energies

Review
Review, Challenges and Potential of AC/AC Matrix Converters
CMC, MMMC, and M3C
Luiz Carlos Gili , Julio Cesar Dias and Telles Brunelli Lazzarin *

Department of Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil
* Correspondence: telles@inep.ufsc.br

Abstract: This article presents a review and a comparison of the conventional matrix converter
(CMC), multimodular matrix converter (MMMC), and multilevel matrix modular converter (M3C)
topologies, which are three of the main topologies of the matrix family. The study of the CMC
supplies basic knowledge for these structures and then the concept of multilevel matrix converters
used in MMMC and M3C topologies is approached. The study addresses modulation strategies and
switching sequences for the topologies to provide implementation guidelines and harmonic content
reduction. The design is also carried out and results of the three topologies are shown to exemplify
their operation. Finally, the article presents a comparison between the topologies to highlight the
advantages and challenges of each one. This study contributes information on the three topologies,
which are not easily found in the literature, especially in terms of modulation and switching strategies.
It also highlights applications and research points that have to improve.

Keywords: CMC; M3C; matrix converter; multilevel converter; MMMC; SVM modulation

1. Introduction
Citation: Gili, L.C.; Dias, J.C.; In generation systems, energy conversion with high efficiency is one of the main
Lazzarin, T.B. Review, Challenges concerns, as it directly influences the final cost of generated energy. With the emergence of
and Potential of AC/AC Matrix multilevel converters, high efficiency can be achieved by using low-voltage switches and
Converters CMC, MMMC, and M3C. improving the switching losses, while reducing the size of filters [1].
Energies 2022, 15, 9421. https:// In the field of high power (>1 MVA) and medium voltage (>2.2 kV) converters for
doi.org/10.3390/en15249421 motor drives, several researchers have made significant efforts to search for new topologies
of converters, or solving technical problems and optimizing the performance of existing
Academic Editor: Mario Marchesoni
topologies for specific applications [2–5]. During the last decade, high-power semicon-
Received: 9 November 2022 ductor technology has improved, and several studies have focused on optimizing existing
Accepted: 8 December 2022 topologies and their variants. Currently, the most common structures for high-power appli-
Published: 13 December 2022 cations are AC–DC–AC topologies with input diode or active rectifiers and output voltage
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral source inverters (VSI) [6] (Figure 1). In some applications, current source converters (CSC)
with regard to jurisdictional claims in have also found a place in [7] industry. In addition to conventional converters that are
published maps and institutional affil- relatively mature, some alternative topologies, including various types of hybrid multilevel
iations. converters [8–10], active clamping diodes (active neutral point clamped—ANPC) [11,12],
modular multilevel converters (MMC) [13,14], and multilevel matrix converters [15,16]
have also attracted interest in recent years. While the overall effectiveness and benefits
of these emerging topologies still need further investigation, some of them have already
Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. proven to be commercially attractive. Correspondingly, modulation and control strategies
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. adapted to these new converters have been proposed and studied in a large number of
This article is an open access article recent publications, contributing to improve operational performance, as well as to explore
distributed under the terms and
new possibilities.
conditions of the Creative Commons
With the evolution of semiconductors and processors used in converters, some topolo-
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
gies that were not practical in the past are back as the focus of studies and some new
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
topologies are emerging to meet society’s demands. Some of the major positive points for
4.0/).

Energies 2022, 15, 9421. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15249421 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies

Energies 2022, 15, 9421 2 of 26

a converter nowadays are its efficiency, reliability, and power density. As a result, matrix
converters are gaining ground as they appear to be a solution to the problem of having
to use the DC bus (Direct Current) in AC–DC–AC (Alternating Current—AC) converters,
direct AC–AC topologies have been studied for several decades, among them, there are the
cycloconverters [17] and the conventional matrix converter (CMC) [18–20], that is the basis
for the topologies studied in this paper. The CMC has interesting attributes, however, it is
not yet used for high power levels, as there are no available semiconductor devices yet to
be used in this type of converter and presents challenges for the protection of semiconduc-
tors when the converter is subjected to voltage surges. Because the conventional matrix
converter is great for use, but not adequate at high power levels, a new converter called
multilevel matrix converter has emerged, which incorporates the concepts of multiple
levels and direct energy conversion and has the advantage of using capacitors to clamp the
voltages on the semiconductors and, thus, becomes inherently more robust than a CMC.

High-Powers
Converters

AC-AC AC-DC-AC
Converters Converters

Voltage Source Current Source

Cycloconverter Matrix Converter Matrix Multilevel
Inverter Inverter

Multilevel Two-Level LCI PWM CSC

Converters Converters

Diode Clamped Cascade H-Bridge Flying Capacitor Others

Figure 1. Classification of high-power converters.

This family of matrix converters can process high power and voltage levels with exist-
ing semiconductors. Currently, research on these topologies has advanced and there is a
large number of publications, including several multilevel converter topologies, such as the
clamping diode converter (NPC) [21], the converter with floating capacitor (FLC) [22], and
with full bridge cells (Cascaded H-Bridge—CHB) [23]. These topologies are combined with
the concept of the matrix converter, generating the multilevel matrix NPC [24], FLC [25],
and multilevel CHB [26] converters.
To date, only a certain type of multilevel MC topology has been implemented commer-
cially for medium voltage, here designated as multimodular matrix converter (MMMC).
The topology is composed of three phases for each MC power module, connected so as to
allow the converter to work with high power and medium voltage levels. It is reported
in [2] that the medium voltage unit marketed using this topology achieved 3 MVA/3.3 kV
with three MC modules in series per phase, and 6 MVA/6.6 kV, with six modules in series
per phase. Being a member of the MC family, the MMMC has some features, such as
elimination of DC energy storage components, extended lifetime, inherent four-quadrant
operation, and fast dynamic performance. In addition, it also has the inherited character-
istics of the CHB structure, such as modular design, flexible scalability, and high-quality
output voltage waveforms [27]. The major disadvantage of this structure is the need for a
multi-pulse transformer to generate the phase-shifted voltages needed for each converter
module. This significantly increases the volume of the converter and its cost, in addition to
influencing the overall performance of the structure. The MMMC also lacks the inherent
clamping capability of voltages across its power semiconductors and, therefore, requires
surge protection circuitry such as the CMC.
The most cited multilevel matrix structure in the literature is the topology proposed by
Erickson in [28], called multilevel modular matrix converter (M3C). Its structure is similar
to the CMC, but with characteristics of multilevel converters and without the multi-pulse
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 3 of 26

transformer used in the MMMC structure. In addition, the M3C has features, such as
current-fed input and output, simplified control compared to the MMC topology and can
work as a step-up or step-down converter, which makes it a preferred candidate for many
studies into machine drives. However, its structure is complex compared to conventional
multilevel converters and, for this reason, several researchers propose small changes in
the topology to improve the general control of the converter. Among them is the addition
of inductors in each H-bridge module, which facilitates the balance of capacitor voltages,
reduces the chance of destructive short circuits due to failure in command pulses, and
makes the control similar to the conventional MMC [29,30]. Another problem found in
this topology is its operation at very low frequencies or in conditions where the input and
output frequencies are close to each other [31]. Balancing the capacitor voltages becomes
extremely difficult at these two operating points [32,33].
This article presents a literature review of matrix converters, starting with the CMC,
which was one of the first matrix topologies proposed in the literature [34,35]. It is possible
to study the basic functioning of these structures by first understanding the CMC, so
that the concept of multilevel structures used in the other two topologies can be better
understood. Important points, such as the rules for the possible connections of switches
and their respective modulations, are exposed. Next, the topologies M3C [28], MMMC [2]
and CMC [34,35] are also studied, following the same methodology as the CMC. Thus,
in the following pages, the article reviews operational aspects, modulation and compares
these three important topologies of direct ca–ca converters.

