Bidirectional DC-AC Current Source Inverter Using

Coupled Inductor

Katsutoshi Yamanaka, Hidenori Hara Tsuneo Kume Sadao Ishii

Yaskawa Electric Corporation
12-1 Otemachi, Kokurakita-ku,
Kitakyushu 803-8530, JAPAN
Email: cutc@yaskawa.co.jp,
hhara@yaskawa.co.jp
Fellow, IEEE
Yaskawa Electric Corporation
12-1 Otemachi, Kokurakita-ku,
Kitakyushu 803-8530, JAPAN
Email: tjkume@yaskawa.co.jp
Yaskawa Electric Corporation
2-13-1 Nishimiyaichi, Yukuhashi,
Fukuoka 824-8511, JAPAN
Email: sada@yaskawa.co.jp

Abstract—This paper proposes a new current source inverter Smaller number of the series connected switching devices
using a coupled inductor, which is derived from the circuit of the considerably reduces the power loss in the circuit, leading to
matrix converter using an additional inductor. The proposed high efficiency drives.
circuit has the bidirectional power conversion ability, providing
step-up and step-down operation in each direction, and can The previously proposed a circuit for the similar function as
switch the direction of the power flow instantaneously. This shown in Fig. 1(a) [10]. In the figure, symbol of IGBT is used
paper describes the principle of operation, the simulation results as a reverse blocking IGBT (RB-IGBT). The circuit of Fig.
and the experimental results of the proposed circuit. 1(a) is rearranged by each function of the DC-AC current
source inverter (DC-AC CSI) and the AC-DC current source
Keywords-component; Matrix converter, Coupled inductor, converter (AC-DC CSC) as shown in Fig. 1(b). Each circuit
DC-AC converter, AC-DC converter, Current source inverter has the RB-IGBTs to circulate the inductor current. These RB-
IGBTs are called freewheeling switch in this paper. The DC-
I. INTRODUCTION AC CSI and the AC-DC CSC in Fig. 1 share the same inductor
winding. Therefore, the direction of the winding current must
The matrix converter is a power conversion topology,
be reversed first in order to reverse the direction of power flow.
directly connecting the input and output with bidirectional Thus, in this circuit it is impossible to reverse the direction of
switches to convert the power in both directions [1-3]. Since it
power flow instantaneously during operation. This circuit is not
does not involve an intermediate DC voltage link and the
suitable for such applications to reverse the power flow, as in
associated large capacitive filter, the matrix converter has
the case of switching between acceleration and deceleration of
higher power density compared to other bidirectional
motor.
converters. The matrix converter realizes high efficiency by
using reverse blocking device for bi-directional switch. As a This paper proposes new circuit using the conversion
result of extensive R&D efforts in recent years [4-6], actual operation of current source inverter and the modified matrix
products using reverse blocking IGBTs (RB-IGBTs) have
already been commercialized [7]. Research works on new
topologies adopting the technology of the matrix converter
have also been actively conducted. A number of variations of
the matrix converter circuit including three-phase/single-phase
and DC/AC conversion types have been reported [8,9].
Authors have previously proposed the bidirectional DC-AC
converter with an inductor employing the matrix converter
technique [10]. It aimed to take advantages of the matrix (a) Basic Circuit
converter as; 1) high reliability and long life due to absence of
bulky electric capacitors, 2) bidirectional power flow
characteristic due to bidirectional switches, and 3) reduced
current harmonics due to operation as current source inverter. It
also provides the step-up or step-down operation in each
direction according to the condition of the voltages. Transition
between the step-up and step-down operations can be
seamlessly performed. In addition, the number of devices
connected in series in the current path is less than that in the
(b) Functional Blocks
conventional circuit employing the combination of a step- Fig. 1. Buck-Boost Matrix Converter Circuit.
up/down chopper and a single-phase voltage source inverter.

