Abstract: A power conversion method is disclosed. The method includes operating a PFC converter configured to receive three input voltages and provide a DC link voltage between DC link nodes in one of at least two different operating modes, and operating an SR converter coupled to the PFC converter via the DC link nodes in one of at least two different operating modes dependent on an output voltage of the SR converter. Operating the SR converter includes regulating a voltage level of the DC link voltage dependent on a DC link voltage reference, and the at least two different operating modes of the SR converter include a buck mode and a series resonant mode.

Abstract: An electrical converter may include AC terminals, a first and second DC terminal, and converter modules. Each of the converter modules has an AC node. The second DC terminal forms a common node of the converter modules. A connection between the AC nodes of the converter modules and the AC terminals is reconfigurable allowing the electrical converter to operate according to a first mode of operation converting between a first AC signal having a first plurality of phase voltages and the DC signal, in which the converter modules are grouped in first groups, and according to a second mode of operation converting between a second AC signal having a single-phase voltage and the DC signal, in which the converter modules are rearranged in second groups. The electrical converter is configured to operate multiple converter modules assigned to a same group of the first groups and the second groups in parallel.

Abstract: An electrical converter includes at least three AC terminals, a first and a second DC terminal and at least three converter modules. Each of the at least three converter modules has a first converter stage including a flying capacitor circuit coupled to a first switch node, a second converter stage including a flying capacitor circuit coupled to a second switch node, a first inductor, and a first capacitor. The first and second switch nodes are connected to opposite terminals of the first inductor. One of the at least three AC terminals and the second DC terminal are connected to opposite terminals of the first capacitor. The second DC terminal forms a star-point of the first capacitors. A flying capacitor voltage of the first converter stage is clamped to a first voltage across the first capacitor when the first voltage drops below the flying capacitor voltage.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter may include three phase terminals, two DC terminals, a first converter stage to convert between an AC current at the phase terminals and a first DC current at the first and second intermediate nodes, a second converter stage operable to convert between a first DC signal at third and fourth intermediate nodes and a second DC signal at the DC terminals, a first filter stage comprising a capacitor network having a star-point, a DC link connecting the first intermediate node to the third intermediate node and the second intermediate node to the fourth intermediate node. The second converter stage includes a middle voltage node between the DC terminals and a boost circuit having a midpoint node at the same electrical potential as the middle voltage node. The DC link includes a common mode filter having a common mode capacitor connecting the middle voltage node to the star-point.

Abstract: A multiphase converter topology is used for the transmission of electrical energy from an AC voltage input with m grid phase connections to a DC voltage output or vice versa. It has a power part with half-bridges for switching currents, an AC voltage filter between the power part and the AC voltage input, and DC voltage block(s) connected between the power part and the DC output. The AC voltage filter has alternating voltage filter stage(s) with m+1 input connections, m+1 output connections and a ground connection. The m grid phase connections are thereby connected in parallel to one another and form a first phase connection for the connection of a single-phase AC voltage. A neutral conductor connection of the AC voltage filter forms a neutral conductor connection of the AC voltage input and a second phase connection for the connection of the single-phase AC voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus. The method includes detecting an operating state of a current source converter that comprises a current source rectifier (1), a current source inverter (2), and an inductor circuit (3) connected between an output (p, n) of the current source rectifier (1) and an input (q, r) of the current source inverter (2); and dependent on the detected operating state, operating the current source converter in a first operating mode or a second operating mode. Operating the current source converter in the first operating mode comprises operating the current source rectifier (1) in a 2/3 mode and operating the current source inverter in a 3/3 mode, and operating the current source converter in the second operating mode comprises operating the current source inverter (2) in the 2/3 mode and operating the current source rectifier in the 3/3 mode.

Abstract: A multiphase converter topology is used for the transmission of electrical energy from an AC voltage input with m grid phase connections to a DC voltage output or vice versa. It has a power part with half-bridges for switching currents, an AC voltage filter between the power part and the AC voltage input, and DC voltage block(s) connected between the power part and the DC output. The AC voltage filter has alternating voltage filter stage(s) with m+1 input connections, m+1 output connections and a ground connection. The m grid phase connections are thereby connected in parallel to one another and form a first phase connection for the connection of a single-phase AC voltage. A neutral conductor connection of the AC voltage filter forms a neutral conductor connection of the AC voltage input and a second phase connection for the connection of the single-phase AC voltage.

