Abstract
Power circuit arrangements of independently excited reactive electric drives are presented. It is shown that the number of switches is determined by the number of phases and lies in the range from 2f to 4f. It has been ascertained by regression analysis that the unit price of semiconductor converters at minor current values does not depend on current and is determined by the cost of the microprocessor control system. At currents >100 A, the price-current relation is nearly linear and the rejection of three-phase power circuits of semiconductor converters in favor of multiphase power circuits does not therefore increase power supply weight and size. Thus, the more complex configuration of power circuit arrangements (increased number of phases) for processing plants with an installed capacity of more than 200 kW can improve the weight and size of the electromechanical converter while maintaining the size of the semiconductor converter.