Patent ID: 8030791

Claim:
A current source converter for converting input electrical power to output electrical power, comprising: an input for receiving input electrical power from a synchronous machine; an output for providing output electrical power to a power grid; an intermediate circuit with at least one storage element; a current source rectifier (CSR) comprising a plurality of switching devices coupled with the input and the intermediate circuit and operative according to a plurality of CSR switching control signals to selectively couple the input to the intermediate circuit; a current source inverter (CSI) comprising a plurality of switching devices coupled with the intermediate circuit and the output and operative according to a plurality of CSI switching control signals to selectively couple the intermediate circuit to the output; a feedback system operatively coupled with the output and providing at least one feedback value or signal indicative of one or more electrical conditions at the output; and a switch control system operatively coupled with the feedback system and with the CSR to provide pulse width modulated firing angle control CSR switching control signals to the CSR to convert input power from the synchronous machine to intermediate DC in the intermediate circuit, with the switch control system providing the CSR switching control signals to selectively adjust a d-axis current of the synchronous machine to regulate power factor of the output according to the at least one feedback value or signal.