Durga Babu Kokkeragadda, Amar Kiran / International Journal of Engineering Research and

Applications (IJERA)
ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1041-1050

Simulation Model of a new Single-phase toSingle-phase

Cycloconverter based on Single-phaseMatnx Converter Topology
with Sinusoidal PulseWidth Modulation
DURGA BABU KOKKERAGADDA M.Tech, AMAR KIRAN M.Tech
(Department of Electrical Engineering, GIET, JNTUK, Rajahmundry, A .P, INDIA )

ABSTRACT
In this project, single phase to single phase
Cyclo converter and three phase six step Cyclo
converter using different frequency conversions
implementation is simplified by the use of the well
known SPWM technique with R, RL- Load. This
thesis presents work on modeling and simulation
Cyclo converter using MATLAB / Simulink
incorporating Sim Power system Single-phase and
Three-phase Block. Matrix converter is very
simple in structure and has powerful
controllability. However, commutation problem
and complicated PWM method keep it from being
utilized in industry. The problem of commutation
in SPMC occurs when inductive load is used. A
systematic switching sequence is required that
lengthens the dead time between conduction of
each IGBT's in SPMC to protect it from
malfunction and damaged as a result of existence
of voltage and current spike due to short circuit.
Keywords - Power Electronics, Single-Phase Matrix
Converter (SPMC), Cyclo converter, Sinusoidal
Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM), MATLab
Simulation & Computer Modelling.

I. INTRODUCTION
The introduction of power transistors for
implementing the bidirectional switches made the
matrix converter topology more attractive. However,
the real development of matrix converters starts with
the work of Venturini and Alesina published in 1980.
They presented the power circuit of the converter as a
matrix of bidirectional power switches and they
introduced the name Matrix Converter. In this
project, common emitter anti-parallel interconnected
IGBTs-diode pair is used as the bidirectional switch.
Diodes are in place to provide reverse blocking
capability to the switch module. The IGBTs were
used due its high switching capabilities and high
current carrying capacities. To give the triggering
pulses to the bidirectional switch there are various
control methods. By using these control methods we
can control of output voltage of Cyclo converters.
PWM Techniques are the efficient control methods as
it contains no peripheral devices. In this project, a
well know Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation
Technique (SPWM) is used for controlling the gate

pulses that are given to the switches. In the SPWM

control, a sinusoidal reference signal is compared with
the high frequency triangular signal to generate the
gate pulses and a controlled A.C. output voltage is
obtained by adjusting the pulse width by varying the
modulation index.
As Cyclo converter is a power frequency changer, the
most desirable features in power frequency changers
are
1) Simple and compact power circuit;
2) Generation of load voltage with arbitrary
amplitude and frequency;
3) Sinusoidal input and output currents;
4) Operation with unity power factor for any
load;
5) Regeneration capability.
Moreover, these characteristics are not
fulfilled by the conventional frequency changers. This
is the reason for the tremendous interest in matrix
converter topology as the ideal features can be
fulfilled. The matrix converter (MC) offers possible
"all silicon" solution for AC-AC conversion removing
the need for reactive energy storage components used
in conventional rectifier-inverter based system.
Gyugyi first described the topology in 1976.
Obviously all published studies dealt with mainly the
three-phase circuit topologies. The Single-phase
matrix converter variant on the same philosophy
denoted as SPMC was first realised by Zuckerberger.

II. CYCLO CONVERTER

In Industrial applications, two forms of
electrical energy are used: direct current (DC) and
alternating current (AC). Usually constant voltage
constant frequency single -phase or three-phase ac is
readily available. However, for different applications,
different forms, magnitudes and/or frequencies are
required. There are four different conversions
between DC and AC power sources. These
conversions are done by circuits called power
converters. The converters are classified as

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Durga Babu Kokkeragadda, Amar Kiran / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA)
ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1041-1050
1.

Rectifiers: from Single-phase or Threephase AC to variable voltage DC

2.
3.

