Performance comparison of a typical nonlinear load supplied by ac and dc voltages

Abstract

This paper presents a performance comparison of a typical nonlinear load when supplied by ac or dc voltages with the same rms value. The performance of the nonlinear load towards its connection to ac and dc power grids is accomplished in terms of the waveforms and efficiency. A simulation model was developed using realistic database models of the power semiconductors comprising the load, and an experimental setup was assembled, so that the efficiency can be determined and compared for simulation and real operating conditions. Three distinct cases were considered for this study: (1) Load supplied by ac voltage; (2) Load supplied by dc voltage; and (3) Load without the input ac-dc converter supplied by dc voltage. The obtained results show that supplying nonlinear loads with dc power grids is advantageous in relation to the ac power grid, and therefore it can be beneficial to adapt nonlinear loads to be powered by dc power grids.