2. CMC
The main function of the MC is to perform the energy conversion in a single stage,
with variable frequency and magnitude at the input and output, without using passive
devices in a DC link. These are topologies that use bidirectional switches and operate with
forced switching, typically using IGBTs. A typical MC can generate output voltages with
higher or lower frequency than the input, has the inherent ability to work in four quadrants,
process sinusoidal voltages and currents at the input and output, and, finally, has the ability
to regulate the input power factor [19,36].
When comparing the MC with two-stage back-to-back converters (AC–DC/DC–AC), it
offers advantages, such as reduced size and higher power density. It also features improved
life expectancy due to the elimination of bulky passive DC bus components, which often
cause problems and affect the dynamic performance. However, for not using a DC link, they
are known for using relatively complex modulation and switching techniques, in addition
to limited voltage gain.
The advent of new switch technologies and the advance in control techniques makes
the MC a more attractive alternative to two-stage converters, in which power density and
regeneration capability are of great importance. Among all the configurations, the MC with
three inputs and three outputs (3 × 3 MC), referred to as CMC, shown in Figure 2, and its
topological variants, have attracted research interest. Although the CMC study has been
around for a long time [18,34], the subject has resurfaced in recent years and has captured
the attention of academia and industry. By solving some major technical problems, such as
bidirectionality of switches, MCs have achieved practical applications [2].
The basic feature of the CMC is the possibility of interconnecting each of the inputs
to each of the outputs independently, controlled, and bidirectionally. In a system with
three supply phases A, B, and C; and load supplied through three phases a, b, and c; nine
bidirectional switches are required (The input phases in this paper will be referred to with
capital letter and the output phases with lower case). This topology provides a direct and
independent connection between the three input and output phases. The interest in this
type of converter lies in the fact that it can present [20,37–40]:
• Simple and compact circuits;
• Output voltage modulation with adjustable amplitude and frequency;
• Currents with sinusoidal characteristics at the input and output;
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 4 of 26

• Operation with unity displacement factor at the input with any type of load at the
output;
• Four-quadrant operation.

Source
A IA

S1 S2 S3
B IB

S4 S5 S6
C IC

S7 S8 S9

Ia Ib Ic

Load
Figure 2. Basic CMC topology.

Despite numerous advantages, the CMC also has disadvantages, which have been ad-
dressed in several published works [41–43] on the direct matrix converter. Many advances
have been achieved; however, some challenges are still the subject of investigation, such as:
• Reduction in the number of power devices;
• Protection against voltage surges;
• Encapsulation of modules and devices;
• Operation in situations of disturbances in the electrical network (imbalances, momen-
tary interruptions);
• Increase in control complexity;
• Maximum static gain of 0.866;
• Bidirectional switch implementation.
The CMC converter in Figure 2 consists of an arrangement of nine bi-directional
switches that directly connect a three-phase source to a three-phase load [44–46]. The volt-
ages and currents synthesized by the CMC are generated by activating combinations of
two-way switches for certain periods. There are restrictions on not short-circuiting the
input phases and/or opening any output phase (in the case of loads with inductive charac-
teristics). Therefore, for each arm of the CMC only one (1) switch must be activated at any
given time.
With the aid of Figure 2, it is possible to calculate the output voltages and input
currents for all combinations of switches. From the Clarke transform given by Equation (1),
the three-phase coupled voltages and currents are to an uncoupled two-phase system [47].

− 12 −q12
  

vα
 1 va

 vβ  = 2 
q
3
 0 − 32  ·  vb  (1)

3 2
v0 1 1 1 vc
2 2 2

The resulting values, which can be analyzed in their vector form, are grouped in tables,
where each combination receives a name with its respective description of the magnitude
and angle of the output voltage and input current.
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 5 of 26

In [40], the most commonly used configurations and the switches that must remain on
to compose this vector are described. There is the possibility of using other vectors, called
rotational vectors [48].
The vectors can be represented in the αβ plane for both voltage and current vectors,
and divide the αβ plane into six sectors of 60◦ each, ranging from one to six. Figure 3 show
the 18 active output voltage and input current vectors, respectively, in the αβ plane.

+2, +5, +8
-7, -8, -9
+4, +5, +6
2
3 2
-1, -4, -7 -3, -6, -9
3 1

4 1
-1, -2, -3 +1, +2, +3

4
6
5 6 +1, +4, +7
+3, +6, +9
5
-2, -5, -8 +7, +8, +9 -4, -5, -6

(a) (b)
Figure 3. Vectors grouped in the Alpha–Beta plane. (a) Input current. (b) Output voltage.

The amplitudes of the voltage vectors and current in a matrix converter vary with the
currents in the current port and with the line voltages in the voltage port.

2.1. Modulation
The large number of switches present in the CMC makes modulation a complex task.
One alternative to overcome this problem is to use space vector modulation (SVM). SVM
is extremely widespread in the literature [20,49–54] and is widely used in the industry
to drive traditional converters, such as three-phase AC–AC indirect devices that have
a DC bus. This strategy, when initially proposed, only allows the control of the output
voltage [17]. After successive development, the SVM can exploit the many benefits of the
CMC, such as control of the displacement factor of the input current, independent from the
displacement factor of the output and the reduction in the number of commutations per
switching period [35].
SVM modulation for matrix converters has the inherent capability of complete control
over the output voltage (frequency and modulation index) and control of the displacement
factor of the input current [42,55].
In view of all these benefits, SVM modulation has become widespread in the MC
literature [19,20,28,34,35]. Due to its advantages and popularity, it was chosen to be studied
in this article, in addition to the fact that it can be applied to all converters studied here.

2.2. Switching Pattern

The SVM algorithm must always apply three vectors, two active and one null [56].
The distribution sequence of these combinations does not necessarily have to follow the
Table 1, as they can be exchanged and even divided. The choice of Switching Pattern, or the
distribution of these combinations, can directly affect the number of switching per period
and even change the harmonic content of input currents and output voltages [57].
The Switching Pattern commonly used is the symmetric type, with the application of
a null vector in the middle of the period. The choice of which of the three vectors will be
applied follows the premise of reducing the number of commutations.
The equations for the calculation of the duty cycles and the application time of each
combination can be calculated using the expressions presented in [40].
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 6 of 26

Table 1. Switching configurations in the SVM algorithm.

