THREE-LEVEL CONVERTER

• US 20140254228A1
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Ying, Jian-Ping, Gan, Hong-Jian, Ma, Shao-Cai, Wen, Sen-Lin
• Granted Patent: US 9,093,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/088 for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/487 Neutral point clamped inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration

Abstract

A three-level converter includes at least one phase bridge arm, each including an upper-half and a lower-half bridge arm circuit modules. The upper-half bridge arm circuit module includes a first and a second switch units that are in series connection, and a first diode unit. The lower-half bridge arm circuit module includes a third and a fourth switch units that are in series connection, and a second diode unit. The first and second diode units are connected to the neutral point of the capacitor unit; the second and third switch units are connected to the alternating-current terminal; The first and the fourth switch unit is respectively connected to the positive terminal and negative terminal of the direct-current bus; the capacitor unit is connected to the direct-current bus between the positive and negative terminals. The two modules are disposed side by side and facing each other.

Claims

1. A three-level converter comprising at least one phase bridge arm, wherein the phase bridge arm comprises:

an upper-half bridge arm circuit module, comprising a first switch unit, a second switch unit, a first diode unit, a first connecting busbar, a first insulated wire and a first switching busbar, wherein the first switch unit is in series connected to the second switch unit, the first switch unit is connected to the positive terminal of a direct-current bus, the first connecting busbar connects the first switch unit and the first diode unit, the first switching busbar is connected to the second switch unit, and the first insulated wire connects the first switching busbar and the first connecting busbar; and

a lower-half bridge arm circuit module, comprising a third switch unit, a fourth switch unit, a second diode unit, a second connecting busbar, a second insulated wire and a second switching busbar, wherein the third switch unit is in series connected to the fourth switch unit;

the first diode unit and the second diode unit are connected to the neutral point of a capacitor unit;

the second switch unit and the third switch unit are connected to an alternating-current terminal;

the fourth switch unit is connected to the negative terminal of the direct-current bus, the capacitor unit is connected to the direct-current bus at a position between the positive terminal and the negative terminal;

the second connecting busbar connects the fourth switch unit and the second diode unit, the second switching busbar is connected to the third switch unit, the second insulated wire connects the second connecting busbar and the second switching busbar, and the upper-half bridge arm circuit module and the lower-half bridge arm circuit module are disposed side by side and arranged face to face.

2. The three-level converter according to claim 1, wherein each of the switch units comprises a plurality of insulated-gate bipolar transistor modules and a plurality of series-connection busbars, and the insulated-gate bipolar transistor modules are in series connected via the series-connection busbars.

3. The three-level converter according to claim 1, wherein the first switch unit faces the fourth switch unit, the first diode unit faces the second diode unit, and the second switch unit faces the third switch unit.

4. The three-level converter according to claim 3, wherein the first diode unit is disposed between the first switch unit and the second switch unit, and the second diode unit is disposed between the third switch unit and the fourth switch unit.

5. The three-level converter according to claim 3, wherein the upper-half bridge arm circuit module and the lower-half bridge are both disposed in a delta shape, wherein the first diode unit is disposed by the sides of the first switch unit and the second switch unit, and the second diode unit is disposed by the sides of the third switch unit and fourth switch unit.

6. The three-level converter according to claim 1, wherein the upper-half bridge arm circuit module further comprises a direct-current bus positive-electrode conductor connecting the first switch unit to the positive terminal of the direct-current bus.

7. The three-level converter according to claim 1, wherein the upper-half bridge arm circuit module further comprises a first alternating-current output busbar connecting the second switch unit to the alternating-current terminal.

8. The three-level converter according to claim 1, wherein the upper-half bridge arm circuit module further comprises a first neutral point connecting busbar connecting the first diode unit and the neutral point of the capacitor unit.

9. The three-level converter according to claim 8, wherein the upper-half bridge arm circuit module further comprises an insulating board, and the lower-half bridge arm circuit module further comprises another insulating board.

10. The three-level converter according to claim 1, wherein the lower-half bridge arm circuit module further comprises a direct-current bus negative-electrode conductor connecting the fourth switch unit to the negative terminal of the direct-current bus.

11. The three-level converter according to claim 1, wherein the lower-half bridge arm circuit module further comprises a second alternating-current output busbar connecting the third switch unit to the alternating-current terminal.

12. The three-level converter according to claim 1, wherein the lower-half bridge arm circuit module further comprises a second neutral point connecting busbar connecting the second diode unit and the neutral point of the capacitor unit.