Converter modules having a busbar system for power semiconductor switches

• US 5,936,833 A
• Filed: 04/10/1998
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Rail Systems GmbH (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation (Technology) GmbH
• Inventors: Meyer, Urs, Grossman, Walter, Herbst, Ingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/057,976
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 361/637, 361/638, 361/649, 174/68.2, 174/72 B, 439/76.1, 363/132
• US Class Current: 361/638
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14329 specially adapted for the configuration of power bus bars

Abstract

Converter modules have a busbar system for a plurality of power semiconductor switches or, preferably, IGBT power semiconductor modules (IPMs). The power semiconductor switches are arranged in pairs, facing one another or facing away from one another, close together and parallel. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, alternating current is fed in one or two phases via bridge circuits composed of two or four power semiconductor switches.

Claims

1. A converter module having power semiconductor switches (1) and a busbar system, comprising a positive connection (6), and negative connection (7) and a phase connection (8, 14, 15) which is in the form of a busbar, which connections are stacked one on top of the other with the interposition of insulating elements and are mounted on a baseplate (5), wherein

a) the positive connection (6) and the negative connection (7) are in the form of busbars and have at least one first projecting lug (9, 10) on one longitudinal side,

b) each phase connection (8, 14, 15) has at least one second projecting lug (11, 17, 18) on its longitudinal side,

c) the first and the second lugs interact in order to hold and make electrical contact with the power semiconductor switch, and

d) in each case two power semiconductor switches are arranged in pairs on opposite longitudinal sides of the positive/negative/phase connections, with their front or rear sides facing one another.

2. The converter module as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a) the busbars are stacked one on top of the other in the sequence positive/negative/phase connection or negative/positive/phase connection,

b) the first lugs (9, 10) and the second lugs (11, 16, 17) extend in the direction of the busbars and project upward essentially at right angles,

c) the pairs of power semiconductor switches are oriented with their phase outputs facing one another, and

d) in particular, the power semiconductor switches can be plugged in.

3. The converter module as claimed in claim 2, wherein

a) the positive connection (6) and the negative connection (7) have an essentially "L"-shaped cross-sectional profile,

b) the two "L" profiles (6, 7) are interleaved with one another such that their first lugs (9, 10) are on opposite longitudinal sides,

c) the phase connection (8) has a "W" or "U"-shaped cross-sectional profile with two lugs (11) on both longitudinal sides,

d) the "W" or "U" profile (8) is mounted between the "L" profiles (6, 7) such that the second lugs (11) are arranged longitudinally next to the first lugs (9, 10), and

e) the pairs of power semiconductor switches are connected in a half-bridge circuit.

4. The converter module as claimed in claim 3, wherein

a) the positive connection (6) and negative connection (7) each have one, and only one, first lug (9, 10),

b) the phase connection (8) has two, and only two, second lugs (11), and

c) two, and only two, power semiconductor switches are made contact with.

5. The converter module as claimed in claim 2, wherein

a) the positive connection (6) and the negative connection (7) have an essentially first "U"-shaped cross-sectional profile with first lugs (9, 10) on both longitudinal sides,

b) the two first "U" profiles (6, 7) are arranged one behind the other, the profile which is arranged further to the rear in the longitudinal direction comprising a flat feed plate for making contact with the DC intermediate circuit,

c) the phase connection (8) has a "W" or second "U"-shaped cross-sectional profile with second lugs (11) on both longitudinal sides,

d) the "W" or second "U" profile (8) is mounted between the two first "U" profiles (6, 7) such that its lugs (11) are arranged longitudinally next to the lugs (9, 10) of the first "U" profiles, and

e) the pairs of power semiconductor switches which are made contact with via even-numbered first "U" profiles are connected in a parallel circuit, and the pairs which are made contact with via odd-numbered first "U" profiles are connected in a half-bridge circuit.

6. The converter module as claimed in claim 5, wherein

a) the positive connection (6) and the negative connection (7) each have two, and only two, mutually opposite lugs (9, 10) on both longitudinal sides,

b) the phase connection (8) has four, and only four, lugs (11), and

c) two, and only two, pairs of power semiconductor switches are made contact with.

7. The converter module as claimed in claim 2, wherein

a) the positive connection (6) and negative connection (7) have an essentially "U"-shaped cross-sectional profile with first lugs (9, 10) on both longitudinal sides,

b) the two "U" profiles (6, 7) are arranged one behind the other, the profile which is arranged further to the rear in the longitudinal direction comprising a flat feed plate in order to make contact with the DC intermediate circuit,

c) two phase connections (14, 15) which run parallel in the longitudinal direction lie closely side-by-side and each has a half-"W"-shaped cross-sectional profile,

d) each half-"W"-profile (14, 15) has second lugs (16, 17) on its longitudinal side which faces away from the other phase connection,

e) each half-"W"-profile (14, 15) is mounted between the "U" profiles (6, 7) such that its second lugs (16, 17) are arranged longitudinally next to the first lugs (9, 10) of the "U"-profiles, and

f) the power semiconductor switches which are arranged on the same longitudinal side but make contact with different "U"-profiles form a half-bridge and make contact with one, and only one, phase connection (14, 15).

8. The busbar system as claimed in claim 7, wherein

a) the positive connection (6) and the negative connection (7) each have two, and only two, lugs (9, 10),

b) each phase connection (14, 15) has two, and only two, lugs (16, 17), and

c) four, and only four, power semiconductor switches are made contact with.

9. The converter module as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a) the positive connection (6), negative connection (7) and phase connections (8, 14, 15) are stacked very closely one above the other for minimum inductance, and

b) air, gas or solid insulation, or a combination of these media, are provided as insulation media.

10. A converter having an intermediate circuit, bridge arms connected to it and phase connections on the output side, wherein

a) the electrical connection between the intermediate circuit and the phase connections comprises converter modules as claimed in one of the preceding claims, and

b) in particular, a number of converter modules with busbars as claimed in one of the preceding claims, are interconnected, corresponding to the number of phase connections and a required rating of the converter, or corresponding to a number of power semiconductor switches or power semiconductor modules to be connected in parallel.