Direct power control（DPC）is a classical high performance control strategy for the pulse width modulation（PWM）rectifier，which features the merits of quick response，no need of inner current regulation and strong robustness against parameter mismatches，etc.However，DPC exhibits high power ripples and rich grid current harmonics at steady state and requires high sampling frequency.Based on the predictive model for the PWM rectifier，direct mean power control（DMPC）is proposed by employing the non-zero vector from a predefined switching table and a zero vector during a control period.By equalizing the mean value of active power to its reference value，the duration or duty cycle of the non-zero vector can be analytically derived.Experimental results show that，compared with conventional DPC，the proposed DMPC can achieve reduced power ripples at steady state，less current harmonics and lower current total harmonic distortion（THD），while maintaining unit power factor operation and quick response of conventional DPC.