This paper presents design consideration and performance analysis of novel reduced parts online three-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. The proposed UPS system is based on reduced switch count dual bridge matrix converter. It employs only six power switches and results in reducing the cost of the system compared to conventional online UPS topologies, while achieving excellent performance. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated through simulation in terms of input/output waveforms quality and shows the viability of topology.
Protecting sensitive loads like medical facilities, life supporting systems, data centers, telecommunication systems, and industrial processing systems are the main purpose of implementing uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs system) [
Different types of UPS systems are developed since the advent of UPS concept. Among these types, the online UPS is the most common type for low to medium power applications due to its superior performance such as high tolerance to the input voltage variation and precise regulation of the output voltage [
In general, the cost reduction is achieved by developing topologies in order to [ reduce the number of power switches, replace power switches with diodes, because diodes are cheaper than active power switches.
Employing the mentioned methods would further reduce the cost by eliminating the circuitry for driving power switches and simplifying the control circuit: lowering the voltage stress across power switches, eliminating passive components like transformers, capacitors, and inductors.
Removing bulky passive elements and lowering the number of power switches would bring some advantages like greater compactness and higher reliability.
This paper present the design and performance analysis of a new online three-phase UPS system based on dual bridge matrix converter topology. The concept of reducing the number of switches is applied by using 9 switch dual bridge matrix converter. Further switch reduction is obtained by using capacitor midpoint connection (two series capacitors in dc-link) which leads to 6 switch topology.
The rest of the paper is organized as follows. In the first part, brief introduction to online UPS is presented and three different operation modes are discussed. In the next part the applied topology is introduced. It starts with dual bridge matrix converter and description of the switch reduction procedure from 24 to 9 and continues with capacitor midpoint connection concept, which further reduced the switches count to 6. Finally, simulation results are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method.
Double conversion online UPS is depicted in Figure
Double conversion online UPS based on IEC-62040 standard.
As shown in Figure
Second, DC voltage is converted back to regulated AC voltage to supply the load with high quality, uninterrupted power. The output AC voltage can even manage to have different frequency than input voltage, which is not possible with line-interactive UPS. When the AC input is available (normal mode of operation), described double conversion process would occur. In online UPS, inverter is rated at 100% of the load in order to supply the load, and rectifier power rating is set to meet the 100% of the power demanded by the load and power needed to charge the battery bank [
When AC input is outside of the desired range, the UPS is disconnected from AC source and the power is drawn from the battery, so the output is not affected. The transition time for switching from power source to the battery set is several milliseconds, and the capacitor in the dc-link supplies the load during transition time. So even there is a short interruption in power flow, the output voltage would remain continuous.
In brief, online UPS has 3 different operating modes: normal mode, stored energy mode, and bypass mode [
In this mode, input AC source supplies the load through double conversion process, which is AC-DC via front-end rectifier and DC-AC via back-end inverter. The dc-link voltage is also used to charge the batteries. In comparison with line-interactive UPS, online topology has higher power rating and results in higher cost. The efficiency of online UPS is usually lower than line-interactive one, so it consumes more power and produces more heat, which results in higher utility cost and additional cooling expense.
In this mode the UPS is disconnected from AC input source, due to the distraction of the voltage source. The continuity of power flow is maintained by batteries and inverter. The duration of this mode depends on availability of AC line and batteries backup time.
In bypass mode, load is directly connected and fed by AC input source. It should be considered that the source frequency and load frequency should be equal in order to make the direct connection between source and load possible.
UPS operates in this mode when there is an internal malfunction or in case of maintenance.
The main advantages of online UPS are as follows [ High tolerance against the input voltage variations. Regulation of the output voltage. Controllable output frequency. It can perform frequency conversion (e.g., 50 Hz to 60 Hz).
The main disadvantages of this topology are low power factor, low efficiency, and high THD.
The rectification stage causes distortion to the input current. So an extra power factor correction stage is needed, which leads to higher cost: higher power losses compared to line-interactive UPS, shorter life span compared to other topologies due to higher temperature.
Double conversion online UPS, with all mentioned drawbacks, is the most preferred topology in performance, power conditioning, and load protection. There is a large diversity in online UPS topologies to fulfill different tasks in different kind of applications, in range of few KVA to several MVA.
The matrix converter (Figure
Conventional matrix converter.
Matrix converter employs four-quadrant switches, and by choosing proper modulation technique, it makes bidirectional power flow from source to load possible. So it inherently can regenerate energy back to source. Matrix converter does not employ any electrolytic capacitors or any other passive elements in dc-link, so it shows high reliability. These features make matrix converter suitable topology in applications like AC drives or power supplies [
Recent trends to make higher quality, more efficient power supplies, caused renowned attention and extensive research work on matrix converter due to its superior characteristics like [ sinusoidal input and output waveforms, adjustable power factor, bidirectional power flow, compact design (no bulky energy storage is needed), adjustable frequency.
In general, there are two major derivations in matrix converter topology. First one is conventional matrix converter in Figure
24-switch topology.
