High-efficiency low-cost AC/AC buck converter with stability analysis

The commutation issue is the most important limiting factor of expanding AC chopper applications, which in most cases are solved by employing snubber circuits, implementing sensor-based selective switching patterns and utilising resonant circuits. To overcome the commutation problem, this study proposes a novel non-resonant AC/AC buck converter with no snubber circuits and no sensor-based switching patterns. The introduced hardware configuration and the proposed control strategy provide a path for an inductive load current in all switching states. This converter offers higher reliability and efficiency as well as lower cost compared to the AC choppers with snubber circuits or voltage and current sensors for performing a selective switching. This study presents the operation principles of the proposed hardware configuration and derives the stability condition thorough mathematical analyses. Moreover, the achievements are evaluated by simulation and verified by experiments.