Abstract: A traction current converter includes a line-side four-quadrant converter which is provided with turn-off power semiconductors that are implemented as current converter valves. Each of the power semiconductors is connected electrically back-to-back in parallel to a corresponding power diode. A regulating device has an output side which is connected to control terminals of the power semiconductors. Each of the power diodes is implemented as controllable power diode which can be connected on the control system side to a corresponding diode control device having an input side which is connected to control outputs of the regulating device. In this way, the four-quadrant converter of a traction current converter can be reliably operated without having to use power semiconductor modules with enlarged diode chip surface.

Abstract: In a method for increasing the efficiency of a consist comprised of a plurality of linked diesel-electric driven vehicles, with each vehicle including a diesel assembly and an intermediate circuit which is operatively connected to the diesel assembly and a drive motor which is operatively connected to the intermediate circuit, the operation of the diesel assembly of a vehicle is deactivated, when the vehicle requires a reduced level of power, while the vehicle is in travel mode. The drive motor is hereby operated in a regenerative mode and solely responsible, when operating in the regenerative mode, to feed electric energy to the intermediate circuit of the deactivated diesel assembly and an auxiliary operating device, connected to the intermediate circuit.

Abstract: At least one bearing body in a power semiconductor module has a surface section on which a first semiconductor component and at least one additional semiconductor component are arranged adjacent to each other. The semiconductor components have contact surfaces, oriented away from the surface section of the bearing body, that are in a contact in a planar manner to provide a flat connection line between the contact surfaces of the semiconductor components. The flat connection line has a lower inductivity and a lower instance dependency of inductivity compared to a bonding wire. A distance between the semiconductor components along the surface section is greater than a lateral measurement of at least one of the semiconductor components and can be, selectively, relatively large, allowing for thermal and/or temperature expansion and a lower thermal load of the semiconductor module than previously obtained.

Abstract: A traction current converter includes a line-side four-quadrant converter which is provided with turn-off power semiconductors that are implemented as current converter valves. Each of the power semiconductors is connected electrically back-to-back in parallel to a corresponding power diode. A regulating device has an output side which is connected to control terminals of the power semiconductors. Each of the power diodes is implemented as controllable power diode which can be connected on the control system side to a corresponding diode control device having an input side which is connected to control outputs of the regulating device. In this way, the four-quadrant converter of a traction current converter can be reliably operated without having to use power semiconductor modules with enlarged diode chip surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor diode, an electronic component and to a voltage source converter. According to the invention, the semiconductor diode having at least one pn-transition can be switched between a first state and a second state. In comparison to the first state, the second state has a greater on-state resistance and a smaller accumulated charge, and the pn-transition is capable of blocking both in the first state as well as in the second state with at least one predetermined blocking ability. An MOS-controlled diode is hereby obtained in which the transition from the on-state to the blocking state is simplified and is thus not critical with regard to the temporal sequence of the control pulses.

Abstract: An n-point-converter circuit with two series-connected power converter valves, each having (n?1) turn-off semiconductor switches, is disclosed. The converter circuit has a voltage intermediate circuit with (n?1) electrically series-connected capacitors. The voltage intermediate circuit is connected in parallel to DC-side terminals of the series-connected power converter valves. At least one AC-side terminal can be connected to one or more of the n potentials of the voltage intermediate circuit by means of (n?2) cross arms, each of which includes at least (n?3) turn-off semiconductor switches. The multipoint converter is easy to implement, has an improved output voltage quality, and possesses an emergency running feature.

Abstract: An n-point-converter circuit with two series-connected power converter valves, each having (n-1) turn-off semiconductor switches, is disclosed. The converter circuit has a voltage intermediate circuit with (n-1) electrically series-connected capacitors. The voltage intermediate circuit is connected in parallel to DC-side terminals of the series-connected power converter valves. At least one AC-side terminal can be connected to one or more of the n potentials of the voltage intermediate circuit by means of (n-2) cross arms, each of which includes at least (n-3) turn-off semiconductor switches. The multipoint converter is easy to implement, has an improved output voltage quality, and possesses an emergency running feature.