Switches ~ o| ~Ii
Configuration |V αo βi
On
√
+1 S1 S5 S6 2/3Vab 0° 2/√3Ia 330°
−1 S4 S2 S3 2/3Vab 180° 2/√3Ia 150°
+2 S4 S8 S9 2/3Vbc 0° 2/√3Ia 90°
−2 S6 S5 S6 2/3Vbc 180° 2/√3Ia 270°
+3 S7 S2 S3 2/3Vca 0° 2/√3Ia 210°
−3 S1 S8 S9 2/3Vca 180° 2/√3Ia 30°
+4 S4 S2 S6 2/3Vab 120° 2/√3Ib 330°
−4 S1 S5 S3 2/3Vab 300° 2/√3Ib 150°
+5 S7 S5 S9 2/3Vbc 120° 2/√3Ib 90°
−5 S4 S8 S6 2/3Vbc 300° 2/√3Ib 270°
+6 S1 S8 S3 2/3Vca 120° 2/√3Ib 240°
−6 S7 S2 S9 2/3Vca 300° 2/ √3Ib 30°
+7 S5 S5 S3 2/3Vab 240° 2/√3Ic 330°
−7 S1 S2 S6 2/3Vab 60° 2/√3Ic 150°
+8 S7 S8 S6 2/3Vbc 240° 2/√3Ic 90°
−8 S4 S5 S9 2/3Vbc 60° 2/√3Ic 270°
+9 S1 S2 S6 2/3Vca 240° 2/√3Ic 210°
−9 S7 S8 S3 2/3Vca 60° 2/ 3Ic 30°
01 S1 S2 S3 0 - 0 -
02 S4 S5 S6 0 - 0 -
03 S7 S8 S9 0 - 0 -

2.3. Example of Project and Results

The results to be shown will be directed to the analysis of the output voltages. However,
it should be remembered that the SVM strategy allows the converter to operate with a unity
input current displacement factor, and these waveforms can be seen in [40].
The operation of the CMC converter is verified in simulation using Simulink/MATLAB
with the parameters in Table 2. Figure 4 shows the line voltage waveforms and the harmonic
spectrum related to it. Note that the CMC can generate only three levels of line voltage, thus
causing the total harmonic distortion (THD) to be high compared to multilevel converters.

Table 2. Parameters used in CMC simulation.

Parameter Value
Converter power 1 kVA
Voltage VAB 380 V
Input frequency 60 Hz
Modulation Index 0.866
Switching frequency 5 kHz
Control Open Loop
Modulation [40]

Due to the reduced number of levels in the output voltage, there are low frequency
harmonics (Figure 4), in addition to the spectrum around the switching frequency and its
multiples, contributing to the high harmonic distortion. However, compared to traditional
low-power voltage converters, the CMC can deliver a greater number of benefits, two
of which are the low volume of the converter and the ability to control the input current
displacement. On the other hand, it is necessary to employ more complex modulation
and control.
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 7 of 26

Figure 4. Line voltage and CMC harmonic spectrum.

2.4. Partial Conclusions on the CMC

There are several topologies to be used as a voltage source inverter (VSI) for low
voltage, and as a source of generic comparison. Table 3 shows the main characteristics,
advantages and disadvantages of conventional, indirect matrix and direct matrix converters.
According to previous studies, the indirect topology has higher conduction losses compared
to the CMC [58]. While in the conventional matrix converter the phase current flows only
through one switch and one diode, in the indirect one this current flows through two
switches and one diode.

Table 3. Main characteristics of low-power voltage converters.

Converter Feature
• Bulky System.
• High harmonic distortion of the mains current and low
Conventional AC–AC [59] power factor.
• Reduced lifespan.
• Unit input offset factor.
• PWM modulation of conventional inverters.
Indirect Matrix Converter [60] • No bulky energy storage components required.
• Higher conduction losses compared to CMC

• Simple and compact circuit.

• Operation with unity displacement factor at the input
Direct CMC [41–43]
with any type of load at the output.
• Four-quadrant operation.

Most of the articles on the CMC are studies of the low voltage, in which the con-
verter can operate at high switching frequencies. In addition, high-power applications
were not considered viable for the MC, due to concerns about switch efficiency and its
limits. Recently, however, there has been a growing interest in introducing high powered
MCs [25,28,36,61]. Due to the limitations of switches, the CMC is not yet a viable option
for high voltages. In order to break this barrier, researchers have directed their attention to
produce MC topologies that incorporate the concepts of multilevel converters. During the
last decade, they emerged from the integration of the concepts of multilevel voltage source
converter (VSC) and CMC, resulting in multilevel MC clamped diode, multilevel MC
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 8 of 26

clamped capacitor, and multilevel MC multimodular diode converters. In addition to being

from the MC family, these topologies also have characteristics similar to those of multilevel
VSCs. Correspondingly, its modulation and control aspects have been studied in a series of
publications as seen in [13,15,16,24,25,28].
The MC clamping diode converter is developed from the indirect construction of
conventional MCs. The indirect construction separates the converter into a rectifier stage
and another inverter without storage components on the DC link. Instead of using a
two-level VSC, a three-level neutral-point clamped (NPC) converter is employed in the
inverting phase to provide more output voltage levels. Recently, several topological
variants of the multilevel NPC-MC have been discussed in some publications [15,24,61].
Compared to CMC, multilevel MC NPCs improve output voltage at the cost of increasing
number of switches. However, the voltage stress on semiconductor devices, especially
for those of the rectifier, is not reduced. Therefore, the topology is not yet suitable for
high-voltage applications.
Another multilevel MC topology called MC clamped capacitor was proposed in
2005 [25]. This converter employs six capacitors to balance the voltage distributed between
the switch modules to provide average voltage levels. Tension effort is reduced by half com-
pared to CMC. As a result, the output voltage and current harmonics are also significantly
reduced. The major disadvantage of this topology lies in the large number of capacitors,
as well as the number of switches and the complexity of the converter.

3. MMMC
The MMMC, shown in Figure 5, is formed by 3 × 2 MC modules (i.e., three-phase
input to a single-phase output module), the MMMCs are very similar to the cascaded
H-bridge (CHB) converter, but they differ in the construction of the power module. In a
CHB converter, each module contains a DC link and the output voltage is synthesized from
a DC input, while, in the MMMC, the module output voltage is generated directly from the
three-phase input voltage. Due to the series connection of the power modules, the MMMC
can achieve high voltage and power levels using only low-voltage IGBTs. However, they
also need a multi-pulse transformer at the input, such as the CHB. So far, the MMMC is the
only commercial multilevel MC topology [2,16].

