High Efficiency Single-Stage and Two-Stage Six-Switch Three-Phase PFC Buck-Type Rectifiers

An increased research effort on the topic of unity-power-factor rectifiers has been lately noticed. In this paper two highly efficient three-phase buck-type unity power factor rectifiers are proposed to be studied: the conventional six-switch (single-stage) and its two-stage version, referred as the interleaved six-switch solution. They are in here compared in terms of efficiency and performances. The interleaved switching strategy is more efficient due to the AC-side input current harmonics cancellation and to the DC-side voltage ripple reduction. Performances of the two PFC topologies are evaluated for various power ranges, based on simulation studies performed in GECKO Circuits environment. Much more, their efficiency evaluation is also provided and it seems that, for the interleaved topology, higher power efficiency than for the single-stage PFC rectifier solution is assured. The IEC 6000-3-2 standard requirements are met in both cases.