Static semi-conductor electrical energy converter assembly

• US 4,567,553 A
• Filed: 08/15/1983
• Issued: 01/28/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agence Nationale de Valorisation de la Recherche (Bpifrance SA /Old/)
• Original Assignee: Agence Nationale de Valorisation de la Recherche (Bpifrance SA /Old/)
• Inventors: Foch, Henri, Roux, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Application Number:
  US06/523,193
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 363/41-43, 363/98, 363/131-132, 363/71-72, 323/271
• US Class Current: 363/98
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/49 Combination of the output voltage waveforms of a plurality of converters

Abstract

A static conversion assembly comprises a serial connection of n apparatus each formed by the association of two converters (Δ) of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,819. Each control stage of a given apparatus (..) is adapted to furnish opposite control signals to the two controlled blocking static interrupters of each apparatus (Δ). In addition, the assembly of control stages of the apparatus (Δ) is driven by a centralized control unit (56) which provides a delay in the control signals of an apparatus (Δ) with respect to the control signals applied to a preceeding apparatus in the serial arrangement thereof. In addition, a voltage distribution stage (51) is connected to the apparatus (..) in order to divide the applied voltage and apply only a fraction thereof to each interrupter.

Claims

1. A static semi-conductor electrical energy conversion assembly intended to convert a continuous input voltage into an alternating voltage having a peak-to-peak amplitude lower than or equal to said continuous voltage, said assembly comprising:

(a) at least two apparatus wherein,

(i) each apparatus is formed by the association of two converters, each of said converters comprising at least one power stage having at least one controlled blocking static interrupter with a collector, a base and an emitter, and a commutation assist circuit associated with each static interrupter operative to reduce conduction of its collector current during blocking commutations thereof;

a control stage adapted to generate a control signal for each static interrupter;

an intermediate processing stage associated with each static interrupter having an input connected to the control stage to receive said control signal; and

another input connected to said power stage to detect a collector-emitter voltage of each said static interrupter and an output connected to the base of each said static interrupter to trigger the commutations thereof;

said intermediate processing stage being adapted to drive the base of each said interrupter so as to interrupt conduction in the single case where, at the same time, said control signal has a value corresponding to a placing in conduction and said collector-emitter voltage is approximately zero whereby reverse polarization of each said interrupter base occurs in all other cases in order to block said interrupter;

(ii) each apparatus formed by the association of said two converters further comprises four power terminals connected to power electrodes of said two static interrupters, said terminals comprising a first collector and a first emitter of the first of said two interrupters and a second collector and a second emitter of the second of said two interrupters, wherein said at least two said apparatus are located in a series, such that said first emitter and said second collector of one apparatus are respectively connected to said first collector and said second emitter of another apparatus, wherein said first collector and said second emitter of said one apparatus receive said continuous input voltage and wherein said first emitter and said second collector of said another apparatus are connected to each other to form a first output terminal of said assembly for connection to a load;

(b) a voltage distribution stage connected to said first collector and said second emitter of each of said apparatus;

(c) a common control stage for controlling in opposition the two converters of each of said apparatus, wherein said common control stage is adapted to generate, for said two static interrupters of said converters, two control signals of opposite phase and of an appropriate form for the conversion to be performed; and

(e) a centralized control unit adapted to provide a delay in said two control signals applied to each of said apparatus, wherein said centralized control unit drives each of said apparatus.

2. A conversion assembly according to claim 1 wherein said controlled blocking static interrupters comprise transistors having a voltage at no collector current when said base of said transistors is polarized negatively that is greater than the voltage of said transistors when said base is open.

3. A conversion assembly according to claim 1 wherein said voltage distribution stage has an intermediate terminal for connection to said load.

4. A conversion assembly according to claim 3 wherein said centralized control unit comprises a plurality of dephaser stages, an oscillator for driving said plurality of dephaser stages, and shapers for delivering pulse trains whose individual pulses are delayed in time.

5. A conversion assembly according to claim 4 wherein each of said control stages comprises a pulse transformer having two secondary windings mounted in opposition of phases to deliver said opposite control signals.

6. A conversion assembly according to claim 5 wherein said voltage distribution stage is adapted to divide said continuous input voltage into a plurality of approximately equal fractions each having a value equal to said continuous input voltage divided by the number of said fractions, wherein said number of fractions equals the number of said at least two apparatus, and wherein said voltage distribution apparatus applies said fraction of said voltage to each of said power transistors.

7. A conversion assembly according to claim 6 wherein said voltage distribution stage comprises:

(a) a capacitor assembly mounted in a ladder-like configuration across which said continuous input voltage is applied, said assembly having a plurality of intermediate nodes in order to provide a fraction of said voltage;

(b) an assembly of diodes connected between said nodes of said ladder-like configuration of said capacitors and to said first collector and said second emitter of said two static interrupters in order to apply to said transistors of said static interrupters the distribution of voltage furnished by said ladder-like configuration of said capacitors.

8. A conversion assembly according to claim 7 wherein said capacitors have approximately equal capacities of a high value such that their impedance at the frequency of the commutations of said apparatus is negligible with respect to the impedance of said load.