Abstract: A modular converter is disclosed which includes plural converter cells connected in series on a first side, and connected on a second side, wherein each converter cell includes an AC-to-DC converter connected to the first side and a DC-to-DC converter connected to the second side. Exemplary embodiments estimate power transferred by the modular converter; compare the transferred power with a threshold value; when the transferred power exceeds the threshold value, operate in a normal load operation mode; when the transferred power is below the threshold value, operate in a low load operation mode with reduced switching losses.

Abstract: A distributed controller module for controlling a power electronics building block of a power electronics converter includes a plurality of gate drivers for controlling power electronics switches of the power electronics building block, a first fiber optics communication interface for communication with a central controller module, a second fiber optics communication interface for communication with a second distributed controller module for controlling a second power electronics building block of the power electronics converter, and a processor unit for controlling the gate drivers and transmitting and receiving data via the first fiber optics communication interface and the second fiber optics communication interface.

Abstract: A converter includes an active stage for converting an AC input voltage at an AC input into an intermediate DC voltage, and a DC/DC converter for transforming the intermediate DC voltage into an output DC voltage at a DC output. The DC/DC converter has a resonant transformer formed by a resonant circuit and a transformer. The converter also includes control unit configured to actively operate the active stage only based on an output DC voltage of the DC/DC converter, an input voltage, and an input current of the converter, and to operate the DC/DC converter in an open loop mode. A method for operating such a converter is also provided.

Abstract: A converter includes an active stage for converting an AC input voltage at an AC input into an intermediate DC voltage, and a DC/DC converter for transforming the intermediate DC voltage into an output DC voltage at a DC output. The DC/DC converter has a resonant transformer formed by a resonant circuit and a transformer. The converter also includes control unit configured to actively operate the active stage only based on an output DC voltage of the DC/DC converter, an input voltage, and an input current of the converter, and to operate the DC/DC converter in an open loop mode. A method for operating such a converter is also provided.