Three-level AC-DC-AC Z-source converter using reduced passive component count

This paper presents a three-level ac-dc-ac Z-source converter with output voltage buck-boost capability. The converter is implemented by connecting a low cost front-end diode rectifier to a neutral-point-clamped inverter through a single X-shaped LC impedance network. The inverter is controlled to switch with a three-level output voltage, where the middle neutral potential is uniquely tapped from the star-point of a wye-connected capacitive filter placed before the front-end diode rectifier for input current filtering. Through careful control, the resulting converter can accurately produce the correct volt-sec average at its output, while simultaneously achieving inductive voltage boosting. More interestingly, these performance features are achieved with no increase in the number of semiconductor commutations, and hence no increase in switching losses. The proposed converter therefore offers a low cost alternative to sensitive applications that need to ride-through frequent input voltage sags. For confirming the converter performance, experimental testing using a constructed laboratory prototype is performed with its captured results presented in a later section of the paper.