μία για το μετατροπέα με πρόσθετο (τέταρτο) σκέλος και μία για το μετατροπέα χωρίς πρόσθετα στοιχεία, που αναπτύχθηκαν στα πλαίσια αυτής της διατριβής. Τέλος, στο Κεφάλαιο 8 επισημαίνεται η συμβολή της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής στην έρευνα σχετικά με τους Μ.Τ.Μ., ανακεφαλαιώνονται τα αποτελέσματα αυτής και αναφέρονται σημεία που μπορούν να αποτελέσουν αντικείμενο επιστημονικής έρευνας στο μέλλον. / This thesis was focused on the research in the matrix converters domain and, particularly, in direct matrix converters. The 3-leg direct matrix converter consists of 18 power transistors and 18 power diodes and is used for the conversion of a three-phase AC voltage to a three-phase AC voltage of variable amplitude and variable frequency. This topology is also capable of modulating the input current and adjusting the input power factor, whereas bidirectional power flow is allowed. This conversion is achieved in one stage with the direct connection of the input phases with the output phases, without using an intermediate DC link stage, resulting in elimination of the use of large capacitors and large inductors. The use of the matrix topology in power converters results in high efficiency, high power density and very high power-to-mass ratio, whereas the harmonic distortion of the output voltage and the input current is low. The complexity of the matrix converters is high resulting in significant implementation effort. In this thesis, the research in direct matrix converters was focused mainly on the development of diagnosis methods for open-circuit faults that arise in the matrix topology, as well as the development of carrier-based modulation methods for the normal and remedial operation of these converters. This thesis contains eight chapters, the content of which is described below. In Chapter 1 an introduction and a brief description of the aims and the structure of this thesis are provided. In Chapter 2 an introduction to the AC-AC power converters used for the modulation of an output voltage of variable amplitude and variable frequency is provided. A description and a comparison of various matrix converter topologies, a description of the conventional topologies used for the same voltage conversion and a comparison of the latter with the two most popular matrix topologies are included in this chapter. In Chapter 3 the methods required for the control of the direct matrix converter are presented. In detail, various modulation methods are described and compared and the most significant commutation methods are presented. In this chapter a novel carrier-based modulation method that was proposed in this work is also described which results in reduced switching losses for use in cases that the required voltage transfer ratio is up to 50%. In Chapter 4 the direct matrix converter that was designed and constructed in this work is presented and other parts of the experimental setup are described. Additionally, some experimental results related to the operation of matrix converter parts are provided. In Chapter 5 a brief description of the studied system’s model that was created using the Matlab/Simulink software is provided, the value of various parameters of this model is given and simulation results of the normal (healthy) operation of the matrix converter are presented and commented. Additionally, a vector control method for the speed control of an induction machine fed by a matrix converter is described and simulation results of its operation are demonstrated. Finally, experimental results of the normal operation of the matrix converter are presented and commented. In Chapter 6 the possible faults in direct matrix converters are studied and the methods to detect open-circuit faults and the open-circuited transistors localization method that were developed in this work are presented. Additionally, a description of signal processing methods and the basic theory of fuzzy inference systems, which are used by the proposed diagnosis methods, are included. In Chapter 7 topologies and modulation methods used for the remedial operation of the direct matrix converter after the occurrence of a fault are presented. In this chapter two carrier-based modulation methods for the remedial operation of the direct matrix converter after an open-circuit fault occurrence that were developed in this work are also described, one for the case of using a redundant (fourth) leg and one for the case of not using any redundant switches. In Chapter 8 the contribution of this thesis to the research in the matrix converters domain is highlighted, its additional results are noted and subjects of possible future work are provided.