Single phase to three phase converter

Abstract

A converter for providing three phase power to a three phase load from a single phase supply includes an inverter connected to single phase input power lines and a bi-directional switch connected in series with one of the input power lines. The converter has three output lines, one connected to the inverter output, another connected to an input power line between the bi-directional switch and the inverter, and the third connected directly to the other input power line. The inverter switching devices are controlled to provide a signal on the output of the inverter to provide balanced three phase power on the converter output lines. This is preferably accomplished by pulse width modulation of an inverter output voltage reference signal derived by phase shifting the single phase input voltage signal by 60.degree.. The inverter is preferably also controlled to phase shift the inverter output signal when necessary to ensure that the net power flow into the inverter is zero under light load conditions. During load start-up, the bi-directional switch is phase controlled to adjust the amplitude of the converter output current to thereby adjust the load current to limit inrush current levels and provide a soft starter by ramping up the current in the load.