AC/DC converter and method of modulation thereof

• US 20060164875A1
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Colombi, Silvio, Strozzi, Lauro, Balbiano, Claudio
• Granted Patent: US 7,474,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/125
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4216 operating from a three-phase input voltage H02M1/4233 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/91 Two of three phases regulated

Abstract

An apparatus having a rectifier topology for use on a three-phase electrical system is disclosed. The apparatus includes an input filter at each phase, a rectifier set at each phase in power communication with and downstream of each respective input filter, and a separate and independent booster section at each phase in power communication with and downstream of each respective rectifier set. Each booster section comprises two switches, thereby providing a six-switch three-level discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) boost rectifier.

Claims

1. An apparatus having a rectifier topology for use on a three-phase electrical system, the apparatus comprising:

an input filter at each phase;

a rectifier set at each phase in power communication with and downstream of each respective input filter; and

a separate and independent booster section at each phase in power communication with and downstream of each respective rectifier set;

wherein each booster section comprises two switches, thereby providing a six-switch three-level discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) boost rectifier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each booster section is controllable via a modulated control signal separately and independently from another booster section.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the outputs of the booster sections are combined to provide first and second outputs; and

in response to a three-phase ac voltage input at the input filters, a dc voltage results across the first and second outputs.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the first and second outputs comprise symmetrical dc voltages.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the switches of each booster section comprise an electronic switch.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the electronic switch comprises an IGBT, SCR, MOSFET, GTO, IGCT, or any combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

each booster section further comprises a rectifier device in power communication between the electronic switches and the first and second outputs.

8. The apparatus of claim 7;

wherein;

the rectifier device comprises a diode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each input filter comprises an inductor and a capacitor configured for filtering noise and/or harmonic distortion upstream to each respective rectifier set.

10. The apparatus of claim 9;

wherein;

each input filter further comprises a second inductor disposed between the first inductor and the respective rectifier set.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising first and second output capacitors, wherein:

each booster section comprises two electronic switches with a neutral connection therebetween;

the first output capacitor is disposed between the first output and the neutral; and

the second output capacitor is disposed between the second output and the neutral.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the electronic switches comprise IGBT'"'"'s, SCR'"'"'s, MOSFET'"'"'s, GTO'"'"'s, IGCT'"'"'s, or any combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

in a three-phase system and in response to each booster section of the six-switch three-level DCM boost rectifier being controlled via a modulated control signal, an input total harmonic distortion (input THD) as a function of an input power (Pin) over a full load operating range is less than about 5%.

16. The apparatus of claim 1.5, wherein:

each booster section is controllable via a modulated control signal separately and independently from another booster section.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the outputs of the booster sections are combined to provide first and second outputs; and

in response to a three-phase ac voltage input at the input circuit, a dc voltage results across the first and second outputs.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the first and second outputs comprise symmetrical dc voltages.

14. An apparatus for rectifying and boosting three-phase electrical power, the apparatus comprising:

an input circuit and an output circuit;

the input circuit configured for receiving three-phase ac voltage, and for delivering three-phase rectified voltage;

the output circuit configured for receiving the three-phase rectified voltage, individually boosting the voltage of each rectified phase, and delivering boosted dc voltage to a first and second output terminal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the input circuit comprises an input filter and a rectifier set for each phase;

the output circuit comprises a separate and independent booster section at each phase in power communication with and downstream of each respective rectifier set.

19. A method for providing three level dc voltage, comprising:

receiving filtered and rectified three-phase ac voltage; and

boosting individually the rectified voltage of each phase and combining the boosted voltage to provide three level dc voltage output.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

prior to the receiving, filtering three-phase ac voltage and rectifying the filtered voltage of each phase.