Power inverter

• US 20050122692A1
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Original Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Inventors: Wobben, Aloys
• Granted Patent: US 7,492,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/728
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14325 for cabinets or racks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention concerns an inverter for converting a directing current into an alternating current. In one aspect, in order to provide an inverter which can be repaired more quickly and more reliably at the location of use, an inverter is of an at least partially modular structure, with releasably installed modules and connecting lines releasably mounted to the modules.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. An inverter having a plurality of phases, the inverter comprising:

a first plurality of releasably installed modules; and

connecting lines releasably mounted to the modules;

wherein each of the modules produces, for a respective phase of the inverter, an alternating current from a direct current.

12. An inverter according to claim 11 wherein each of the first plurality of modules is a semiconductor module.

13. An inverter according to claim 11 further comprising an intermediate storage formed from a plurality of capacitors.

14. An inverter according to claim 13 wherein at least some of the first plurality of modules are connected to the intermediate storage.

15. An inverter according to claim 13 wherein at least some of the first plurality of modules are connected to the intermediate storage by a capacitive connection.

16. An inverter according to claim 15 wherein the capacitive connection includes at least one plate capacitor and wherein plates of the at least one plate capacitor are mechanically and electrically connected to the at least some of the first plurality of modules.

17. An inverter according to claim 11 further comprising at least one plate capacitor and wherein plates of the at least one plate capacitor form a mechanical and electrical connection between an intermediate storage and some of the first plurality of modules.

18. An inverter according to claim 17 wherein the intermediate storage is formed from a plurality of capacitors and by capacitors releasably connected to the plates of the at least one plate capacitor.

19. An inverter according to claim 11 wherein one of the first plurality of modules comprises semiconductor switching elements having spaced apart output terminals and the spacing of the output terminals does not exceed a predetermined magnitude.

20. An inverter according to claim 11 further comprising a releasably installed module for controlling each of the first plurality of modules.

21. An inverter according to claim 11 further comprising a second plurality of releasably installed modules, wherein each of the second plurality of modules performs a function for the inverter.

22. An inverter according to claim 11 further comprising a second plurality of releasably installed modules, wherein one module of the second plurality of modules performs voltage balancing.

23. An inverter according to claim 11 further comprising:

a second plurality of releasably installed modules; and

an intermediate storage formed from a plurality of capacitors.

24. An Inverter according to claim 23 wherein at least some of the second plurality of modules are connected to the intermediate storage.

25. An inverter according to claim 23 wherein at least some of the second plurality of modules are connected to the intermediate storage by a capacitive connection.

26. An inverter according to claim 24 wherein at least some of the first plurality of modules and at least some of the second plurality of modules are connected to the intermediate storage by a capacitive connection.

27. A wind power installation comprising at least one inverter according to claim 11.

28. A wind power installation comprising at least one inverter according to claim 12.

29. A method for use in association with an inverter comprising a plurality of phases, the method comprising:

releasably installing a plurality of modules each of which produces, for a respective phase of the inverter, an alternating current from a direct current, wherein each of the plurality of modules includes a semiconductor switching device; and

releasably mounting connecting lines to the modules.

30. A method according to claim 29 further comprising:

replacing the failed module with a faultless module if one of the plurality of modules fails.