Method for re-powering a star-connected stator

1. A method for re-powering a star-connected stator having a plurality of parallel stator slots, wherein a plurality of stator winding bars having external winding connections are disposed in stator slots, the method comprising:

providing the stator configured as a star-connected stator, the stator including a plurality of stator winding bars having external winding connections;

bridging the external winding connections of the winding bars with end connections so as to connect the stator winding bars in series and to form a polygonal stator capable of producing a polyphase alternating current (AC); and

connecting a static frequency converter directly to the end connections of the winding bars so as to form a matrix converter,

wherein the connecting of the static frequency converter is performed using sets of an m-x-n matrix of bidirectional switches connected directly to the end connections of the winding bars, where m represents a number of alternating current phases input to the matrix converter and n represents a number of alternating current output phases for each alternating current input phase.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the star-connected generator includes a plurality of circular rings connecting the external winding connections of the winding bars to terminals, and wherein the bridging includes removing the plurality of circular connecting rings, and welding the external winding connections of the winding bars to each other so as to form the end connections.

3. A method for re-powering a stator configured as a star-connected stator, the method comprising:

providing the stator configured as a star-connected stator, the stator including a plurality of stator winding bars having external winding connections:

welding the external winding connections of the winding bars together so as to form end connections and so as to connect the stator winding bars in series to form a polygonal stator capable of producing a polyphase alternating current (AC); and

connecting at least a portion of the welded end connections to respective bidirectional switches, wherein the respective bidirectional switches include sets of an m-x-n matrix of bidirectional switches connected directly to the end connections of the winding bars so as to form a matrix converter, where m represents a number of alternating current phases input to the matrix converter and n represents a number of alternating current output phases for each alternating current input phase.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein each input phase is individually connectible to any output phase of the polyphase AC current via a bidirectional switch.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein each input phase is individually connectible to any output phase of the polyphase AC current via a bidirectional switch.