Bidirectional AC-DC Converter With Multilevel Power Factor Correction

A multilevel stage of a bidirectional AC power converter, comprising: a set of switches in series, a set of capacitors in series, the set of capacitors being in parallel with the set of switches; a number of sets of diodes in series; a center tap along the set of switches in series; and a pair of taps, respectively after the first and before the last switch of the set of switches in series; wherein each node between respective capacitors is connected to a node between respective diodes. A converter first stage for a 3-level converter has 6 switches, two capacitors, and two diodes, with the junction between diodes connected to the junction between capacitors, and the diode legs between switches - and - The center tap is between switches - and the pair of taps between switches - and -