**3. Proposed Converter Configuration**

Figure 3 shows a new hybrid converter directly connected with multi-MW wind generator. In this arrangement, 3L-NPC works as a bi-directional converter for motoring as well as generating action, intended for electrically field excitation to produce starting torque. In the case of electrical field excitation in the generator, 3L-NPC works as an inverter mode, on the other hand, it works as a rectifier mode, just like all interleaved unidirectional Vienna rectifiers operation, as mentioned in the proposed scheme. Out of (*n* + 1) parallel-connected power converters, the projected system only uses a single unit of three-phase 3L-NPC converter and 'n' number of Vienna rectifiers, as shown in Figure 3. A deliberated system, in fact, is a parallel operation of circuits, as mentioned in Figure 2b,c, which results in low THD and good power factor. The total power equally distributes in each power electronics building block of the deliberated system by 1/(*n* + 1), which helps to select the lower power rating semiconductor devices. Hence, the intended power converter interface best fit for multi-MW generators. A recommended bidirectional power flow system is specially designed for high power wind generators, which are often used as directly connected offshore wind turbines in wind energy conversion solicitations [22,31].

**Figure 3.** Proposed hybrid converter for multi-MW wind generator.