Choppers: from DC to variable voltage DC

Inverters: from DC to variable magnitude
and variable frequency, single-phase or
three phase AC
Cyclo converter: from Single-phase or
Three-phase AC to variable magnitude and
variable frequency, single-phase or threephase AC

4.

This chapter explains about the Cyclo converter, their

types, step-up and step-down operation and their
applications. Traditionally, the AC-AC converters
using semiconductor switches are commonly
classified into indirect converter which utilizes a DC
link between the two AC systems and direct converter
that provides direct conversion. Indirect converter
consists of two converter stages and energy storage
element, which convert input AC to DC and then
reconverting DC back to output ac with variable
amplitude and frequency as shown in Fig. 1(a). In
direct converter there is no need of DC link as shown
in Fig 1(b)

Fig 1: AC/AC converter (a) Indirect converter (b)

Direct converter
Cyclo converters are the direct type
converters used in high power applications driving
induction and synchronous motors. They are usually
phase-controlled and they traditionally use thyristors
due to their ease of phase commutation. The basic
block diagram of Cyclo converter is shown in Fig 2.

A Cyclo converter is a type of power

controller in which an alternating voltage at supply
frequency is converted directly to an alternating
voltage at load frequency without any intermediate
DC stage. In a line commutated Cyclo converter, the
supply frequency is greater than the load frequency.
The operating principles were developed in the 1930s
when the grid controlled mercury arc rectifier became
available. The techniques were applied in Germany,
where the three phase 50 Hz supply was converted to
a single phase AC supply at 16 Hz for railway
traction. In the United States, a 400 HP scheme in
which a synchronous motor was supplied from a
Cyclo converter comprising 18 thyratrons was in
operation for several years as a power station
auxiliary drive. However, because these early
schemes were not sufficiently attractive technically or
economically, they were discontinued. A Cyclo
converter is controlled through the timings of its firing
pulses, so that it produces an alternating output
voltage. By controlling the frequency and depth of
phase modulation of the firing angles of the
converters, it is possible to control the frequency and
amplitude of the output voltage. Thus, a Cyclo
converter has the facility for continuous and
independent control over both its output frequency
and voltage. This frequency is normally less than 1/3
of the input frequency. The quality of the output
voltage wave and its harmonic distortion also impose
the restriction on this frequency. The distortion is very
low at low output frequencies. The Cyclo converters
are normally used to provide either a variable
frequency from a fixed input frequency or a fixed
frequency from a variable input frequency.
A Cyclo converter can handle load of any power
factor and allows power flow in both the directions.
The output voltage wave shape inevitably contains
harmonic distortion components in addition to the
required sinusoidal component. These distortion terms
are produced as a necessary outcome of the basic
mechanism of the Cyclo converter, whereby the
output voltage is fabricated from segments of the
input voltage waves. These distortions can be
minimized by adequate filters at the output. The
distortion of the output voltage increases if the ratio of
the output and input frequency increases.

III. SINGLE-PHASE MATRIX CONVERTAER

The Single-Phase Matrix Converter (SPMC)
consists of a matrix of input and output lines with four
bi-directional switches connecting the single-phase
input to the single-phase output at the intersection.
The SPMC is presented schematically in Fig 3. Its
instantaneous input voltage vi(t) and its output voltage
vo(t). It comprises of four ideal switches S1, S2, S3,
and S4 capable of blocking forward and reverse
Fig 2: Block diagram of Cycloconverter

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Durga Babu Kokkeragadda, Amar Kiran / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA)
ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1041-1050
voltages (symmetrical devices)
between states without any delays.

and

vi(t) where S1 and S2 are in on state

switching
mode 1
Vo(t) =

-vi(t) where S2 and S3 are in on state

mode 2
. (3)
where (S1 & S2) or (S2 & S3) are in on state mode
3

Fig 3: Single-phase matrix

configuration a) at no load

converter

circuit

SPMC operating at no-load: With the SB open the

SPMC is unloaded as shown in Fig 4.2(a). This
topology converts the input voltage vi(t), with
constant amplitude and frequency, through the four
ideal switches to the output terminals in accordance
with pre-calculated switching angles. The input
voltage of the matrix converter presented in Fig 4.2 is
given by

