Three-Level Inverter

• US 20100084922A1
• Filed: 07/01/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Converteam Technology Ltd. (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Converteam Technology Ltd. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: GOLLENTZ, Bernard Michel, Guennegues, Virginie
• Application Number:
  US12/496,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20100084922A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/78
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/487 Neutral point clamped inverters

Abstract

The present invention provides a three-level inverter including first and second direct voltage generators connected in series, each between a common center point and first and second end points, and first and second switching arms. Each of the first and second switching arms are connected between a respective one of the first and second end points and an output point and include at least one IGBT transistor. The IGBT transistors of the first and second switching arms are in series between the first and second end points. Each of the IGBT transistors includes an antiparallel-connected diode. The three-level inverter also includes a third switching arm which includes two IGBT transistors connected head-to-tail. Each head to tail transistor includes an antiparallel-connected diode.

Claims

1. A three-level inverter comprises:

a first and a second direct voltage generator connected in series, each between a common center point and first and second end points,

a first and a second switching arm, each of the first and second switching arms being connected between a respective one of the first and second end points and an output point, each of the first and second switching arms including at least one IGBT transistor, the at least one IGBT transistors of the first and second switching arms being in series between the first and second end points, each of the at least one IGBT transistors including an antiparallel-connected diode; and

a third switching arm including two IGBT transistors connected head-to-tail, each IGBT transistor having an antiparallel-connected diode.

2. The three-level inverter according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second switching arms includes two IGBT transistors in series, the three-level inverter further comprising means for effecting the simultaneous switching of the two IGBT transistors in series of each of the first and second switching arms.

3. The three-level inverter according to claim 2, wherein the means for effecting the simultaneous switching of the two IGBT transistors in series of each of the first and second switching arms includes means for processing a corrective control signal for one of the two IGBT transistors in series, dependent on the time evolution difference of the voltage at conduction terminals of the two IGBT transistors in series.

4. The three-level inverter according to claim 2, wherein the means for effecting the simultaneous switching of the two IGBT transistors in series include excitation circuits.