A Novel Method of Suppressing the Inrush Current of Transformers Using a Series-Connected Voltage-Source PWM Converter

This paper proposes a novel method of suppressing the inrush current of transformers. A small-rated voltage-source PWM converter is connected in series to the transformers through a matching transformer. As the connected PWM converter performs a resistor for the source current, no inrush phenomena occurs. The required-ratings of the PWM converter, which performs the damping resistor for the inrush phenomena, is one-four-hundredth as compared to that of the main transformers in single-phase circuits. In three-phase circuits, it is one-nine-hundredth. The basic principle of the proposed method is discussed. Digital computer simulation is implemented to confirm the validity and excellent practicability of the proposed method using the PSCAD/EMTDC. A prototype experimental-model is constructed and tested. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can perfectly suppress the inrush phenomena.