The additional states (S1 &S2 on)

and (S2 &S3- on) are forbidden states (they create a
short circuit of the mains). The instantaneous value of
the output voltage, vo(t), has the following
characteristics:
1. Its maximum value is identical to the
maximum value of the input voltage.
2. It contains fundamental and additional
high order harmonics located at well
defined sampled frequencies.
3. Its main harmonic has a stepped-up
frequency and a stepped down
amplitude.
The SPMC may operate
1.

(b)
Fig 3: Single-phase matrix converter circuit
configuration b) at load

Vi(t) 2Vi (t ) cos it

. (1)

In modes 1 and 2 (operation without

load shorting)
2. In modes 1, 2 and 3 (operation with
load shorting)
In this project, we will see the operation without load
shorting i.e. (modes 1 and 2).The four power
switching devices are switched at high frequency, fs
(fs >>fi and fo where fi = i / 2 and fo = o /2).
The normalized switching time (or duty cycles of
every switch) during any switching cycle (Ts = 1/fs),
is defined by

the time interval when the circuit

The matrix converter will be

designed and controlled in such a manner that the
fundamental of the output voltage is

Vo(t) 2Vo (t ) cos ot

. (2)

The problem at hand may be

defined as follows: with input voltage from equation
3.1, the matrix converter switching angles will be
calculated so that the fundamental of the output
voltage will be given in equation 3.2, keeping with the
degrees of freedom specified by

is in mode j, during the kth cycle

j

Ts
Ts
k

.(4)
Where j = 1, 2 is the operation mode, k= 1, 2 n is
the cycle number.
It is obvious that
2

j Ts
j1

or

m1 m2 1
k

. (5)

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Durga Babu Kokkeragadda, Amar Kiran / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA)
ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1041-1050
As a result of high frequency of the
converter, the average output voltage during any kth
switching cycle Ts is given by

V o, av m1 m2 vi (t )
k

. (6)

Where vi(t) is the input voltage

during the Kth cycle and is practically constant.
Keeping with equation 6 one can write that the
fundamental of output voltage is given by

Vo cos (ot) m1 m2 Vi cos (it) . (7)

Fig 3 shown below interprets equations 4-7. It
presents the input voltage (fig.3(a)), the instantaneous
output voltage(fig.3(b)),the desired fundamental of
the output voltage (Fig.3(c)) and the averaged output
voltage (Fig.3(d)) during one input switching cycle
(1ms @ fs = 1KHz);
From the Fig 3, it can be seen that. The input voltage
is almost constant within one switching cycle (fi <<
fs)
1.

2.
3.

During the nth switching cycle Ts, the

instantaneous output voltage oscillates
between two values +vi^n(to) and vi^n(to) (
with nTs < to <= (n+1)Ts)
The averaged output voltage follows the
required voltage given in equation 3.2
When m1~m2 with Ts the fundamental of
output voltage approaches to zero

. (8)
It is obvious that

0 mj 1

. (9)

From equations 3.8 and 3.9 is evident that

Vo cos (o t)
1
Vi cos (o t )

.(10)

Equation 3.10 must exist for any time, t, and this

imply that when cos (i(t)) vanishes (this function =>
0) also cos (o(t)) must vanish (=> 0). Therefore,
input and the output waveforms must be synchronized
and the fundamental of output voltage must cross zero
more frequently than the input voltage. Hence, the
single-phase matrix converter is a frequency step-up
circuit capable of converting an input waveform with
an angular frequency given by
. (11)
Where r = 1, 2, 3
When cos (i(t)) = 0, the m1 and
m2 are calculated in accordance with equation 3.8 and
L Hospital rule. The result is

(12)
Fig 4: Input, Output, required output and averaged
output wave forms
From equations 3.5 and 3.7, we obtain

Keeping with equation 3.12 we obtain

Vo

Vi

. (13)

The above equation means that single-phase matrix

converter is stepping down the output voltage
fundamental. Based on the equations 3.8-3.13, one

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Durga Babu Kokkeragadda, Amar Kiran / International Journal of Engineering Research and
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ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1041-1050
can conclude that the switching pattern, the ms might
be calculated. The four switching power devices S1,
S2, S3, and S4 will be controlled according to the
switching pattern. The above discussed matrix
converter topics can be summarizes as
1.