978-1-4244- 9373-9/12/$26.00 ©2012 IEEE

converter circuit with the coupled inductor. It has the
bidirectional power conversion ability, providing step-up and
step-down operation in each direction as well as the previously
proposed circuit. It can switch the direction of the power flow
instantaneously. Therefore it is suitable for the motor drive.
The following chapters describe the principle of operation, the
simulation results and the test results of the proposed circuit.
II. PROPOSED CIRCUIT AND OPERATION
The proposed circuit is shown in Fig. 2. It is supposed to be
used for bidirectional power conversion between the three-
phase AC load and DC power source. The proposed circuit is
composed of the DC-AC CSI circuit and the AC-DC CSC
circuit. The AC side terminals of the DC-AC CSI and the AC-
DC CSC are connected in parallel. The negative terminal of the
DC-AC CSI, where the dc bus current flows in, is connected to
winding A1-B1, and the positive terminal, where the dc bus
current flows out, is connected to the negative bus of DC
power source. The positive terminal of the AC-DC CSC is
connected to winding A2-B2, and the negative terminal is
connected to the positive bus of DC power source. The number
of turns of windings A1-B1 and A2-B2 are the same. These
windings are tightly coupled in the polarity shown by dots in
Fig. 2. Since the DC-AC CSI and the AC-DC CSC work as the
current source converter, capacitors are connected to AC and
DC terminals to filter the current ripple.
The DC-AC CSI executes conversion operation of
powering the motor, whereas the AC-DC CSC executes
conversion operation of regenerating. The proposed circuit, on
the other hand, uses a coupled inductor with separate windings
for the DC-AC CSI and the AC-DC CSC. The inductor current
flows through only the winding connected to the closed current
path [11]. One salient feature of the proposed circuit is that the
polarities of the windings are selected so that the current
viewed from DC power source in one winding is opposite to
that in the other winding. Thus, it is possible to easily reverse
the direction of power flow by switching the appropriate RB-
IGBTs connected to the windings on and off. Therefore, the
proposal circuit is suitable for the motor drive, where
instantaneous switching between powering and regenerating of
the power flow.
Details of the bidirectional step-up and step-down operation
of the proposed circuit are explained as follows. There are four
operating modes according to the direction of power flow
Fig. 2.
Main Circuit Structure. Fig. 3. Step-Down Operation from DC to AC.
(powering and regenerating) and voltage control (Step-Up and
Step-Down).
Mode I. Step-Up operation of the powering
Mode II. Step-Down operation of the powering
Mode III. Step-Up operation of the regenerating
Mode IV. Step-Down operation of the regenerating
Mode I and IV are performed by The DC-AC CSI and The
AC-DC CSC respectively. On the other hand, Mode II and III
can be performed by combination of The DC-AC CSI and The
AC-DC CSC.
In the following figures, RB-IGBT is illustrated by the
series connection of diode and switch. The step-down
operation of the Mode II is performed by switching the two
sequences as shown in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b), when the current
flows only between U and W on the AC side.
In Fig. 3(a), the current flows through DC power source,
the inductor winding A1-B1 and the motor.
In Fig. 3(b), the current flows through the inductor winding
A1-B1 and the motor.
The ratio of input voltage and output voltage is adjusted by
controlling the time ratio of Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b).
The step-up operation of the Mode III is performed by
switching the two-sequences as shown in Fig. 4(a) and Fig.
4(b), when the current flows only between U and W on the AC
side.
In Fig. 4(a), the current flows through the inductor winding
A2-B2 and the motor.
In Fig. 4(b), the current flows through DC power source,
the inductor winding A2-B2 and the motor.
(a) Sequence 2.1
(b) Sequence 2.2
 value of λc is used in the delta-sigma modulator as shown in
Fig. 5.
When the voltage reference λc is positive (Qp is 1), positive
current flows from DC power source. At this time, proposed
circuit executes powering operation (Mode I and II). When λc
is negative (Qp is zero), negative current flows from DC power
source. At this time, proposed circuit executes regenerating
operation (Mode III and IV). When Qo is 1, DC power source
supplies current as shown in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 4(b). When Qo
(a) Sequence 3.1 is zero, DC power source does not supply current as shown in
Fig. 3(b) and Fig. 4(a).
The clock of the delta-sigma modulator uses the signal that
synchronizes with the carrier signal as shown in Fig. 6. The
state of the delta-sigma modulator is changed while the two
switches of the same phase turn on (while Zero Current Vector
is outputted). Comparing the current references with carrier
signal generates the pulses S1-S6 of AC side PWM.
The gate signals of a proposed circuit are shown by the
following equations.
(b) Sequence 3.2
Fig. 4. Step-Up Operation from AC to DC.
The ratio of input voltage and output voltage is adjusted by "
controlling the time ratio of Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b). S1i=S1⋅ Qp
$
S3i=S3⋅ Qp $
III. MODULATION METHOD OF THE PROPOSED CIRCUIT S5i=S5⋅ Qp $$
The proposed circuit generates AC side PWM Pulses by # (2)
S4i=S4⋅ (Qp ⋅ Qo+Qp ⋅ Qo) $
comparing the output current references and the carrier signal
[12]. The output current references are shown in Equation 1. S6i=S6⋅ (Qp ⋅ Qo+Qp ⋅ Qo) $
$
S2i=S2⋅ (Qp ⋅ Qo+Qp ⋅ Qo) %$
#
iuw * = 1 iu *-iw *
3
( ) 3 ( ) %%
= 2 ⋅ I ⋅ cos θ − π
6 When the values of Qp and Qo are 1, S1i to S6i mainly
% operates. When the values of Qp and Qo are zero S2i, S4i and
2 ⋅ I ⋅ cos θ − 5π %$
ivu * = 1 iv *-iu *
3
( ) =
3 ( 6) % (1) S6i operate as freewheeling switches.
%
iwv * = 1 iw *-iv *
3
( ) =
3 ( 2 ) %&
2 ⋅ I ⋅ cos θ − 3π %