3x2 module
Source Load
a
Ia
A n
3x2 module
B b
Ib
n
C 3x2 module

c
Ic
n

3x2 module

Figure 5. MMMC topology.

The MMMC has an switching cell that uses bidirectional switches, and each module
uses six bidirectional switches (see Figure 5). The high number of switches is a disadvantage
of the MMMC topology [62].
Figure 6 shows the MC module used in the MMMC. Under normal operating condi-
tions, the switches can be turned on or off, the output terminals y p and yn can be connected
to any of the three input phases a, b, and c depending on the desired voltage level. In the
input part, the MC module is connected to the secondary winding of a transformer (Vas , Vbs ,
and Vcs ). The input filter is used to filter the harmonics generated by switching. The load
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 9 of 26

must be inductive, as the converter needs a constant flow of current to produce a sinusoidal
current waveform at the input.

yp

Ss1 Ss2 Ss3

Vas Lf IA 1
Vbs
Load
Vcs
Icf
Cf
Ss4 Ss5 Ss6

yn

Figure 6. Simplified MC module (3 × 2).

Similar to the CMC (3 × 3), the MC module (3 × 2) has switching limitations. No

switching state can short-circuit the filter capacitors and interrupt the current in the induc-
tive load. Therefore, at an instant of time, only two switches can be turned on in the MC
module, one from the top (Ss1 , Ss2 , Ss3 ) and one from the bottom (Ss3 , Ss5 , Ss6 ).

3.1. Modulation
The modulation used here for the MMMC is indirect SVM. The modulation considers
a virtual DC link between the rectifier and inverter parts. The indirect model of the MMMC
with three modules, one per phase, shown in Figure 7 is used as a basis for the study of
modulation [27].
isec1
ipri1
TS1 SAp SA'p
Ia
+ a
Vpri1 Vsec1
-
P+ SAn SA'n
SAp SBp SCp
isec2

IA ipri2
TS2 SBp SB'p
a
IB Ib
Vpn + b
b Vsec1
IC n
c -
SBn SB'n
SAn SBn SCn
isec3
n- ipri3
TS3 SCp SC'p
Ic
+ c
Vsec1
-
SCn SC'n

Figure 7. Complete model for the MMMC.

Symbolic switches have the same restrictions for switching. In the rectifier stage,
the restrictions are the same as in the CSR (Current Source Rectifier). In the inverter
stage, the constraints are identical to the VSI (Voltage Source Inverter). Therefore, SVM is
performed independently for the input and the output stages of the converter. The rectifier
stage assumes that the total bus current is constant, and is considered a current source for
generating input currents. The inverter assumes that the bus voltage is constant to design
the voltages at the output terminals.
Similar to the one used in the CMC, the basic principle of indirect modulation is to
apply the SVM separately to the rectifier and inverter stages, before making the switch
combinations to produce the final command signals. In the rectifier stage, the traditional
SVM to operate CSR can be easily applied. Using the αβ transform for the input current,
we have the diagram in vector space synthesizing the current vector in Figure 8.
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 10 of 26

BC
3 2
BA AC

4 1 1

CA AB
5 6

CB

Figure 8. CSR SVM to synthesize the current of the rectifier stage.

The application of SVM in the rectification step modulates the input currents with a
sinusoidal waveform by applying a unit displacement factor. The duty cycles are composed
by the vectors calculated in (2).

 du = mc · sin(π/3 − β i )
dv = mc · sin( β i ) (2)
d0 = 1 − d u − d v


where mc represents the modulation index of the rectifier, which is normally used as 1, since
the magnitude of the input current depends on the load. β i is the angle of the reference
sector ii .
The inverter part uses the SVM shown in Figure 9. Based on the magnitude of the
vectors, they are divided into groups, as described below:
• Zero Vector V~o , represents three switching states ppp, nnn, and ooo, the magnitude of
~o is zero.
V
• Short Vectors (V~1 − V~6 ), all have magnitude 1 Vpn , each small vector has two switching
3
states, one containing p and another n, so it can be classified as small vector N-type
and P-type. √
• Mean Vectors ( V ~7 − V~12 ), whose magnitude is 2 Vpn .
3
• Large Vectors (V~13 − V~18 ), all with magnitude 2 Vpn . 3

npn opn ppn

8
10 7
npo opo
non
11 5
12 9
opp ppp
npp noo nnn ooo onn pnn
14 13 21 24
15 17 23
Sectors
oop pop
nop pno 1
nno ono
2
16 19 22
3
18 20 4
5
6
nnp onp pnp

Figure 9. SVM diagram divided into sectors and regions.

As seen in Figure 9, all vectors have a combination of voltages for each phase of the
~7 ( pon) the terminal an must have the voltage p, the bn
inverter. For example for the vector V
the voltage o and cn the voltage n.
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 11 of 26

In the case of three-level SVM, the reference vector is synthesized by three closest
stationary vectors, generating a superior harmonic quality. To demonstrate the relationship
between time and V~re f , Figure 10 is used as a base. Assuming that the tip of the vector V~re f is
~2 − V
exactly at the center of the triangle of region 4, at point Q, the vectors V ~7 − V~14 have the
same size as their origin up to the point Q. This can be verified by substituting θsec = 49.1
and mv = 0.882 in the equations of Table 1 in [63], resulting in Ta = Tb = Tc = 0.333 TS .
If you move V~re f towards the vector V ~2 , it means that the vector V~2 has a stronger influence
on vecVre f , which results in a longer application time of the vector V ~2 . When V~re f is
identical to V~2 , the time Tc representing the vector V ~2 has the maximum value (Tc = Ts ),
~ ~
while the times Ta and Tb of the vectors V14 and V7 have their value decreased to zero [63].

ppn
Ta

Q
4
ppo pon
oon
Tc Tb

3
1 2
Tb Ta poo Tc
onn pnn

Figure 10. Example to demonstrate the relationship between V~re f and the times of each vector.

3.2. Switching Pattern

The order of the switching sequence and switching frequency reflect harmonic perfor-
mance on the waveform. So, it is necessary to define a proper switching sequence in the
modulation to obtain optimal results.
Figure 11 illustrate two different switching sequences that are exemplified by the
phases a and b. To distinguish the difference between them, we consider vcn in a particular
period, in which it takes on the value zero, while v an is positive and vbn is negative.
With these conditions, the duty cycles for the phase a and b are the same. In the figures,
VLL1 and VLL2 denote two magnitudes corresponding to two input line voltages over the
DC bus. dus1, dus1 and dus1 represent the final value derived for the duty cycles presented
in [27]. In this exemplified case, dus1 is greater than dus1.
Both switching sequences, I and II, generate the same output phase a, with positive
polarity. In sequence I, the voltages v an and vbn have the same amplitude values in time,
but they are opposite, that is, one with a positive value and the other negative, so the result-
ing line-to-line voltage Vab is v an − (−vbn ). The resulting voltage is twice the amplitude of
the phase voltage. This characteristic causes the dv /dt of the load voltage to be large and,
depending on the load used, it produces a stress due to the high derivative of the voltage.
Although this switching sequence generates the desired voltages, there is another way of
doing it that improves the voltage derivative and the THD of the final [63] waveform.
Sequence II reverses the position of the times dus1 and dus1 whenever the phase voltage
is negative. In this example, the voltage vbn is negative and you can see that the waveforms
are practically complementary to each other. The resulting voltage has a more distributed
value over the switching period and does not have a zero value. This results in a better
quality THD and a reduction in the voltage derivative at the [63] load.
These two sequences are the main choices for switching from this converter. The first
technique is the most used for driving converters, dividing only the duty cycle in half
and distributing it symmetrically during the switching time. The second technique uses
additional logic to change the time distribution whenever the phase voltage is negative.
This results in some advantages, the main ones being the reduction in the dv /dt of the load
voltage and the improvement in THD compared to switching I.
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 12 of 26