2.

3.
4.

The matrix converter will be controlled

according to a switching pattern and the
purpose is to obtain an output main
harmonics as per equation 3.2.
Its input, vi(t) is a sinusoidal waveform and
its output, vo(t) comprises a number of high
order harmonics.
Both waveforms have identical maximum
values and total RMS values.
The matrix converter is a frequency step-up
and
fundamental
voltage
step-down
converter. Up to this point the SPMC is
unloaded.

SPMC operating with passive load: When the SB is

closed, the SPMC supplies current to its load. The
relation between the output voltage and the output
current for the passive, R, L load is

Vo(t ) Rio(t) L

dio(t)
dt

. (14)

Considering Fig 4.2 and the operation modes of this

topology, the input current, i(t), is given by

Fig 5: Schematic
configuration

diagram

of

SPMC

circuit

The SPMC circuit as shown in Fig 4.1 uses four

bi-directional switches for the Cyclo converter
implementation. It requires the use of bi-directional
switches capable of blocking voltage and conducting
current in both directions. Unfortunately there is no
discrete semiconductor device. Currently that could
be fulfilling the needs and hence the use of commonemitter anti-parallel IGBT, diode pair as shown in Fig
4.2. Diodes are in place to provide reverse blocking
capability to the switching module. The IGBT were
used due to its high switching capabilities and high
current carrying capabilities desirable amongst
researchers for high power applications.

(15)
Where mode 1 and mode 2 were defined in above
section.
Keeping in mind that the load of the converter is
almost always a low pass filter (R, L load) the output
current waveform contains less high order harmonics
than the output voltage.

IV. WORKING
OF
CYCLOCONVERTER

SPMC

AS

We know that the Single-phase matrix

converter consists of forced commutated bidirectional
switches. By controlling these bi-directional switches
Cycloconverter operation is done. The schematic view
of the SPMC circuit configuration for the
Cycloconverter operation is given the Fig 3.1

Fig 6: Schematic view of Bi-directional switch

(common -emitter)
SWITCHING STRATEGY FOR STEP-DOWN
CYCLOCONVERTER: The implementation of the
SPMC as a Cycloconverter requires different bidirectional switching arrangements depending on the
desired output frequency. The output voltage of the
converter is controlled by Sinusoidal Pulse Width
Modulation (SPWM), but the frequency of the
converter is changed by controlling the duration of
operation of the switch. In this project the input

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Durga Babu Kokkeragadda, Amar Kiran / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA)
ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1041-1050
frequency used is set at 50Hz and the desired output
frequency synthesized at the 25 and 12 Hz for step
down Cycloconverter as shown in Fig 6. The SPWM
helps to give the gate triggering pulses in sequence as
required to the get the desired frequency at the output
voltage.

Fig 7: Wave forms of a) I/P at 50 HZ

HZ c) O/P at 12 HZ

b) O/P at 25

a) State 1(positive cycle) b) State 2(negative cycle)

During the positive half-cycle of the input voltage,

the switches S1a, S2b, S3b and S4a are forward
biased and during the negative half cycle of the input
voltage, the switches S1b, S2a, S3a and S4b are
forward biased. To get the positive half-cycle at the
load, the switches S1a and S4a are triggered during
the positive half-half cycle of the input and are shown
in Fig 8(a). And to get the negative half-cycle at the
load the switches S2b and S3b are triggered and are
shown in Fig 8(c).More over during negative half
cycle of the input voltage, switches S4b and S1b are
triggered to get the negative half-cycle at the load and
are shown in Fig 8(b). To get the positive half-cycle at
the load switches S3a and S2a are triggered and are
shown in Fig 8(d).
Table 1 shows the different states of switching in
sequence to get the desired frequency of the output
voltage. The switching sequences are dependent on
the time interval and the state of the driver circuit
following table 1 as shown below (for one cycle).

