Study of Active-Front-End design for the Acceleration Grid Power Supply of ITER Neutral Beam Injector

In order to explore strategies to reduce the high reactive power demand and to improve the current harmonic content injected into the main grid of the ITER experimental reactor, in this paper a different design approach to the ac/dc conversion system of the Acceleration Grid Power Supply (AGPS) of ITER Neutral Beam Injector based on Active Front End (AFE) solution is investigated. Particular attention has been given to the chosen modulation strategy, different from that normally used in AFE converter for high power application. Finally, the performance of AGPS realized with AFE and reference thyristor rectifiers are compared and discussed.