A cycloconverter refers to a frequency changer that can to change AC power from one frequency to AC power at another frequency. This process is known as AC-AC conversion. It is mainly used in electric traction, AC motors having variable speed and induction heating.

A cycloconverter can achieve frequency conversion in one stage and ensures that voltage and the frequencies are controllable. In addition, the need to use commutation circuits is not necessary because it utilizes natural commutation. Power transfer within a cycloconverter occurs in two directions (bidirectional).

A major problem with cycloconverters is that when it is operating at small currents, there are inefficiencies created with firing delay. Furthermore, operations are only smooth at frequencies that are not equal half frequency input values. This is true because a cycloconverter is an AC- AC converter that is phase controlled. Therefore, for it to give the required AC output voltage, it has to do a selection of the voltage input segments by applying line (natural) commutation. This explains why the output frequency is lower than the frequency input.

Harmonics in a cycloconverter are mainly affected by methods of control, overlap effect, the number of pulses in a given cycle, operation mode and mode of conduction.

There are two types of cycloconverters−

• Step Up cycloconverter − These types use natural commutation and give an output at higher frequency than that of the input.

• Step Down cycloconverter − This type uses forced commutation and results in an output with a frequency lower than that of the input.

Cycloconverters are further classified into three categories −

• Single phase to single-phase − This type of cycloconverter has two full wave converters connected back to back. If one converter is operating the other one is disabled, no current passes through it.

• Three-phase to single-phase − This cycloconverter operates in four quadrants that is (+V, +I) and (−V, −I) being the rectification modes and (+V, −I) and (−V, +I) being the inversion modes.

• Three-phase to three-phase − This type of cycloconverter is majorly used in AC machine systems that are operating on three phase induction and synchronous machines.