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This paper proposes a sliding-mode control (SMC)-based scheme for the variable-speed direct-driven wind energy conversion systems (WECS) equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous generator connected to the grid. In this paper, diode rectifier, boost converter, neutral point clamped inverter, and L filter are used as the interface between the wind turbine and grid. This topology has abundant features such as simplicity for low- and medium-power wind turbine applications. It is also less costly than back-to-back two-level converters in medium-power applications. The SMC approach demonstrates great performance in complicated nonlinear systems control such as WECS. The proposed control strategy modifies reaching law (RL) of the sliding mode technique to reduce chattering issue and to improve total harmonic distortion property compared to conventional RL SMC. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is explored by simulation study on a 4-kW wind turbine, and then verified by experimental tests for a 2-kW setup. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this letter, the authors present an approach for designing discrete packaging of a bidirectional power switch used in matrix converter applications. The study is based on computing the magnetic field inside a specific resonant switching cell in order to incorporate low-voltage control circuits inside the compact space volume of the power module. The novelty of the proposed configuration is the creation of an oriented magnetic field area, which has very low impact on the low-level control signals of the power devices. Numerical analyses as well as experimental results are presented to demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]