c) State 3(positive cycle) d) State 4(negative cycle)

Fig 8: Different states for the operation of the
Cycloconverter

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Durga Babu Kokkeragadda, Amar Kiran / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA)
ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1041-1050
The switching angles, of the four bi-directional
switches Sij (i = 1, 2, 3, 4 and j = a, b) where a and
b represent as driver one and driver two respectively
will be considered by the following rules below.

At any time t, only two switches Sij(i= 1, 4

and j =a) will be in ON state and conduct
the current flow during positive cycle of
input source.(state 1)

At any time t, only two switches Sij(i= 1, 4

and j = b) will be in ON state and conduct
the current flow during negative cycle of
input source.(state 2)

At any time t, only two switches Sij(i= 2, 3

and j = b) will be in ON state and conduct
the current flow during positive cycle of
input source.(state 3)

1.

The output voltage control can be obtained

without any additional components.
2. The output voltage is controlled by varying
the modulation index instead of varying the
amplitude of the carrier signal.
With this type of control, lower order harmonics can
be eliminated or minimized along with its output
voltage control. The filtering requirements are
minimized as higher order harmonics can be filtered
easily.
V. MAIN MODEL
Basic schematic view of the single-phase
matrix converter configuration working as
Cycloconverter is seen in Fig. The MLS
implementation of the SPMC configuration is as
shown below Fig 9.

At any time t, only two switches Sij(i= 2, 3

and j =a) will be in ON state and conduct
the current flow during negative cycle of
input source.(state 4)

Fig 9: Top level main model of SPMC in MLS

Switches used are the bi-directional switches
used to block the voltage and conduct the current in
both directions. The Matlab design of the bidirectional is shown as shown in Fig 10.
Table 1: Switching
Cycloconverter

Sequence

of

step

down

PULSE WIDTH MODULATION CONTROL: The

most efficient method of controlling the output
voltage is to incorporate pulse width modulation
control (PWM control). In this method, a fixed AC
input voltage is supplied to the Cycloconverter and a
controlled AC output voltage is obtained by adjusting
the on and off periods of the gate pulses. There are
many possible PWM Techniques proposed in the
literature. The choice of a particular PWM Technique
depends on the permissible harmonic content in the
inverter output voltage, machine type, power level
and semiconductor switching devices employed for a
particular application The PWM control has the
following advantages.

Fig 10: Bi-directional switch module in MLS

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Durga Babu Kokkeragadda, Amar Kiran / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA)
ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1041-1050
DRIVER CIRCUIT MODEL: Driver circuits were
designed to generate the SPWM pattern that is
controlled using the switching states as in tables 1.
The driver circuit algorithm are designed by using
MLS is shown in Fig, comprising SPWM generator
portion and state portion. A two sine wave blocks
are used to generate two sinusoidal references signal
Vref1 and Vref2. Output from the sine wave
block is multiplied using a multiply block with the
output from the constant block that represents the
modulation index, thus magnitude could be varying
changing this constant value. The repeating
sequence block is used to generate the triangular
carrier signal Vc. To produce the SPWM the
relational operation block are used as a comparator
that triggers an output switching function between 0
and 1 that represents the PWM train.