The proposed circuit uses the delta-sigma modulation to

make the pulse signal of DC power source side. Fig. 5 shows
the first-order delta-sigma modulator to be used [13].
Signal λc is the output of the current controller, which
works as the voltage reference to the delta-sigma modulator. It
is a normalized value, ranging between -1 and 1. The absolute

Fig. 5. First-Order Delta-Sigma Modulator and Comparator. Fig. 6. Clock and AC side PWM pulse.
 " Table 1. Simulation Parameters.
S1c=S1⋅ Qp
$ DC power source Voltage 100V
S3c=S3⋅ Qp $ Inductance of coupled inductor 1.2mH
$
S5c=S5⋅ Qp $ Coupling coefficient of coupled inductor 0.99
# (3)
S4c=S4⋅ (Qp ⋅ Qo+Qp ⋅ Qo) $ Capacitance of Output filter 24μF
$ Carrier Frequency 10kHz
S6c=S6⋅ (Qp ⋅ Qo+Qp ⋅ Qo) $
S2c=S2⋅ (Qp ⋅ Qo+Qp ⋅ Qo) $% operation and step-up operation from the 100V DC of power
source. Also, it shows that when the motor operates at the
acceleration, the current flows into winding A1-B1, and the
When the value of Qp is zero and Qo is 1, S1c to S6c proposed circuit operates in the powering mode. When the
mainly operates. When the value of Qp is 1 and Qo is zero S2c, motor speed is constant, the inductor current shifts between
S4c and S6c operate as freewheeling switches. windings A1-B1 and A2-B2, the average output power
becomes the same as friction loss. When the motor starts
decelerating, the current flows through winding A2-B2 only,
IV. SIMULATION RESULTS
operating in the regenerating mode. When the motor goes
The circuit shown in Fig. 7 was programed on the across the zero-speed, it resumes acceleration in reverse
simulation software Simplorer. In the simulation control block, direction, and the current is returned to winding A1-B1
as shown in Fig. 8, motor speed and winding current idc1+idc2 operating in the powering mode.
of a coupled inductor are controlled. The current reference
id_ref is constant. The current reference iq_ref is obtained by
using Speed Controller (P controller). The voltage reference λc
is obtained by using Current Controller (PI controller). The
phase of the output current reference compensates with the
value of id_ref and iq_ref. The amplitude of iuw*, ivw*, iwv* is
a fixed value and is the same as that of the carrier. In addition,
the third harmonic of the output frequency is added to the
modulation signals in comparison with the carrier signal. As a
result, Zero Current Vectors are more uniformly distributed
throughout the output cycle. Therefore, generating of a very (a) Motor Speed [min-1]
narrow pulse can be prevented.
Simulation conditions are shown in Table 1. The simulation
results at four-quadrant operation of a 200V, four poles, and
3.7kW induction motor without load is shown in Fig. 9. When
the acceleration and deceleration of the induction motor are
carried out in the range of ±1,500min-1, the output voltage
between terminals U and W changes from zero to about ±300V.
It proves that the proposed circuit works in the step-down
(b) Output Voltage [V]

(c) Output Current [A]

Fig. 7. Simulation Circuit.
idc1 (A1-B1)

idc2 (A2-B2)

(d) Inductor Current [A]

