Harmonic Suppression for Matrix Converter Based AC Drives

Using matrix converters for AC-to-AC power conversion provides economy on weight and size, high reliability and efficiency. For these reasons, the matrix converter technology is currently being adopted in underground mining applications (such as variable speed AC drives for underground vehicles). This paper treats harmonic issues around the matrix converter operation, such as transfer of the supply side distortions to the load and the injection of excessive current harmonics into the supply. The paper explores fundamental limitations to the harmonic performance and proposes a flexible control scheme that provides harmonic compensation at both the supply and the load sides of the matrix converter. Several strategies are formulated and tested. An optimized combination of the harmonic suppression at both sides is achieved. This makes matrix converter-based drives suitable for power systems with weak supply and voltage distortions. The presented ideas are validated by simulations.