Matrix converter fault detection and diagnosis

• Main Author: Brunson, Christopher M.
• Published: University of Nottingham 2014
• Subjects: 621.381
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.718994

With the increased use of power electronics in aerospace, automotive, industrial, and energy generation sectors, the demand for highly reliable and power dense solutions has increased. Taking into account the demands for high reliability and high power density, matrix converters become attractive. With their lack of large bulky DC- Link capacitors, high power densities are possible with capability to operate with high ambient temperatures [7]. Demand for high reliability under tight weight and volume constrains, often it is not possible to have an entirely redundant system. Under these conditions it is desirable that the system continue to operate even under faulty conditions, albeit with diminished performance in some regard. Research has been carried out on the continued operation of a matrix converter during an open- circuit switch failure[8][9]. These methods however assume that a fault detection and diagnosis system was already in place. The behavior of matrix converters under fault conditions are more complex than traditional inverter drive systems, as there is no decoupling through the DC-Link and the matrix converter's clamp circuit also complicates matters. This thesis describes the operation of a matrix converter and the clamp circuit during a open-circuit fault condition and presents a number of methods for fault detection and diagnosis in matrix converters.