Abstract: Power conversion systems and filters therefor include conductive busbars, a first low frequency capacitor circuit coupled with the busbars at a first location proximate a filter input, a first inductor circuit with common mode cores extending around the busbars at a second location between the first location and a filter output, a second low frequency capacitor circuit coupled with the busbars at a third location between the second location and the filter output, a second inductor circuit with second common mode cores extending around the busbars at a fourth location between the third location and the filter output, a third low-frequency capacitor circuit coupled with the busbars at a fifth location between the fourth location and the filter output, and a high frequency fourth capacitor circuit, coupled with one of the busbars at the fifth location.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include apparatus to couple a motor drive to a motor, including a cable with a first end coupled with an output of a motor drive, a second end coupled with a motor, a plurality of conductors to convey an output signal of the motor drive between the first and second ends to drive the motor, and a plurality of shields, with a conductive junction to couple tap points of at least two of the shields together. Resistors can be used to connect the tap points to the conductive junction to provide an impedance in series with the corresponding shield to reduce voltage stress to the motor or the cable. In certain examples, the shields include a semiconductor material to provide an impedance between the first end and the conductive junction to reduce voltage stress to the motor or the cable.

Abstract: Motor drive power conversion systems are provided including a rectifier and a switching inverter, wherein the switching devices of the rectifier, the inverter and/or of a DC/DC converter are silicon carbide switches, such as silicon carbide MOSFETs. Driver circuits are provided for providing bipolar gate drive signals to the silicon carbide MOSFETs, including providing negative gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode low side drivers and positive gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode high side drivers.

Abstract: Power converters, protection systems and methods to protect a precharge circuit in which a precharge resistor voltage is indirectly monitored during a normal operating mode, and a rectifier and an inverter are selectively disabled in response to the indirectly measured precharge resistor voltage indicating a fault in a precharge circuit SCR.

Abstract: Multilevel power converters, power cells and methods are presented for selectively bypassing a power stage of a multilevel inverter circuit, in which a single relay or contactor includes first and second normally closed output control contacts coupled between a given power cell switching circuit and the given power cell output, along with a normally open bypass contact coupled across the power stage output, with a local or central controller energizing the coil of the relay or contactor of a given cell to bypass that cell.

Abstract: A method and controller to automatically determine a grounding condition of a motor drive, in which an inverter is operated at a predetermined frequency while a load resistor is connected between a single phase of a motor drive inverter output and a reference node, a leakage flux linkage value is computed according to a neutral-ground voltage of the motor drive, and a processor determines whether the motor drive is solid grounded, high-resistance grounded, or floating according to the leakage flux linkage value. In certain examples, the processor automatically turns the inverter off while the load resistor is connected between the single phase of the inverter output and the reference node, and automatically determines whether the motor drive is delta corner grounded according to the neutral-ground voltage.

Abstract: Multilevel power converters, power cells and methods are presented for selectively bypassing a power stage of a multilevel inverter circuit, in which a single relay or contactor includes first and second normally closed output control contacts coupled between a given power cell switching circuit and the given power cell output, along with a normally open bypass contact coupled across the power stage output, with a local or central controller energizing the coil of the relay or contactor of a given cell to bypass that cell.

Abstract: Power conversion systems, disclosed examples include power conversion systems, ground fault detection apparatus and methods to detect and identify ground faults in a power conversion system using AC coupling to sense a system voltage to determine a leakage flux linkage, and to identify a faulted converter phase based on a phase shift angle of the leakage flux linkage.

Abstract: For reducing volume requirements and magnetic flux leakage, a compact inductor includes a first planar core with a first core thickness along a first axis orthogonal to a plane of the first planar core. In addition, the inductor includes a second planar core disposed parallel to the first planar core with a second core thickness along the first axis. The inductor further includes a plurality of electrical windings disposed between and adjacent to an inside plane of the first planar core and an inside plane of the second planar core. The electrical windings may include insulated electrical wires. No magnetic teeth may be disposed between the first planar core and the second planar core. The first axis is parallel to a magnetic axis of each electrical winding.

Abstract: A power conversion system, a non-transitory computer readable medium, and a method of operating a power conversion system, in which inverter switching control signals are generated in a first mode according to an inverter carrier signal having an inverter switching frequency, and according to inverter modulation signals, to operate switches of an inverter to provide an AC output signal, and the inverter modulation signals are shifted in a second mode for low modulation index values to reduce common mode voltage.

