Abstract

A multicell rectifier (MC) structure with N + 2 redundancy is presented. The topology is based on power cells implemented with the integrated gate commuted thyristors (IGCTs) to challenge the SCR standard industry solution for the past 35 years. This rectifier is a reliable, compact, efficient, nonpolluting alternative and cost-effective solution for electrolytic applications. Its structure, based on power cells, enables load shedding to ensure power delivery even in the event of power cell failures. It injects quasi-sinusoidal input currents and provides unity power factor without the use of passive or active filters. A complete evaluation based on IEEE standards 493-1997 and IEEE C57.18.10 for average downtime, failures rates, and efficiency is included. For comparison purposes, results are shown against conventional systems known for their high efficiency and reliability. © 2008 IEEE.