A Novel Active Three-Phase Multilevel Power Factor Correction Rectifier

Abstract

This paper presents a modification of the Vienna rectifier to obtain more than three voltage levels at the DC line connection. This is done while minimizing the number of added switching devices, as well as avoiding any noticeable performance impact on line current characteristics of the original Vienna topology. The proposed Vienna rectifier expansion is a three-phase rectifier provides active power factor correction, while expanding the number of dc-line voltage levels from 3 to 4, 5, 6 and up to a maximum of 7 levels. Such multilevel rectifier can then be used as dc supply for multilevel inverters with non-isolated dc sources, avoiding the need for complex inverter-side voltage balancing control schemes.