The invention relates to a power converter (100) for converting multi-phase AC mains input power (GIV, GIC) into DC output power. In order to enable an efficient, cost-effective, easy-to-install, and reliable power supply to a DC load with high power requirements, it has at least one phase block (106A, 106B), each of which has at least two separate single-
phase converter string assemblies (1), each of which has a single active
rectifier section (10) comprising an H-bridge with
semiconductor switches (12) for rectifying single-phase AC input power (SInV, SInC) into intermediate DC power, and its own DC-
DC converter (20).The latter comprises an
inverter section (30) with an H-bridge with
semiconductor switches (32) for inverting the intermediate DC power into a first intermediate
AC power (PAC1) with an increased frequency (f1), a
transformer (40, 240) for converting the first intermediate
AC power (PAC1) into a second intermediate
AC power (PAC2, PAC2A, PAC2B), and a passive
diode rectifier (50, 150, 250) comprising a
diode bridge (51) for rectifying the second intermediate AC power (PAC2, PAC2A, PAC2B). The invention also relates to a
hydrogen production
plant (200) with an electrolyzer stack (20) and such a power converter (100).