Abstract: Power conversion systems, discharge circuits and methods are disclosed for discharging a DC bus conditioner capacitor connected between a neutral node and a first reference node in a DC bus circuit of a power conversion system, in which a DC bus voltage of the power conversion system is monitored, and a discharge control DC power supply is activated in response to the DC bus voltage transitioning below a first threshold voltage to activate a switching circuit to connect a discharge resistor between the first reference node and a DC bus terminal of the DC bus circuit to at least partially discharge the conditioner capacitor through the discharge resistor.

Abstract: Power conversion systems, discharge circuits and methods are disclosed for discharging a DC bus conditioner capacitor connected between a neutral node and a first reference node in a DC bus circuit of a power conversion system, in which a DC bus voltage of the power conversion system is monitored, and a discharge control DC power supply is activated in response to the DC bus voltage transitioning below a first threshold voltage to activate a switching circuit to connect a discharge resistor between the first reference node and a DC bus terminal of the DC bus circuit to at least partially discharge the conditioner capacitor through the discharge resistor.

Abstract: The present techniques include methods and systems for operating converter to maintain a lifespan of the converter. In some embodiments, the operating frequency of the converter may be increased such that stress may be reduced on the bond wires of the converter. More specifically, embodiments involve calculating the aging parameters for certain operating conditions of the converter operating in a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) mode and determining whether the MPPT operation results in aging the converter to a point which reduces the converter lifespan below a desired lifespan. If the MPPT operation reduces the converter lifespan below the desired lifespan, the frequency of the converter may be increased such that the converter may be controlled to operate at a percentage of MPPT. Thus, in some embodiments, power output may be optimized with respect to maintaining a desired lifespan of the converter.

Abstract: Motor drive power conversion systems, including a filter circuit with a single inductor and a capacitor for each input phase, an active rectifier with silicon carbide rectifier switching devices and no precharge circuitry, a DC bus circuit with a film DC bus capacitor, an inverter to drive a load, and a controller to operate the rectifier switching devices at a PWM rectifier switching frequency of 10 kHz or more.

Abstract: Multilevel power converters, power cells and methods are presented for selectively bypassing a power stage of a multilevel inverter circuit, in which a single relay or contactor includes first and second normally closed output control contacts coupled between a given power cell switching circuit and the given power cell output, along with a normally open bypass contact coupled across the power stage output, with a local or central controller energizing the coil of the relay or contactor of a given cell to bypass that cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for controlling a power converter to protect input filter inductors from overheating, in which an active front end (AFE) rectifier is operated in a boost mode to provide a boosted DC voltage at a derated output current value selected according to the DC bus voltage boost amount corresponding to a maximum load condition for which the filter inductors will not overheat.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include power conversion systems, computer readable mediums and methods for mitigating input filter resonance, in which a controller operates an active front end (AFE) rectifier in a first mode to turn a single rectifier switching device on and off and measures a filter voltage or current signal while all of the rectifier switches are off. The controller determines a resonant frequency based on a transient response of the measured voltage or current signal, and selectively adjusts a rectifier control parameter to mitigate filter resonance based on the resonant frequency.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus provides a simple and low cost solution of reducing voltage stress on AC motors and cables in VFD fed motor systems without connecting apparatus to live circuits. Disclosed examples include apparatus to couple a motor drive to a motor, including a cable with a first end coupled with an output of a motor drive, a second end coupled with a motor, a plurality of conductors to convey an output signal of the motor drive between the first and second ends to drive the motor, and a plurality of shields, with a conductive junction to couple tap points of at least two of the shields together. Resistors can be used to connect the tap points to the conductive junction to provide an impedance in series with the corresponding shield to reduce voltage stress to the motor or the cable. In certain examples, the shields include a semiconductor material to provide an impedance between the first end and the conductive junction to reduce voltage stress to the motor or the cable.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include methods, power converters and damping circuits to control damping of an input filter circuit, in which a low-voltage secondary winding is wound around a common core with a primary winding connected between an AC input and a rectifier input of the converter, where the secondary winding is coupled in a series circuit with a damping resistor and a switch, and a controller selectively closes the switch with a controlled on-time at system power up and/or in response to detection of oscillation or transients in the power converter.

Abstract: Multilevel power converters, power cells and methods are presented for selectively bypassing a power stage of a multilevel inverter circuit, in which a single relay or contactor includes first and second normally closed output control contacts coupled between a given power cell switching circuit and the given power cell output, along with a normally open bypass contact coupled across the power stage output, with a local or central controller energizing the coil of the relay or contactor of a given cell to bypass that cell.