VLL 2 VLL 2

VLL1 VLL1

0 0

d 0TS / 2 d1TS / 2 d 2TS d1TS / 2 d 0TS / 2 d 0TS / 2 d1TS / 2 d 2TS d1TS / 2 d 0TS / 2

0 0

VLL1 -VLL1

VLL 2 -VLL 2

d 0TS / 2 d1TS / 2 d 2TS d1TS / 2 d 0TS / 2 d 2TS / 2 d1TS / 2 d 0TS d1TS / 2 d 2TS / 2

2VLL 2

2VLL1
2VLL1 VLL 2

VLL1

0
0
TS TS

(a) (b)
Figure 11. Output signal from switching pattern. (a) sequence I. (b)sequence II.

3.3. Example Project and Results

The MMMC also uses SVM modulation, however, a different version to the one used
in the CMC. Combined with a structure that uses a transformer and some differences
in its switching cell, the SVM’s ability to vary the input current displacement is limited.
The current that circulates in each phase of the secondary is also a problem, as it is a
non-sinusoidal current, causing the transformer to suffer from it [27], and a suitable design
is necessary.
The parameters used for this converter are shown in Table 4. Figure 12 displays the
line voltage waveforms and also the harmonic spectrum related to it. As the MMMC is a
converter capable of producing various voltage levels, the comparison with the CMC is not
valid. However, the improvement of THD is high, showing the superiority of multilevel
converters in relation to harmonic distortion, which is a target point for filter reduction.
It is noteworthy that in high-power applications the currents are high, generating bulky
filters. So, filter reduction is a very important point when choosing the topology.
Table 4. Parameters used in MMMC simulation.

Parameter Value
Converter power 1 MVA
Voltage Vab 4160 V
Input frequency 60 Hz
Ratio Ns:Np 9:2
Switching frequency 2 kHz
Filter Inductance 1.3 mH
Filter Capacitance 27 µF
Control Open Loop
Modulation [27]

Two highlights related to the modulation and switching of this converter should be
noted. In the first one, it is necessary to operate at higher modulation indices, making use
of the most external vectors of the SVM, and consequently operating with more voltage
levels at the output of the converter. As for the switching sequence, as shown in [63], it
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 13 of 26

can change the harmonic content, so the most appropriate choice for this topology is the
switching sequence II, shown in Figure 11.

Figure 12. Line voltage and MMMC harmonic spectrum.

3.4. Partial Conclusions on the MMMC

MMMC topologies combine the benefits of multilevel converters and direct energy
conversion. Similar to multilevel converters, MMMCs enables the use of low-power, low-
voltage semiconductors, and are able to provide multilevel output waveforms resulting
in a high-quality waveform output voltage (low THD). In addition, they also have char-
acteristics of MCs, such as elimination of DC link components, four-quadrant operation
capability, high dynamic response, production of sinusoidal currents and voltages at the
input and output of the converter, and the ability to vary the factor of input power.
The study of indirect modulation by spatial vectors for the MMMC converter using
the indirect SVM approach in both the rectification and inversion steps was exposed in the
modulation section. With this modulation it is possible to shift the current, frequency and
amplitude of the output voltage, in addition to generating sinusoidal waveforms both at
the input and at the output of the converter.
The switching of MMMC switches is controlled based on the theory presented in this
previous section. The steps to be performed for the correct operation of the converter will
be summarized below:
• Identify the location of the rectification and inversion vector in their respective vec-
tor spaces.
• Calculate the duty cycles of both stages.
• Combine the duty cycles [27].
• Determine the switches involved in each switching.
• Implement the switching sequence, in which case one of the two choices must be
predetermined.

4. M3C
Aiming to improve the performance of bidirectional topologies that use two convert-
ers in back-to-back series, single-stage AC–AC structures generally have high efficiency
compared to AC–DC–AC [64] solutions. As seen for low voltage, CMC is a good option.
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 14 of 26

At high powers, the MMMC appears as one of the attractive solutions, even with the use of
bidirectional switches similar to the CMC and a multi-pulse transformer, which, in addition
to increasing the total volume of the topology, also influences the decreased efficiency.
In this context, the topology proposed by Erickson in [64] was proposed. Since
then, several researchers have studied modulation, control, and small topology variations
(such as including an inductor in series with the modules) to improve some aspects of
the converter.
The two main problems mentioned in the previous matrix structures, which is the
use of bidirectional and transformer switches, were improved by Erickson in his proposal.
He modified the converter’s switching cell, using a full bridge with IGBTs, freewheeling
diodes and a capacitor. In addition, the solution does not use a transformer.
The multilevel matrix modular converter (Figure 13) synthesizes the input and output
voltages by switching the module capacitor voltage. This operation differs from the
conventional matrix converter, in which one side synthesizes current and the other the
voltage. Additionally, inductors can be used as filters on both sides of the converter.
Due to its symmetrical multilevel structure, the topology can operate as both a Buck and
Boost mode.

Source
A IA

B IB

C IC

H-Bridge

Ia Ib Ic

Q1 D1 D2 Q2

Q3 D3 D4 Q4

Load
Figure 13. M3C topology.

In [64] it was explained that this topology must follow some rules referring to the
family of matrix converters, in which it was defined that there must always be five modules
leading at each moment (in [64] all existing connections are shown).
On the other hand, the structure proposed by Erickson has challenges related to the
balance of capacitor voltages. Operating with frequencies close to zero on one side or
with frequencies close to between input and output makes controlling voltages across
capacitors difficult or even impossible. In [31] the relationship of the fluctuation of the
capacitors voltage in relation to the operating frequency is shown. For this problem, several
articles ([33,65–68]) proposed the introduction of an inductor in series in each module,
as seen in Figure 14.
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 15 of 26

Other works ([69,70]) also suggested the use of coupled inductors in the modules
(Figure 15). However, the concept of using inductors and inductors coupled side is the
same, to control the capacitor voltages with the circulating current between modules, as is
standard for MMC converters [29].

