POWER CONVERTER

• US 20140247635A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National University Corporation Nagaoka University of Technology, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: National University Corporation Nagaoka University of Technology
• Inventors: Koyano, Hironori, Nakamura, Takamasa, Yamamoto, Kouji, Itoh, Junichi, Ohnuma, Yoshiya
• Granted Patent: US 9,369,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/148
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/293 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/297 for conversion of frequency
• 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 7/14329 specially adapted for the configuration of power bus bars

Abstract

A power converter is provided for direct conversion of multi-phase AC power to AC power. The power converter includes a conversion circuit, a plurality of input lines and a plurality of capacitors. The conversion circuit has first and second switching elements that are configured to be connected to the phases of the multi-phase AC power for bidirectional switching of energizing current. The input lines are connected to the conversion circuit. The capacitors are connected to the conversion circuit. The first and second switching elements are arranged such that paired input terminals line up in a row with the paired input terminals to an outside, and paired output terminals to an inside. The input lines extend in a direction in which the paired input terminals line up, and extend from one of the input terminals to another of the input terminals.

Claims

1. A power converter for direct conversion of multi-phase AC power to AC power, the power converter comprising:

a conversion circuit having a plurality of first switching elements configured to be connected to phases of the multi-phase AC power for bidirectional switching of energizing current, and a plurality of second switching elements configured to be connected to the phases of the multi-phase AC power for bidirectional switching of energizing current;

a plurality of input lines connected to the conversion circuit; and

a plurality of capacitors connected to the conversion circuit;

the first switching elements and the second switching elements being arranged such that paired ones of input terminals line up in a row with the paired ones of the input terminals to an outside, and paired ones of output terminals to an inside; and

the input lines extending in a direction in which the paired input terminals line up, and extending from one of the input terminals to another of the input terminals of the paired ones of the input terminals.

2. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein

the capacitors are arranged to the outside with respect to the rows of the first switching elements and the second switching elements.

3. The power converter according to claim 2, wherein

the capacitors connected to the first switching elements and the capacitors connected to the second switching elements are electrically connected.

4. The power converter according to claim 1, further comprising

a plurality of output lines connected to the conversion circuit;

the output terminals of the first switching elements and the second switching elements being respectively lined up in a row; and

the output lines including a pair of first output lines that are connected to the output terminals, extend out in one direction, and provided with widely shaped bus bars lining up in an upright direction.

5. The power converter according to claim 4, wherein

the output lines include a pair of second output lines that are connected to distal ends of the first output lines, respectively, the second output lines being narrower in width than the first output lines, and arranged in a horizontal direction,

each of the second output lines has a plurality of output lines being stacked at predetermined spacing.

6. The power converter according to claim 4, wherein

the output lines are arranged to an upper side of the input lines in a vertical direction.

7. The power converter according to claim 4, wherein

the output lines are connected to output terminals provided to an inside from the input terminals.

8. The power converter according to claim 2, further comprising

a plurality of output lines connected to the conversion circuit;

the output terminals of the first switching elements and the second switching elements being respectively lined up in a row; and

the output lines including a pair of first output lines that are connected to the output terminals, extend out in one direction, and provided with widely shaped bus bars lining up in an upright direction.

9. The power converter according to claim 8, wherein

the output lines include a pair of second output lines that are connected to distal ends of the first output lines, respectively, the second output lines being narrower in width than the first output lines, and arranged in a horizontal direction,

each of the second output lines has a plurality of output lines being stacked at predetermined spacing.

10. The power converter according to claim 8, wherein

the output lines are arranged to an upper side of the input lines in a vertical direction.

11. The power converter according to claim 9, wherein

the output lines are arranged to an upper side of the input lines in a vertical direction.

12. The power converter according to claim 9, wherein

the output lines are connected to output terminals provided to an inside from the input terminals.

13. The power converter according to claim 3, further comprising

a plurality of output lines connected to the conversion circuit;

the output terminals of the first switching elements and the second switching elements being respectively lined up in a row; and

the output lines including a pair of first output lines that are connected to the output terminals, extend out in one direction, and provided with widely shaped bus bars lining up in an upright direction.

14. The power converter according to claim 13, wherein

the output lines include a pair of second output lines that are connected to distal ends of the first output lines, respectively, the second output lines being narrower in width than the first output lines, and arranged in a horizontal direction,

each of the second output lines has a plurality of output lines being stacked at predetermined spacing.

15. The power converter according to claim 13, wherein the output lines are arranged to an upper side of the input lines in a vertical direction.

16. The power converter according to claim 14, wherein the output lines are arranged to an upper side of the input lines in a vertical direction.

17. The power converter according to claim 14, wherein the output lines are connected to output terminals provided to an inside from the input terminals.