Analysis of electric circuits with semiconductor converters with the use of a small parameter method in frequency domain

Purpose - Analytical determination of harmonic components of current in electric circuits containing semiconductor converters with the use of a small parameter method (SPM) in frequency domain. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach - A SPM realized in frequency domain was used in the analytical analysis of electric circuits with semiconductor converters. An automated method of formation of orthogonal harmonic components of electrical values on the basis of discrete convolution algorithm was used to provide the possibility of realization of calculation in frequency domain. A nonlinear characteristic of a semiconductor converter was presented by the method of numerical approximation. A numerical structured simulation method was applied to determination of the reference values of current in the analyzed circuit. Laws of theoretical electrical engineering were used for formation of the equations of voltage balance in the circuit with a nonlinear element. Findings - It is shown that application of a SPM with its realization in frequency domain enables significant simplification of the process of the analysis of electric circuits with semiconductor converters in an analytical form and facilitation of calculation automation. Analytical and numerical calculation of a circuit with a diode under active-inductive load demonstrated efficiency and sufficient accuracy of the proposed method. It is shown that increase of the order of approximating polynomial and of the number of the analyzed harmonics provides the improvement of the accuracy of numerical calculations. Practical implications - The results of the work can be used in calculation of electrotechnical devices containing semiconductor appliances and electric devices with nonlinear characteristics. Moreover, the obtained results enable studying the processes of compensation of current higher harmonics in electric networks with a nonlinear load containing semiconductor converters. Originality/value - For the first time it was proposed to apply a SPM with its realization in frequency domain to the analysis of nonlinear electric circuits. The significance of the paper consists in the fact that the offered method makes it possible to carry out both circuit analytical and numerical analysis with the possibility of its automation.