Source
A IA

B IB

C IC

H-Bridge
Additional
Inductors
Ia Ib Ic

Q1 D1 D2 Q2

Q3 D3 D4 Q4

Load
Figure 14. M3C topology with inductors added to the modules.

Source
A IA

B IB

C IC

additional
H-Bridge coupled
inductors
Ia Ib Ic

Q1 D1 D2 Q2

Q3 D3 D4 Q4

Load
Figure 15. M3C topology with coupled inductors added to the modules.

The additional inductors, either the single or the coupled inductors, allow the use of
other types of modulation, because when injecting the circulating currents between the
modules, it is no longer necessary to follow the rule of the matrix converter of always
having five modules leading to every moment. Therefore, various types of modulations
can be used, such as level shifted SPWM (Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation), IPD (In-
Phase Disposition), POD (Phase Opposition Disposition), and APOD (Alternative Phase
Opposition Disposition).
The control of the circulating currents was done in [71,72] using the αβ double trans-
form to decouple the dynamics of the input, output, and circulating currents of the converter
from the coupled inductors. Subsequently, the same methodology was exposed for use
in the topology with the simple inductor [65]. This control technique fulfills its purpose,
however it requires additional inductors in series with each one of the nine modules. Fur-
thermore, these inductors have inductance values very close to those used in input and
output filters, that is, inductances in the order of tens of mH depending on the application.
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 16 of 26

Remembering that the converter is used at high power, which generates high currents in
the inductors and, consequently, large dimensions.
The basic principle of matrix converters is to perform the energy conversion in a
single stage so that the structure volume is smaller than that of conventional AC–DC–
AC double conversion converters. So, to solve the problem of not using the inductors,
or using one with a small value, the articles [73–78] proposed an intermediate solution.
They developed the control strategy using an inductor in series with the modules, but they
are inductors with inductance in the tens of µH. The inductors are used only to limit the
current derivative in the modules, so that the proposed control can balance the voltages
in the capacitors. Therefore, with this new approach, it is possible to reduce the overall
volume of the topology.

4.1. Modulation
The modulation used for the M3C is the same proposed by Erickson, who does not
use inductors in series with the modules. As seen in Figures 2 and 13, the CMC converters
and the basic two-level topology of M3C are similar, changing their switching cell, with the
CMC using bidirectional switches and the M3C bridge converters complete. Therefore,
the modulation for the two topologies tends to be similar, changing some aspects related
to the implementation of each vector in the converter. The biggest difference in the circuit
is the introduction of a capacitor, which must be controlled for the correct functioning of
the converter.
In [79], the balance of voltage across the capacitors was proposed. Instead of using a
null vector, as seen in the SVM modulation shown so far, two vectors with opposite direc-
tions would be introduced so that their sum generates zero (Figure 16). Thus, the added
vectors could be used to balance the capacitors without harming the input and output
voltage waveforms.

Figure 16. Modulation by modified vector space.

However, this control was not satisfactory as mentioned before, not being able to
operate at low frequencies or in cases with close frequencies at the input and output.
This strategy also cannot control the capacitors when more than one module is used in
series. Therefore, control concepts for the original M3C will not be discussed here, only the
modulation aspects. SVM for M3C can be run as follows:
1. Read the input and output voltages.
2. Perform the αβ transform (Equation (1)) of the two voltages read. Two diagrams
are created in vector space, as shown in Figure 3, one for each side of the converter.
The difference here is that both sides synthesize current, so the two vector planes will
be equal.
3. The duty cycles are calculated for the input (3) and for the output (4).
4. Searches for combinations of vectors that synthesize both input and output voltages,
similar to what was performed for the CMC.
5. Returns to the first step and repeats the routine.
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 17 of 26


 dk = mc · sin(π/3 − β̃ i )
dl = mc · sin( β̃ i ) (3)
d0 in = 1 − dk − dl



 dm = mc · sin(π/3 − α̃o )
dn = mc · sin(α̃o ) (4)
d0 out = 1 − dm − dn


4.2. Switching Pattern

The input and output reference vectors have different magnitudes and phases, so
the duty cycles on either side will have different values. The input and output vectors
change at different times. As a result, each switching period can have at most five distinct
subintervals (Figure 17), which have different combinations of input and output vectors. It
is observed that the order of vectors in each switching period is arbitrary.

Input side

Output side

Subinterval 1 2 3 4 5

Figure 17. Switching sequence divided into five subintervals.

Erickson proposed two modulation schemes in [64] for the M3C converter when
operated at two levels: the eight-capacitor modulation scheme and the single-capacitor
modulation scheme. With the eight-capacitor scheme, a converter configuration for each
sub-interval is generated and all nine switching cells conduct currents at any one time.
Additionally, the capacitors are connected in parallel. In each switching period, a total
of eight capacitors are involved in the synthesis of terminal voltages. This increases the
effective capacitance to transfer power through the converter proposed by [26]. On the other
hand, a combination of the switching cells for each sub-interval is chosen from redundant
switching combinations with the single-capacitor modulation scheme. In this case, only a
capacitor is used to synthesize terminal voltages over a switching period. This approach
can minimize the currents flowing between the capacitors. Consequently, the stability of
capacitor voltages and the efficiency of the converter are improved [79].
The guarantee that the switching cell capacitor used over an existing switching period
is achieved with the vector pattern shown in Figure 18, in a switching period, each side of
the converter synthesizes the terminal
√ voltages using three vectors: a zero vector and two
vectors with magnitude 2vcap 3. For both the input and output sides, the pattern starts
with the null vector, then the vector with the highest duty cycle, ending with the vector
with the shortest time.

Input side

Output side

Subinterval 1 2 3 4 5

Figure 18. Switching sequence for single capacitor modulation.

Energies 2022, 15, 9421 18 of 26

Figure 19 shows how to choose the capacitors to be used with the single-capacitor
technique. The case where the null vector of the output is smaller than that of the input
(d0_in > d0_out ) is illustrated in Figure 19a. There is a different capacitor selection every 60◦
for the output vector and every 120◦ for the input vector. For the reverse situation, when
d0_in < d0_out the input and output exchange positions, as shown in Figure 19b.

C_c CC_

CBc CAc CCb CCa

CCc CCc
C_b CCb CCa C_a CB_ CBc CAc CA_

CAb CBb CAa CBa CBa CBb CAa CAb

CBa CAa CBb CAb CAb CAa CBb CBa

CCa CCb CAc CBc

CCc CCc
C_a C_b CA_ CB_
CAc CBc CCa CCb

C_c CC_

(a) (b)
Figure 19. Choice of capacitor. (a) when d0_in is greater than d0_out . (b) when d0_out is greater
than d0_in .

