Hybrid rectifier

A hybrid rectifier circuit for rectifying a line current, comprising:

• a top transistor for conducting current during a positive current portion of the line current and switching during a negative current portion of the line current;
• a bottom transistor for conducting current during the negative current portion of the line current and switching during the positive current portion of the line current;
• and
• a hybrid-rectifier controller connected to the top transistor and the bottom transistor for switching the top and bottom transistor during the positive portion of the line current when the line current is below a sinusoidal reference current, and switching the bottom and top transistor during the negative portion of the line current when the line current is above the sinusoidal reference current.

A hybrid rectifier circuit for power regeneration, comprising:

• a top diode for conducting current during a positive current portion of the line current;
• a top transistor connected in parallel to the top diode;
• a bottom diode for conducting current during a negative current portion of the line current;
• a bottom transistor connected in parallel to the bottom diode;
• and
• a hybrid-rectifier controller connected to the top transistor and the bottom transistor for measuring a DC bus voltage, and when the DC bus voltage exceeds a regeneration trigger level, switching the top transistor and the bottom transistor, such that:
• during the positive current portion of the line current:
• switch the bottom transistor so that the bottom transistor conducts current when the line current is below a sinusoidal reference current, and
• switch the bottom transistor so that the bottom transistor does not conduct current when the line current is above the sinusoidal reference current;
• and
• during the negative current portion of the line current:
• switch the top transistor so that the top transistor conducts current when the line current is above the sinusoidal reference current, and
• switch the top transistor so that the top transistor does not conduct current when the line current is below the sinusoidal reference current.