Voltage source current controlled multilevel power converter

An alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power conversion system comprising:

• power source for providing a system input power;
• at least one phase set of power converter modules coupled in series to each other for converting at least one phase of the system input power to a system output power wherein each power converter module comprises:
• a voltage source current controlled power converter for providing unidirectional current having at least four output voltage levels, the power converter comprising:
• an input terminal for receiving modular input current;
• an output terminal for providing modular output current;
• a first conductive path and a second conductive path coupled in parallel to each other between the input terminal and the output terminal, wherein each of the first and second conductive paths comprises at least one diode coupled in series to the respective conductive path and at least one switch coupled in series to the respective conductive path,
• wherein the at least one diode in the first conductive path is coupled to the first conductive path closer to the input terminal than the output terminal, and the at least one diode in the second conductive path is coupled to the second conductive path closer to the output terminal than the input terminal;
• and
• at least two energy storage elements coupled between the first conductive path and the second conductive path;
• and
• at least one receiver end power converter module coupled to the at least one phase set of converter modules via a DC link.