Solid-state power conversion - A Fourier analysis approach to generalized transformer synthesis

Consideration is given to the design and Fourier analysis of a family of solid-state power converters which synthesize the assigned slow-varying waveforms by means of high-frequency switching, thereby requiring a minimum of reactive elements. The basic structure of this type of power converter is analyzed in terms of a switching matrix model of the electronic switches, and a general waveform synthesis technique is presented which makes little use of reactive elements. A general condition is presented for the applicability of this type of conversion in a given situation, and a method is proposed which allows a straight-forward design of a converter if the condition is met. A general model is introduced in which the converter is represented as a two-port multipole time-varying linear circuit element consisting of a matrix of linear modulators. Finally, an example is presented of the design of an ac-ac converter capable of sinusoidal waveform, frequency, amplitude, phase and power factor conversion, which can be regarded as a generalized transformer.