Abstract: A method, a control circuit, and a power converter arrangement are disclosed. The method includes: coupling three power converters (1, 2, 3) with each other; connecting each of the three power converters (1, 2, 3) to a 3-phase power source (4) configured to provide three supply voltages (Ua, Ub, Uc); and regulating a respective input signal (V1, V2, V3; I1, I2, I3) of each of the three power converters (1, 2, 3) dependent on a common mode signal (Scm).

Abstract: A multiphase converter topology is used for the transmission of electrical energy from an AC voltage input with m grid phase connections to a DC voltage output or vice versa. It has a power part with half-bridges for switching currents, an AC voltage filter between the power part and the AC voltage input, and DC voltage block(s) connected between the power part and the DC output. The AC voltage filter has alternating voltage filter stage(s) with m+1 input connections, m+1 output connections and a ground connection. The m grid phase connections are thereby connected in parallel to one another and form a first phase connection for the connection of a single-phase AC voltage. A neutral conductor connection of the AC voltage filter forms a neutral conductor connection of the AC voltage input and a second phase connection for the connection of the single-phase AC voltage.

Abstract: A power conversion method is disclosed. The method includes operating a PFC converter configured to receive three input voltages and provide a DC link voltage between DC link nodes in one of at least two different operating modes, and operating an SR converter coupled to the PFC converter via the DC link nodes in one of at least two different operating modes dependent on an output voltage of the SR converter. Operating the SR converter includes regulating a voltage level of the DC link voltage dependent on a DC link voltage reference, and the at least two different operating modes of the SR converter include a buck mode and a series resonant mode.

Abstract: A multiphase converter topology is used for the transmission of electrical energy from an AC voltage input with m grid phase connections to a DC voltage output or vice versa. It has a power part with half-bridges for switching currents, an AC voltage filter between the power part and the AC voltage input, and DC voltage block(s) connected between the power part and the DC output. The AC voltage filter has alternating voltage filter stage(s) with m+1 input connections, m+1 output connections and a ground connection. The m grid phase connections are thereby connected in parallel to one another and form a first phase connection for the connection of a single-phase AC voltage. A neutral conductor connection of the AC voltage filter forms a neutral conductor connection of the AC voltage input and a second phase connection for the connection of the single-phase AC voltage.

Abstract: An electrical power converter includes a dual buck power stage with a first half bridge and second half bridge. Each of the half bridges is arranged between a first common node and a second common node. Each of the half bridges comprises an upper switching element and a lower switching element. The upper switching element is configured to switch a current between the first common node and a respective first or second bridge midpoint. The lower switching element is configured to switch a current between the respective first or second bridge midpoint and the second common node. The first and second bridge midpoints are connected to a summing node via respective first and second dual buck inductors. A main switching stage is arranged to supply, through a main stage inductor and through a main output line, a main stage current to the summing node.

Abstract: An electrical power converter includes a dual buck power stage with a first half bridge and second half bridge. Each of the half bridges is arranged between a first common node and a second common node. Each of the half bridges comprises an upper switching element and a lower switching element. The upper switching element is configured to switch a current between the first common node and a respective first or second bridge midpoint. The lower switching element is configured to switch a current between the respective first or second bridge midpoint and the second common node. The first and second bridge midpoints are connected to a summing node via respective first and second dual buck inductors. A main switching stage is arranged to supply, through a main stage inductor and through a main output line, a main stage current to the summing node.

Abstract: An exemplary inductive power transfer system having a transmitter coil and a receiver coil. A transmitter-side power converter having a mains rectifier stage powering a transmitter-side dc-bus and controlling a transmitter-side dc-bus voltage U1,dc. A transmitter-side inverter stage with a switching frequency fsw supplies the transmitter coil with an alternating current. A receiver-side power converter having a receiver-side rectifier stage that rectifies a voltage induced in the receiver coil and powering a receiver-side dc-bus and a receiver-side charging converter controlling a receiver-side dc-bus voltage U2,dc. Power controllers that determine from a power transfer efficiency of the power transfer, reference values U1,dc*, U2,dc* for the transmitter and receiver side dc-bus voltages. An inverter stage switching controller controls the switching frequency fsw to reduce losses in the transmitter-side inverter stage.

