A method (300) for controlling a power module includes: configuring (S31) N cells (10) in cascade connection, where N is a positive integer equal to or greater than 2, each cell (10) comprising a bidirectional switching unit (11) and a non-controlled rectifier bridge (12), the bidirectional switching unit (11) being connected to central points (N1, N2) of two bridge arms (121, 122) of the non-controlled rectifier bridge (12); and controlling (S32) each cell (10) to operate in one of three operating modes of a modulation mode, a bypass mode and a non-controlled rectifying mode, wherein in the N cells(10), m1 cells operate in the bypass mode, where 0≤m1≤M1, m2 cells operate in the non-controlled rectifying mode, where 0≤m2≤M2, m3 cells operate in the modulation mode and can realize power factor correction, where 0