US-12627222-B2 - Matrix power converter and method for use in the matrix power converter

Abstract

A matrix power converter includes an AC input port arranged to receive three phase power. The AC input port is connected to an input filter arranged to filter switching harmonics of the three phases of the received AC power. The input filter is connected to a 3-to-2 phase matrix converter arranged to convert the three phases of the received AC power to a two phases of AC power. The 3-to-2 phase converter is connected to a primary side of a load transformer arranged to receive the two phases of the AC power. A secondary side of the load transformer is connected to an AC-to-DC converter. The matrix power converter is characterized in that the 3-to-2 phase converter includes a nested directional switch including three power switch cell groups, one for each phase of the received AC input power.

Inventors

• Piniwan Thiwanka Bandara Wijekoon
• Anatolii TCAI

Assignees

• HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231013

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A matrix power converter comprising: an alternating current (AC) input port configured to receive AC power comprising three phases; an input filter connected to the AC input port and configured to filter switching harmonics of the three phases of the AC power; a 3-to-2 phase matrix converter connected to the input filter and configured to convert the three phases of the AC power to two phases of the AC power, wherein the 3-to-2 phase matrix converter comprises a nested directional switch comprising three power switch cell groups, wherein each of the power switch cell groups corresponds to a phase of the three phases of the AC power and comprises one or more power switch cells, wherein each of the power switch cells comprises a plurality of power switches connected in series, wherein each of the power switches comprises a bi-directional switch and a capacitor, wherein the bi-directional switch of each power switch is clamped to the capacitor of the power switch, and wherein the power switches in each of the power switch cells are connected in a nested manner; a load transformer comprising a primary side and a secondary side, wherein the primary side is connected to the 3-to-2 phase matrix converter and configured to receive the two phases of the AC power; an AC-to-direct current (DC) converter connected to the secondary side and configured to convert the two phases of the AC power to DC power; and a DC output port configured to output the DC power.
2. 2 . The matrix power converter of claim 1 , wherein each of the power switch cell groups comprises two power switch cells arranged to convert the three phases of the AC power to the two phases, wherein the 3-to-2 phase matrix converter further comprises a resonant tank connected to the power switch cell groups, and wherein the resonant tank comprises a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor configured to generate AC resonant across the primary side of the load transformer.
3. 3 . The matrix power converter of claim 2 , wherein the resonant inductor and the resonant capacitor are connected in series.
4. 4 . The matrix power converter of claim 3 , wherein the load transformer is connected in parallel to the resonant capacitor.
5. 5 . The matrix power converter of claim 3 , wherein the load transformer is connected in parallel to the resonant inductor.
6. 6 . The matrix power converter of claim 3 , wherein the load transformer is connected in series to the resonant capacitor and resonant inductor.
7. 7 . The matrix power converter of claim 3 , wherein the matrix power converter is configured to provide zero current switching.
8. 8 . The matrix power converter of claim 2 , wherein the resonant inductor and the resonant capacitor are connected in parallel.
9. 9 . The matrix power converter of claim 8 , wherein the load transformer is connected in parallel to the resonant capacitor and the resonant inductor.
10. 10 . The matrix power converter of claim 8 , wherein the matrix power converter is configured to provide zero voltage switching.
11. 11 . The matrix power converter of claim 1 , wherein the AC input port is configured to receive a high-voltage power input AC current, and wherein each of the power switches comprises low-voltage components.
12. 12 . The matrix power converter of claim 1 , wherein the AC/DC converter is configured to feed a load.
13. 13 . The matrix power converter of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board comprises the load transformer.
14. 14 . The matrix power converter of claim 1 , wherein the matrix power converter further comprises a controller configured to receive a switch command and to provide gate signals controlling the bi-directional switch of the 3-to-2 phase matrix converter to maintain switching of the matrix power converter at an operations parameter based on a cost function of the operations parameter.
15. 15 . The matrix power converter of claim 14 , further comprising: analyzing a plurality of switching patterns by applying the cost function to each switching pattern; and switching the matrix power converter using the switching pattern with a lowest cost.
16. 16 . The matrix power converter of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of switching patterns relates to the switch command.
17. 17 . The matrix power converter of claim 14 , wherein the 3-to-2 phase matrix converter comprises the controller.
18. 18 . The matrix power converter of claim 1 , wherein the AC input port is configured to receive a medium-voltage power input AC current, and wherein each of the power switches comprises low-voltage components.
19. 19 . A method implemented by a matrix power converter, the method comprising: receiving, by an alternating current (AC) input port of the matrix power converter, AC power comprising three phases; filtering, by an input filter of the matrix power converter, switching harmonics of the three phases of the AC power; converting, by a 3-to-2 phase matrix converter of the matrix power converter, the three phases of the AC power to two phases of the AC power; receiving, by a primary side of a load transformer, the two phases of the AC power; converting, by an AC-to-DC converter, the two phases of the AC power to DC power; receiving a switch command; and providing gate signals controlling a bi-directional switch of the 3-to-2 phase matrix converter to maintain switching of the matrix power converter at an operations parameter based on a cost function for operations parameter.