As an example for the case d0_in > d0_out , if the reference vector of the output has an
angle of 10◦ (it is within the region of the vector V
~1 ) and the reference vector has the angle
◦
of 280 , the capacitor CBa should be chosen. This capacitor is the module capacitor that
connects the input phase B with the output phase a. However, for the same values of the
input and output reference vectors, but in the situation where d0_in < d0_out , the capacitor
CCb should be chosen.
To use the technique with a capacitor, it is necessary to follow two steps:
• The position of the input and output reference vectors must be ordered in the sequence
in which the vector with the highest duty cycle is positioned after the null vector.
• The input and output vectors are compared to choose which of the two parts of
Figure 19 will be used to choose the capacitor.
It is important to note that the voltage ratio must be respected for the single capacitor
technique [26] to be valid.
1 Vi pk √
√ ≤ ≤ 3 (5)
3 Vo pk

4.3. Example of Project and Results

The M3C has current-fed input and output, so it is able to vary the current displace-
ment in its two ports, for example, if it is extracting current from a wind turbine and
injecting it into the electrical grid.
Table 5 shows the parameters used in the M3C converter simulation and the Figure 20
the result wave forms. When compared it with the MMMC, the M3C has a better harmonic
distortion, much is due to the use of capacitors in this topology and how the balance of
their voltage is performed. The M3C modulation and control influence the quality of its
waveforms, as it is a relatively newer topology than the MMMC, many studies are being
carried out to improve the performance of the topology (in the next chapter a comparison
between the topologies will be performed).
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 19 of 26

Table 5. Parameters used in simulation.

Parameter Value
Converter power 2 MVA
Switching frequency 2 kHz
Capacitor voltage 4 kV
Capacitance 680 µH
Number of submodules 6
Control Open Loop
Modulation [79]
Line voltage 13.8 kV
Input Frequency 50 Hz
Inductance Filter 25 mH
Line voltage 11 kV
Output Frequency 40 Hz
Inductance Filter 25 mH

Figure 20. Line voltage and M3C harmonic spectrum.

4.4. Partial Conclusions on the M3C

This family of converters introduced by Erickson in 2002 [64] takes a different approach
to converters existing up to that date. Some of its advantages are the ability to increase
and decrease the voltage amplitude, operation with different values of power factor, use of
several switching cells in series to generate multilevel waveforms and the variation of both
input and output frequencies.
The topology also has some disadvantages, mostly related to the balance of capacitors.
A solution proposed to improve this problem was adding inductors to each module of the
converter, however, this measure increases the volume of the topology, which goes against
what is expected of a matrix converter. This reduced volume is expected to compensate
for the converter’s operating difficulties. The modulation and control processing of these
converters require a more elaborate hardware. Thus, if the volume and conversion rate are
better than conventional AC–DC–AC topologies, even with complex control, it can be a
viable solution.
Another approach to solve the capacitor balance problem was proposed in [74].
Therefore, it was possible to considerably reduce the size of the inductors. The mod-
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 20 of 26

ulation technique used for this topology is SVM, as it is not possible to use level-shifted
SPWM modulations.

5. Analysis and Comparison of Topologies

A comparison of the topologies studied in this article is presented in Table 6. This
comparison aims to visualize the main characteristics of each converter. AC–AC converters
with energy storage elements are frequently used in the industry and have several advan-
tages. The switching strategies are simplified when compared to matrix converters and,
to a certain extent, are immune to mains disturbances due to the decoupling made by the
capacitor from the DC bus. One of the disadvantages of this converter family is the reduced
lifespan due to the capacitors used on the DC bus, especially when operating in hotter
environments. The capacitors used in the DC bus for low voltage are generally electrolytic,
and for medium voltage levels film capacitors are used, thus increasing the weight and
volume of the converter. Topologies that use diode rectifiers at their input stage cannot
perform input current control. This causes the current to have high harmonic distortion and,
consequently, a low power factor. Matrix converters can overcome these issues. They are
currently divided into three groups, direct [19,35], indirect [80,81], and multilevel matrix
converters [27,82]. Direct and indirect converters are employed in low-voltage applications,
for medium- and high-voltage applications the multilevel structures are preferred. There
are several advantages related to matrix converters, such as the possibility of controlling
the output voltage frequency, adjusting the static gain, extremely versatile and compact
structure, and the adjustable power factor. In this article, some comparisons will be made
between the three topologies studied, in order to show the outstanding quality of each one,
not for a direct comparison, as each one applies in a voltage and power range, which makes
them suitable in different applications.

Table 6. Comparison between CMC, MMMC, and M3C converters.

Matrix Converter Matrix Converter Modular Converter

Factor
CMC MMMC M3C
Buck-Boost with
Operation only Buck Buck-Boost
transformer
(Vout /Vin ) Vout ≤ 0.866 ≤ Vin Vout ≤ ( Ns /Np )0.866 ≤ Vin 0 ≤ Vout ≤ Vin
Switch 4 quadrants 4 quadrants Single transistor with
switch switch freewheeling diode
Multilevel Operation no yes yes
Transformer no yes no
Filter Elements Capacitors and Capacitors and Inductors
inductors inductors
H-bridge capacitors no no yes
Needs clamping yes yes no
Modular no yes (limited) yes
Basic topology 3-level 3-level 3-level
Number of switches 18 36 36
Number of diodes 0 0 36
level increase - 7 levels 5 levels
Amount switches N/A +72 +36
Number of diodes N/A +0 +36
level increase - - 7 levels
Number of switches N/A N/A +36
Number of diodes N/A N/A +36
.
level increase - - .
.

Modulation Medium High Extra

complexity
Control Medium Extra High Extra High
Capacitor voltage - - Extra High
balancing complexity
Low Voltage Medium Voltage Wind Medium Voltage Wind
Main application
Motor drives Turbine motors Turbine motors
N/A: Not Applicable.

The CMC is the the most widespread matrix topology in the literature. The default
modulation used for these converters is the SVM. The Switching Pattern is where there is
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 21 of 26

greater freedom to modify some patterns and improve the waveforms, where redundant
vectors can be chosen, as well as the sequence in which these vectors are arranged in
the switching. These choices directly impact the harmonic content of the currents and
converter voltages. As shown in Table 6, the CMC can operate only as a voltage step-down
converter, being able to operate with a maximum modulation index of 0.866 under normal
conditions, or operate with over-modulation techniques, thus, being able to exceed this
value. The switches for this topology need to be able to operate in four quadrants, causing
some drawbacks in the construction of this type of converter. In addition to the switch
associations, it is necessary to use techniques to drive them appropriately. This technique is
commonly referred as four-step switching [58], where it is necessary to know the direction
of the current in the switch and its current in a future state in order to define which sequence
will be used to drive all switches based on a predefined sequence. Although its modulation
and gate drivers are more complex, the CMC reduces the amount of passive devices, as it
only uses filters for the input and output of the converter, these being low-volume and
simple depending on the application’s needs. A circuit rarely mentioned in the literature
about this topology, but which is as essential as the topology itself, is the clamp circuit
(Figure 21). Without clamping, it is practically impossible to implement the converter,
as this circuit is needed to clamp the voltage at the input and output terminals so that there
is no overvoltage in the switches. As mentioned in Table 6, the CMC uses 18 switches to
implement as 9 four-quadrant switches, connecting them in series in a common-collector or
common-emitter configuration. Its modulation and control were defined here with medium
implementation difficulty.

