DUAL-ELEMENT POWER MODULE AND THREE-LEVEL POWER CONVERTER USING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A three-level power converter comprising a power-conversion circuit unit for one phase that selects any of potentials of a higher-side DC terminal, an intermediate-potential terminal, and a lower-side DC terminal, and that outputs the selected potential to an AC terminal, where the power-conversion circuit unit includes a first dual-element power module that includes an outer switching element on a higher potential side and a clamp element on the higher potential side, a second dual-element power module that includes an inner switching element on the higher potential side and an inner switching element on a lower potential side, and a third dual-element power module that includes an outer switching element on the lower potential side and a clamp element on the lower potential side, whereinthe first to third dual-element power modules are dual-element triple-terminal power modules with a same configuration, each of which includes a first electrode that is connected to a higher-side potential portion of one of elements, a second electrode that is connected to a connection portion between a lower-side potential portion of the one of the elements and a higher-side potential portion of the other element, and a third electrode that is connected to a lower-side potential portion of the other element, andthe first electrode in the first dual-element power module is connected to the higher-side DC terminal, the second electrode in the first dual-element power module and the first electrode in the second dual-element power module are connected, the third electrode in the first dual-element power module is connected to the intermediate-potential terminal, the first electrode in the third dual-element power module is connected to the intermediate-potential terminal, the second electrode in the second dual-element power module is connected to the AC terminal, the third electrode in the second dual-element power module and the second electrode in the third dual-element power module are connected, and the third electrode in the third dual-element power module is connected to the lower-side DC terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A first electrode that is connected to a higher-side potential portion of a first element pair, a second electrode that is connected to a connection portion between a lower-side potential portion of the first element pair and a higher-side potential portion of a second element pair, and a third electrode that is connected to a lower-side potential portion of the second element pair, are provided on one of the main-surface sides of a module casing. The first electrode and the third electrode are arrayed in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the module casing on one of the end sides in the longitudinal direction. The second electrode is arranged on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the module casing. Three dual-element triple-terminal power modules with the same configuration, configured as described above, are used to configure a three-level power converter of one phase.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A three-level power converter comprising a power-conversion circuit unit for one phase that selects any of potentials of a higher-side DC terminal, an intermediate-potential terminal, and a lower-side DC terminal, and that outputs the selected potential to an AC terminal, where the power-conversion circuit unit includes a first dual-element power module that includes an outer switching element on a higher potential side and a clamp element on the higher potential side, a second dual-element power module that includes an inner switching element on the higher potential side and an inner switching element on a lower potential side, and a third dual-element power module that includes an outer switching element on the lower potential side and a clamp element on the lower potential side, wherein
the first to third dual-element power modules are dual-element triple-terminal power modules with a same configuration, each of which includes a first electrode that is connected to a higher-side potential portion of one of elements, a second electrode that is connected to a connection portion between a lower-side potential portion of the one of the elements and a higher-side potential portion of the other element, and a third electrode that is connected to a lower-side potential portion of the other element, and the first electrode in the first dual-element power module is connected to the higher-side DC terminal, the second electrode in the first dual-element power module and the first electrode in the second dual-element power module are connected, the third electrode in the first dual-element power module is connected to the intermediate-potential terminal, the first electrode in the third dual-element power module is connected to the intermediate-potential terminal, the second electrode in the second dual-element power module is connected to the AC terminal, the third electrode in the second dual-element power module and the second electrode in the third dual-element power module are connected, and the third electrode in the third dual-element power module is connected to the lower-side DC terminal.
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11. A dual-element power module configured to be applicable to a power-conversion circuit unit in a power converter, wherein
the dual-element power module is configured to include first and second element pairs, in each of which a diode and a switching element are connected in inverse parallel, and to include a first electrode that is connected to a higher-side potential portion of the first element pair, a second electrode that is connected to a connection portion between a lower-side potential portion of the first element pair and a higher-side potential portion of the second element pair, and a third electrode that is connected to a lower-side potential portion of the second element pair, the first to third electrodes in the dual-element power module are provided on one of main-surface sides of a module casing, and the first electrode and the third electrode are arrayed in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the module casing on one of end sides in the longitudinal direction, and the second electrode is arranged on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the module casing.
Specification