CMCs have all the advantages mentioned above and its function, based on Figure
If the switching function of switches is defined as “0” when open and “1” when closed, the output voltage is defined by (
But there are some drawbacks that stop CMCs from being utilized in industry such as the following: potential commutation problem, complicated control algorithm with the need of high performance microprocessor, realization of bidirectional switches, elaborate clamp circuit.
As a result, in the past few years the concept of dual bridge matrix converter has developed.
Compared to CMCs, the recently introduced DBMC, Figure The difficulty of commutation is reduced. All line side switches turn on and off at zero current and all load side switches commutate similar to a conventional DC/AC inverter. The number of switches can be reduced under certain constraints. The clamp circuit can be greatly simplified, only one capacitor and one diode are used.
Considering all the advantages that DBMCs offer and the fact that this topology makes the switch reduction possible [
Reducing the number of switches in DBMC is extensively discussed in the literature such as [
In general 12 bidirectional switches in Figure
In the following part, switch reduction procedure is described in four steps.
If, by employing appropriate control technique, the dc-link voltage is set to be positive, then replacing bidirectional switches with unidirectional switches at the load side is possible. This leads to 18-switch topology which is depicted in Figure
18-switch topology.
According to Figure
So 15-switch [
Switch reduction procedure as described in Step
15-switch topology.
By
12-switch topology.
As far as switches
By reducing the number of switches to 9, the presented topology has lost some of its desired features compared to standard and 24-switch topology, like bidirectional power flow between source and load. In 9-switch topology power only flows from source to load and power factor should always be higher than 0.866.
9-switch topology according to [
So far the 9-switch topology is obtained. In this section, we intend to further reduce the switch count by applying the concept of sharing leg between rectification and inversion stages [
In order to achieve this, a leg consists of two series capacitors is added and placed in parallel with rectification stage. The midpoint, tagged by “0” in Figure
Proposed 6-switch topology.
By replacing the proposed 6-switches converter with rectifier block and inverter block in Figure
Three different operation mode of proposed UPS system are as follows. In normal mode, double conversion process take place through proposed 6-switches matrix converter. In stored-energy mode, the batteries are in parallel with inversion stage and feed the load. In by-pass mode, the by-pass switch in Figure
Reliability is considered one of the most important characteristics of UPS system. It is indicated in the literature that 92% of all UPS failures are related to battery malfunction. This happens because of electrochemical nature of batteries. So providing the best operating condition for battery bank is of high importance when designing UPS system [
By applying appropriate control technique, achieving sinusoidal output waveforms and controlled dc-link voltage is possible.
The control circuit in rectification stage consists of multiple control lops for each switches, one outer voltage loop and one inner current loop [
The 4 switches output inverter is controlled in a high frequency PWM pattern in order to produce high quality output voltage. Reference voltages for each of two legs are 120 degree shifted from each other. So produced line voltages are 120 degree shifted. As a result, the line voltage shared leg is also 120 degree shifted which completes symmetrical system of line voltages.
The control technique for output converter uses two control loops for each leg, one outer voltage loop and one inner current loop. As mentioned above, two reference voltages for each leg are 120 degree shifted from each other. Output voltage is sampled to calculate the error signal. For achieving stable voltage during steady state operation, PID module is used.
Calculated voltage error is also used as a reference signal for current loop. This loop uses the output line current as feedback signal. This loop is faster and is used to improve the dynamic response of the output converter.
In the next section, simulation result of the proposed UPS system is provided. Using the aforementioned control strategee will guaranty the performance of the system. In the rated power, during the steady state operation, as simulation results demonstrate, THD is lower than 3.2%, efficiency is about 89%, and sinusoidal output voltage and current for different load conditions are achieved.
Simulation is carried out by using PSIM software. In the simulation, all switches are considered ideal. The voltage and current waveforms of the input, dc-link voltage as well as load current and voltage are depicted in this part to demonstrate the performance of proposed 6-switch topology (Figure
System parameters.
Parameters | Rating |
---|---|
Power | 1.2 kw |
Input voltage (line-line) | 420 v |
Input filter |
|
Power factor | 0.94 |
Output voltage (line-line) | 300 v |
Output filter |
|
THD | 3.2% |
Efficiency | 89% |
Load |
|
DC-Link voltage | 650–700 v |
Figure
Input current of the 6-switch topology.
Input voltage and current of the 6-switch topology, Phase “a.”
Simulation result for dc-link voltage and current is shown in Figures
DC-link voltage of the 6-switch topology.
DC current of the 6-switch topology.
DC-Link voltage is controlled using hysteresis controller. As shown in Figure
Dc current is always positive which satisfies Step
Figure
Output current of the 6-switches topology.
In Figure
Output voltage of the 6-switch topology.
Demonstration of output voltage and current of phase “a” is presented in Figure
Output voltage and current at different load conditions (a) resistive load (b) 50% of rated Load (c) 120% rated load.
Figure
Output voltage of the 6-switch topology in frequency domain.
The performance of proposed 6-switch online UPS is investigated in this paper. Applied topology is based on the reduced switch count dual bridge matrix converter. Reducing the number of power switches leads to low price, highly reliable, and compact design. The proposed topology shows excellent performance, produced high quality, sinusoidal output voltage, and current waveforms. Simulation results have been presented to confirm the advantages of the proposed novel UPS system.