O/P voltage wave form of 25Hz of modulation

index of 0.7

O/P voltage wave form of 50HZ of Modulation Index

0.7

SIMULATION RESULTS OF R LOAD

O/P voltage wave form of 50HZ of Modulation Index

1.0

O/P voltage wave form of 12Hz of modulation

index of 0.7

Voltage(V)

50

-50

0.01

0.02

0.03
0.04
0.05
TIme(secs)

0.06

0.07

O/P Voltage wave form of 100 HZ of modulation

index 1

O/P voltage wave form of 12Hz of modulation

index of 1.0

O/P Voltage waveform of 150 Hz of modulation

index 0.7

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0.08

Durga Babu Kokkeragadda, Amar Kiran / International Journal of Engineering Research and
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Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1041-1050
SIMULATION RESULTS OF R-L LOAD

O/P Voltage waveform of 12 Hz of modulation

index 0.7

O/P Current waveform of 12 Hz of modulation

index 0.7

O/P Current waveform of 100 Hz of modulation index

0.7

O/P Voltage waveform of 150 Hz of modulation

index 0.7

O/P Current waveform of 25 Hz of modulation index

0.7
50

Voltage(V)

O/P Current waveform of 150 Hz of modulation index

0.7
PARAMETERERS FOR SIMULATION

-50

0.01

0.02

0.03
0.04
0.05
Time(secs)

0.06

0.07

0.08

O/P Voltage waveform of 100 Hz of modulation

index 0.7

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2)

3)

4)

Table2 Parameters
5)

VI. CONCLUSION
In this project, the computer simulation
model on SPMC for Cycloconverter operation using
MATLAB/Simulink (MLS) software package has
been presented.

It includes the implementation of SPWM to

synthesize the AC output supply for a given
AC input. Matrix converter has many
advantages like simple and compact circuit.

Operation at unity power factor.

Regeneration capabilities.

Simulation results of SPMC illustrates that it

is feasible to realise the converter in the
various basic AC-AC converters that
includes; AC controller, Step-up and Stepdown frequency changer.

A safe commutation technique is

implemented to avoid current spikes by
allowing the dead time.

Matrix converter technology has potential

benefits especially for applications where
size, weight, and long term reliability are the
important factors.

Having these advantages, MC has very

limited applications due to non-availability
of full controlled bi-directional switch,
complex control system.

6)

7)

8)

9)

Electric Power App, Vol.144(4), Jul 1997 pp

235-240.
Firdaus, S., Hamzah, M.K," Modelling and
simulation of a single-phase AC-AC matrix
converter using SPWM," Research and
Development, 2002. SCOReD2002. Student
Conference on 16-17 July 2002, pp. 286-289
Wheeler, P.W., Clare, J.C., Empringham, L.,
Bland, M., Kerris, K.G., REE7ERENcEs
"Matrix converters," IEEE Industry Applications
Magazine, Vol. 10 (1), Jan-Feb2004, pp. 59-65
Wheeler, P.W., Rodriguez, J., Clare, J.C.,
Empringham, L., Weinstein, A.,
"Matrix
converters: a technology review," ,IEEE
Transactions on Industrial Electronics, Vol. 49
(2), April 2002, PP. 276-288
M.D. Singh, K.B. Khanchandani written Power
Electronics
B. R. Pelly, Thyristor Phase-Controlled
Converters and Cycloconverters, Wiley, New
York, 1971
Zahirruddin Idris, siti Zaliha mahammud noor,
Mustafar kamal HamzaSafe
Commutation
Strategy in Single Phase Matrix Converter
IEEE PEDS 2005 Conference.
Zahirruddin Idris, siti Zaliha mahammud noor,
Mustafar kamal Hamza Modelling and
simulation of Single Phase to single phase
Cycloconverter Based on Single phase Matrix
Converter Topology with Sinusoidal Pulse
Width Modulation Using Matlab/simulink
IEEE PEDS 2005 Conference.
Maamoun,
A.,
"Development
of
cycloconverters," Canadian Conference (1), JanFeb2004, pp. 59-65.on Electrcal and Computer
Engineering, 2003. IEEE CCECE 2003.

In the near future, MC places a vital role by

developing suitable control strategies.

1)

REFERENCES
Zuckerberger, A., Weinstock, D., Alexandrovitz
A., "Single-phase Matrix Converter," IEE Proc.

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