Fig. 8. Simulation Control Block. Fig. 9. Simulation Results.
 Fig. 10. Block Diagram of Experimental Circuit.
V. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
The experimental circuit configuration is shown in Fig. 10.
The proposed circuit combined two set of Matrix Converter.
The DC-AC CSI and the AC-DC CSC were created with the
Matrix Converter where one current direction of the
bidirectional switches are disabled. Four coupled inductors are
connected in series as DCL. The prototype coupled inductor
uses bifilar winding as shown in Fig. 11. The inductance value
is 0.3mH and coupling coefficient exceeds 0.99.
Inductor current idc1 + idc2 was measured with one DCCT.
It had two voltage detectors that monitor output ac voltages
Vuw and Vvu. The controller assembled by DSP
TMS320F2808 and FPGA EP3C40Q240C8N. The PWM
pulses S1-S6, the delta-sigma pulse Qo and Qp signal were
generated by DSP. The signals from DSP were processed in the
logical operations, the PWM pulses S1c-S6c and S1i-S6i were
generated by FPGA. A 200 V, four poles, 3.7kW induction
motor without load was used and other conditions were the
same as Table 1.
Fig. 11. Prototype Coupled Inductor with Bifilar Winding.
In the experiment control block, as shown in Fig. 12, output
voltages and winding current idc1+idc2 of a coupled inductor
are controlled. Since the induction motor used in the
experiment does not have the speed sensor, control block
regulates the output voltages. The current reference idc_ref is
obtained by using Voltage Controller (PI controller). The
voltage reference λc is obtained by using Current Controller (PI
controller).
Waveforms of acceleration at the time of start are shown in
Fig. 13(a) and waveforms of deceleration and acceleration are
shown in Fig. 13(b). The output voltage between terminals U
and W changes from a value lower than DC voltage to a high
value during acceleration, and during deceleration, proving the
capability of its step-up and step-down operation. At the time
of a deceleration, DC current shifts to the winding A2-B2 and
it is regenerating to DC power source. When the deceleration
finishes and the acceleration starts, DC current shifts to the
winding A1-B1 and the operation of powering starts.
The expanded waveforms at the time of DC current shifting
are shown in Fig. 14. Since the coupling coefficient is very
high, DC current can shift instantaneously between windings
A1-B1 and A2-B2 and the direction of power flow can also
change instantaneously.
Fig. 12. Experiment Control Block.
 VI. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper, New DC-AC Current Source Inverter Using
Coupled Inductor was proposed, and operation of the proposed
DC Voltage 100V/div
circuit was explained. The simulation of four-quadrant
operation with an induction motor under no load condition was
performed. It was confirmed through the simulation and the
experiment that the proposed circuit performs bidirectional
Output Voltage 100V/div step-up and step-down conversion, and that performs the
direction of electric energy flow can be changed
instantaneously. The proposed circuit is suitable for motor
drive from the results.
idc1 (A1-B1) 10A/div

idc2 (A2-B2) 10A/div

400ms/div
REFERENCES
[1] M. Venturini : “A new sine wave in sine wave out conversion
technique which eliminates reactive elements”, Powercon 7, pp.E3-1-
(a) Acceleration (0 to 1,500min-1) E3-15, 1980
[2] L. Huber and D. Borojevic : “Space vector modulated three-phase to
DC Voltage 100V/div three-phase matrix converter with input power factor correction”,
IEEE Trans. Ind Applicat., vol. IA-31, No.6, pp.1234-1246, Nov. 1995
[3] Oyama, Xia, Higuchi, Yamada : “Displacement angle control for
matrix converter”, PESC1997, pp.1033-1039
[4] Ishii, Yamamoto, Hara, Watanabe, Hava, Xia : “A vector controlled
high performance matrix converter - induction motor drive”,IPEC-
Tokyo2000 , pp.235- 240
Output Voltage 100V/div
[5] Kang, Hara, Yamamoto, Watanabe, Hava, Kume : “The matrix
converter drive performance under abnormal input voltage
conditions”, PESC2001, pp.1089-1095 vol.2
[6] Kang, Hara, Yamamoto, Watanabe: “Analysis and evaluation of Bi-
idc1 (A1-B1) 10A/div Directional power switch losses for matrix converter drive”, IAS2002,
pp.438-443 vol.1
400ms/div idc2 (A2-B2) 10A/div
[7] Yamamoto, Hara, Uchino, Kawaji, Kume, Kang, Kurg: “Development
of MCs and Its Applications in Industry”, Industrial Electronics
Magazine, IEEE, March 2011, pp.4-12 vol.5
(b) Deceleration and Acceleration [8] Saitou : “A three-to single-phase matrix converter with a power
(1,500min-1 to -1,500min-1) decoupling reactor”, JIAS2008, 1-O5-4
Fig. 13. Experimental Results. [9] Takahashi, Hisamachi, Haga, : “High power factor control for
current-source type single-phase to three-phase matrix converter”,
ECCE2009, pp.3071-3076
[10] Ishii, Hara, Higuchi, Kawachi, Yamanaka, Koga, Kume, Kang :
“Bidirectional DC-AC Conversion Topology Using Matrix Converter
Technique”, IPEC2010, 24B2-1
Output Voltage 100V/div [11] Chin, Kurosawa : “The Coupled Reactor Commutating Method and
Controlled Current Type Inverter” T.IEEJapan, Vol.96-B, No.8
pp.391-398, 1976
DC Voltage 100V/div
[12] Takeshita, Toyama, Matsui : “PWM Scheme for Current Source
Three-Phase Inverters and Converters”, T.IEEJapan, Vol.116-D,
No.1 pp.106-107, 1996
[13] Hirota, Saha, Sang-Pil, Nakaoka : “An Advanced Simple
Configuration Delta-Sigma Modulation Three-Phase Inverter
idc1 (A1-B1) 10A/div
Implementing Space Voltage Vector Approach”, PESC2007, pp.453-
457

idc2 (A2-B2) 10A/div 10.0µs/div

Fig. 14. Expanded Waveforms.