Clamp Circuit
vA
ic
iA
vB
Input CMC ib Motor
iB Filter Load
vC ia

iC

Figure 21. CMC converter with filter and clamp circuit.

Although CMCs present several advantages, they are not adequate for applications
with high power and medium voltage ratings. The introduction of the multilevel concept
in the family of matrix converters offers an opportunity to conceive new converters, two
of the best known are the MMMC and the M3C. The MMMC is already industrially
produced, because its structure is a little simpler and its control is well defined in the
literature. It also uses a transformer, which for many industrial applications is essential
for electrical insulation. It also allows it to operate either as a voltage step-down or
voltage booster, as shown in Table 6 and with gain depending on the transformer ratio
(Vout ≤ ( Ns /Np )0.866 ≤ Vin ). Despite these advantages, this structure is limited to
operating with some predefined levels, not being a scalable topology for any situation.
In addition, it uses two-way switches, which bring all the problems mentioned above,
but now with even more complexity, as this topology has a greater number of switches
compared to the CMC. The MMMC can operate with several levels of output voltage,
but the combination of modules used depends on the constructive model of the transformer,
therefore, it is possible to operate in 3 and 7 levels, using 36 and 108 switches, respectively.
Other variations of the MMMC with different levels have not yet been published, probably
due to the difficulty of building the transformer. The modulation difficulty is considered
high, despite being a modulation already widespread in the literature, its application to
multilevel converters carries a high degree of difficulty. Control adds even more complexity,
making its rating extra high.
The M3C is still under development and needs more studies to improve its control
and simplify its modulation. A feature of the M3C is the possibility of working as a step-
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 22 of 26

down and voltage booster (0 ≤ Vout ≤ Vin ), without a transformer, as in the MMMC.
As mentioned previously, the CMC and MMMC generate more complexity due to the
four-quadrant switches, in which it is necessary to use the four-step switching technique.
However, for the M3C, a simple method for coordinating switch transitions “break before
make” is used [82]. This method requires that all transistors that are to be switched off
must first be turned off; after a short delay, the transistors that are to be switched on are
then turned on. During this off time, the current is not interrupted due to the anti-parallel
diodes used in the switching cell.
The modularity of the M3C converter makes this structure more practical for higher
voltage and power levels. The converter can be expanded with the addition of more
switching cells in series, starting from 3 levels to infinity, theoretically. The practical limit of
its implementation has not been imposed in the literature yet. Table 6 shows the number of
switches and diodes for 3, 5, and 7 levels, starting with 36 switches and diodes, adding the
same amount for each level added.
M3C uses capacitors in parallel with each switching cell, adding two problems to this
structure. The first is the use of capacitors, which was a point discussed as a drawback due
to the added volume and decreased lifetime, but with this cell the bidirectional switch is
not necessary. Defining the best between them is debatable, but as more levels are added,
it is preferred to choose the cell with capacitors. The second point is the need to balance
the voltage of these capacitors, which is one of the most studied disadvantages of this
converter in recent years. It should be noted that, for operation at frequencies close to
the input and output, or at very low frequencies on one of the two sides of the converter,
the voltage control in the capacitors becomes impossible. For this reason, some researchers
have inserted inductors in series with the switching cell, making it possible to control the
voltage in the capacitors due to the circulating current, in the same way it is done with
the multilevel modular converter [29,30]. The insertion of the inductor also facilitates the
control of the structure for a greater number of levels, the SVM being no longer used as
modulation, but some variations of carrier-based modulations. This consequence can also
be seen as a disadvantage, as there is a need for nine additional inductors that process
a considerable current in this topology due to the power levels that these structures are
subjected to. Unlike the CMC, that uses capacitors on one side of the converter, making
it necessary for three switches to be conducting at all times, the M3C uses inductors on
both sides of the converter, so it is necessary that five switching cells are always conducting.
Control and modulation complexity for this converter are considered of extra-high difficulty.
Both involve advanced mathematics, combined with special control and discretization
techniques to be able to operate the converter.
All topologies present some advantages and disadvantages, but they also have many
characteristics in common, coming from the family of matrix converters. One of these
characteristics is the application, these topologies are applied almost predominantly to
drive machines, the difference is the power level they are more suitable to operate.

6. Conclusions
A review of CMC, MMMC, and M3C matrix converters in terms of modulation,
implementation challenges, advantages, and disadvantages is approached in this paper.
The main objective was to provide theoretical material that encompasses essential informa-
tion about these topologies in order to support their use. The literature on the subject is
distributed in several articles and some books, which makes it extremely difficult to study
and develop subjects in the area, as well as to get started in this study subject. For this
reason, a review was initially carried out on the matrix and multilevel matrix converters.
Subsequently, the structure of the conventional matrix converter was presented, despite not
being used with high power and voltage levels, was presented for a better understanding
of this family of converters. This topology is the basis for the direct matrix family and,
consequently, it is essential to understand how it works in order to add the multilevel
concepts to the structure. The chapter on this converter introduces the philosophy of the
Energies 2022, 15, 9421 23 of 26

matrix converter family and its concepts. Topology advantages and disadvantages are
discussed. The SVM is demonstrated in a simple way focused on practical implementation,
along with a possible switching pattern. At the end, an application example along with its
output voltage waveform and harmonic spectrum is presented.
For the MMMC and M3C converters, the same sequence of chapters is adopted,
in which a general analysis of the topology is carried out, followed by modulation and
switching pattern. For these two converters, the concepts of multilevels are added to the
matrix topology, each with advantages and disadvantages. For both converters, a design
and waveform are presented, as these two have more similarities, it is possible to make a
comparison of the results obtained. At the end of the article, a more specific comparison
is made between each converter to better highlight their qualities. It is worth mentioning
that the comparison is not performed to determine which is better, since each converter is
used for different voltage levels and powers. The purpose of the comparison is to show
and highlight your qualities, challenges, and evolution. The CMC is primarily applied to
low-voltage machine drives, the MMMC and M3C for high-voltage applications. If the
application requires galvanic isolation, the MMMC is the ideal choice, otherwise, the M3C
is more versatile and may be a more suitable choice. However, for each specific application
a more detailed study is necessary for the ideal choice of converter.
Finally, the material presented herein contributes as a guide for further studies, con-
tributing important information compiled and discussed in the text. Many derivations
could be addressed in this broad subject. The focus was to bring important information,
from basic to complex, to be a means of reference for new studies.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, L.C.G.; original draft preparation L.C.G.; technical review,
J.C.D. and T.B.L.; English review and editing L.C.G., J.C.D. and T.B.L. All authors have read and
agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: This research was funded by the Brazilian National Council on Research and Development—
CNPq (Process No. 142413/2016-0).
Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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