Abstract: A Voltage Source Converter (VSC) (10) with Neutral-Point-Clamped (NPC) topology with one or more phases, comprises an intermediate DC circuit having at least a first and a second capacitance connected in series between a positive terminal and a negative terminal, providing a central tap terminal between both capacitances, and at least one sub-circuit for generating one phase of an alternating voltage, each sub-circuit comprising an AC terminal for supplying a pulsed voltage; a circuit arrangement of the form of a conventional NPC converter, with a first series connection of at least two switches between said AC terminal and said positive terminal, a second series connection of at least two switches between said AC terminal said negative terminal, and switchable connections from said central tap terminal to the centers of both two-switch series connections; and additional first and second auxiliary switches assigned to said two-switch series connections.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the improvement of the line quality in a system, in which a common feeding (1), via at least one distribution transformer (3), feeds at least two non-linear loads (11) drawing non-sinusoidal currents from the common feeding (1), wherein between the common feeding (1) and the distribution transformer (3) there is at least one primary side transformer line (2) and between the at least one distribution transformer (3) and the loads (11) there is at least one lower voltage secondary side transformer line (22), wherein at least one active filter (24) attached to at least one lower voltage secondary side transformer line (22) is used for the attenuation or elimination of higher order harmonics experienced by the common feeding (1). Furthermore a high power distribution system for use of such a method is disclosed, in particular for the operation of an electrostatic precipitator.

Abstract: An exemplary inductive power transfer system having a transmitter coil and a receiver coil. A transmitter-side power converter having a mains rectifier stage powering a transmitter-side dc-bus and controlling a transmitter-side dc-bus voltage U1,dc. A transmitter-side inverter stage with a switching frequency fsw supplies the transmitter coil with an alternating current. A receiver-side power converter having a receiver-side rectifier stage that rectifies a voltage induced in the receiver coil and powering a receiver-side dc-bus and a receiver-side charging converter controlling a receiver-side dc-bus voltage U2,dc. Power controllers that determine from a power transfer efficiency of the power transfer, reference values U1,dc*, U2,dc* for the transmitter and receiver side dc-bus voltages. An inverter stage switching controller controls the switching frequency fsw to reduce losses in the transmitter-side inverter stage.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus and method for using intelligent gate driver units with distributed intelligence to control antiparallel power modules or parallel-connected electrical switching devices like IGBTs is disclosed. The intelligent gate drive units use the intelligence to balance the currents of the switching devices, even in dynamic switching events. The intelligent gate driver units can use master-slave or daisy chain control structures and instantaneous or time integral differences of the currents of parallel-connected switching devices as control parameters. Instead of balancing the currents, temperature can also be balanced with the intelligent gate driver units.

Abstract: A switching device for switching a current between a first connection and a second connection including a series circuit of at least two JFETs (J1-Jn), with further JFETs (J2-Jn), which are connected in series to a lowest JFET (J1), and wherein a wiring network for stabilizing the gate voltages of the JFETs (J1-Jn) is connected between the second connection and the first termination. One additional circuit is connected between each gate connection (GJ2, GJ3 . . . GjN) of the further JFETs (J2-Jn) and associated cathode connections of diodes (DAV) of the wiring network. During switch-on and in the switched-on state, said additional circuit keeps the potential of the respective gate connection higher than the potential of the associated source connection.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a gate drive circuit and a method for controlling a gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit includes a PI controller that receives an input reference signal (vref,d/dt) controls a gate voltage of the gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit also includes a first feedback loop for the PI controller adapted to provide feedback from a time derivative of a collector-to-emitter voltage (vCE) of the controlled component. The first feedback loop has a first gain (kv). A second is provided in the gate drive circuit feedback loop for the PI controller that provides feedback from the time derivative of the collector current (iC) of the controlled component. The second feedback loop has second gain (ki) and includes a clipping circuit that modifies the feedback signal in the second feedback loop during turn-on of the controlled component when the time derivative of the collector current is negative.