20. 20 . A matrix power converter comprising: an alternating current (AC) input port configured to receive AC power comprising three phases; an input filter connected to the AC input port and configured to filter switching harmonics of the three phases of the AC power; a 3-to-2 phase matrix converter connected to the input filter and configured to convert the three phases of the AC power to two phases of the AC power, wherein the 3-to-2 phase matrix converter comprises a resonant tank and a nested directional switch, wherein the nested directional switch comprises a plurality of power switch cell groups comprising one or more power switch cells, wherein each of the power switch cells comprises a plurality of power switches connected in series, wherein each of the power switches comprises a bi-directional switch and a capacitor, and wherein the power switches in each of the power switch cells are connected in a nested manner; a load transformer comprising a primary side and a secondary side, wherein the primary side is connected to the 3-to-2 phase matrix converter and configured to receive the two phases of the AC power, and wherein the resonant tank comprises a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor arranged for generating AC resonant across the primary side; an AC-to-direct current (DC) converter connected to the secondary side and configured to convert the two phases of the AC power to DC power; and a DC output port configured to output the DC power.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2021/059796, filed on Apr. 15, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to the field of an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC) power converter or vice-versa and more particularly to a matrix power converter and a method for use in the matrix power converter. BACKGROUND Generally, an AC-to-DC power converter is configured to convert an AC voltage level to another DC voltage level. The conventional AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC power converters may be used in various fields. In an example, the conventional AC-to-DC power converter may be used in a datacenter application in order to translate a medium voltage (MV) grid supply (i.e., AC power) into DC power which may be used to operate an IT equipment (e.g., a router, a network switch, an internet modem, and the like). In another example, the conventional DC-to-AC power converter may be used in either a renewable energy device such as a photo-voltaic device or a wind energy device in order to transform one DC voltage level into another AC voltage level for interconnecting to power grids. In all these typical application scenarios, the conventional AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC power converters are required to be isolated between both ports (e.g., an input port and an output port) for safety. The isolation between the conventional AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC power converters is obtained by use of a galvanic isolated transformer. The galvanic isolated transformer is operated at a frequency of 50-60 hertz (Hz) in typical application scenarios. For example, a datacenter load is fed using the conventional AC-to-DC power converter with isolation. An input AC power is supplied by use of the MV grid and the isolation and voltage transformation is performed by use of the 50 Hz galvanic isolated transformer which results in an increase in size, weight and cost of the conventional AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC power converters, hence, seldom used. However, in current application scenarios, the galvanic isolated transformer is operated at higher frequencies more than 50 Hz (e.g., 10-50 kilohertz (Hz)) in order to reduce the size, weight and cost of the conventional AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC power converters. Currently, certain attempts have been made to reduce the size, weight and cost of the conventional AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC power converters. For example, a conventional AC-to-DC power converter (e.g., resonant type converter) may use a conventional input-series out parallel (ISOP) structure. The conventional ISOP structure includes multiple low voltage converter structures which are connected in series to achieve the MV at grid side (i.e., the input side) of the conventional AC-to-DC power converter (i.e., resonant type converter) using low voltage semiconductor devices. In the conventional AC-to-DC power converter (i.e., resonant type converter), galvanic isolation between the medium voltage grid side (i.e., the input side or input port) and low voltage (i.e., the output side or output port) is achieved by use of medium-to-high frequency transformer(s). Due to the modularity and high frequency operation, the conventional ISOP structure provides a partially reduced size, weight and cost of the conventional AC-to-DC power converter (i.e., resonant type converter). However, the conventional ISOP structure uses a high count and volume of semiconductor components and overall components (or devices), high DC link capacitor volume (e.g., compensate for 100 Hz power ripple in each cell), complexity of control due to multi-cell arrangement and maximum efficiency that is limited due to switching losses. Therefore, due to limitation of high voltage semiconductor components (or devices), the conventional AC-to-DC power converter (i.e., resonant type converter) are rarely used for MV applications. Thus, there exists a technical problem of a conventional power converter (i.e., AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC power converter) with increased size, weight, cost and limited efficiency. Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the conventional AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC power converters. SUMMARY The present disclosure provides a matrix power converter and a method for use in the matrix power converter. The present disclosure provides a solution to the existing problem of a conventional power converter (i.e., AC-to-DC or DC-to-AC power converter) with increased size, weight, cost and limited efficiency. An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a solution that overcomes at least partially the problems encountered in other power converters and provides a matrix power converter and a method for use in the matrix power converter. One or more objectives of the present disclosure is achieved by the solutions provided in the en