Three-phase matrix converter and method for operation thereof

• US 5,949,672 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Bernet, Steffen
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US08/940,147
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 363/159, 363/160, 363/163, 363/164, 363/165, 363/8
• US Class Current: 363/159
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/271 from a three phase input voltage

Abstract

A three-phase matrix converter for converting AC voltages of predetermined amplitude and frequency into AC voltages of any amplitude and frequency and a method for operating the same, include four-segment switches as main switches which are combined into three switch groups. A resonance capacitance is connected in parallel with each main switch, or an output capacitance of power semiconductors of the main switches acts as a resonance capacitance. An auxiliary commutation device which is provided between three-phase output connections of each switch group has an auxiliary switch constructed as a four-segment switch and a resonance inductance connected in series therewith.

Claims

1. A three-phase matrix converter for single stage conversion of AC voltages of predetermined amplitude and frequency into AC voltages of any amplitude and frequency, comprising:

bi-directional switches acting as main switches and combined into three switch groups with three-phase output connections;

resonance capacitances each connected in parallel with a respective one of said main switches;

auxiliary commutation devices each connected between said three-phase output connections of a respective two of said switch groups, said auxiliary commutation devices each having an auxiliary switch constructed as a bi-directional switch and a resonance inductance connected in series with said auxiliary switch; and

said main switches having a switching sequence including two capacitive commutations and one inductive commutation in each of said three switch groups during each period of a switching frequency, the inductive commutations being transformed into capacitive commutations by changing a polarity of currents with said main switches using said resonance capacitances and two of said auxiliary switches in series with two of said resonance inductances connected between output phases carrying currents with opposite directions, the transformed inductive commutations of output currents in said switch groups being synchronized selectively after an end of a shortest duty cycle of initially conducting switches, and at an end of a period of the switching frequency.

2. The matrix converter according to claim 1, wherein said main switches and said auxiliary switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits each having an IGBT semiconductor and a reverse diode.

3. The matrix converter according to claim 1, wherein said main switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits each having an IGBT semiconductor and a reverse diode.

4. The matrix converter according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits each having an IGBT semiconductor and a reverse diode.

5. The matrix converter according to claim 1, wherein each of said main switches includes two parallel-connected GTO thyristors which can be turned off, and said auxiliary switches each include two parallel GTO thyristors which can be turned off.

6. The matrix converter according to claim 1, wherein each of said main switches includes two parallel-connected GTO thyristors which can be turned off, and said auxiliary switches each include two fast thyristors.

7. The matrix converter according to claim 1, wherein said main switches and said auxiliary switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits of an asymmetric GTO with a reverse diode.

8. The matrix converter according to claim 1, wherein said main switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits of an asymmetric GTO with a reverse diode.

9. The matrix converter according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits of an asymmetric GTO with a reverse diode.

10. A three-phase matrix converter for single-stage conversion of AC voltages of predetermined amplitude and frequency into AC voltages of any amplitude and frequency, comprising:

bi-directional switches acting as main switches and combined into three switch groups with three-phase output connections, said main switches having power semiconductors with output capacitances acting as resonance capacitances;

auxiliary commutation devices each connected between said three-phase output connections of a respective two of said switch groups, said auxiliary commutation devices each having an auxiliary switch constructed as a bi-directional switch and a resonance inductance connected in series with said auxiliary switch; and

said main switches having a switching sequence including two capacitive commutations and one inductive commutation in each of said three switch groups during each period of a switching frequency, the inductive commutations being transformed into capacitive commutations by changing a polarity of currents with said main switches using said output capacitances and two of said auxiliary switches in series with two of said resonance inductances connected between output phases carrying currents with opposite directions, the transformed inductive commutations of output currents in said switch groups being synchronized selectively after an end of a shortest duty cycle of initially conducting switches, and at an end of a period of the switching frequency.

11. The matrix converter according to claim 10, wherein said main switches and said auxiliary switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits each having an IGBT semiconductor and a reverse diode.

12. The matrix converter according to claim 10, wherein said main switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits each having an IGBT semiconductor and a reverse diode.

13. The matrix converter according to claim 10, wherein said auxiliary switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits each having an IGBT semiconductor and a reverse diode.

14. The matrix converter according to claim 10, wherein each of said main switches includes two parallel-connected GTO thyristors which can be turned off, and said auxiliary switches each include two parallel GTO thyristors which can be turned off.

15. The matrix converter according to claim 10, wherein each of said main switches includes two parallel-connected GTO thyristors which can be turned off, and said auxiliary switches each include two fast thyristors.

16. The matrix converter according to claim 10, wherein said main switches and said auxiliary switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits of an asymmetric GTO with a reverse diode.

17. The matrix converter according to claim 10, wherein said main switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits of an asymmetric GTO with a reverse diode.

18. The matrix converter according to claim 10, wherein said auxiliary switches each include two series-connected parallel circuits of an asymmetric GTO with a reverse diode.

19. A method for operating a three-phase matrix converter for single-stage conversion of AC voltages of predetermined amplitude and frequency into AC voltages of any amplitude and frequency, which comprises:

combining four-segment switches acting as main switches into three switch groups with three-phase output connections;

connecting a respective resonance capacitance in parallel with each of the main switches;

connecting a respective auxiliary commutation device between the three-phase output connections of each two of the switch groups, and providing each of the auxiliary commutation

devices with an auxiliary switch constructed as a four-segment switch and a resonance inductance connected in series with the auxiliary switch;

selecting a switching sequence of a switch group as a function of input voltage intervals and a polarity of an output current, causing two capacitive commutation operations and one inductive commutation operation to take place;

selecting pulse patterns causing the inductive commutation operations per period duration of a switching frequency to take place at the same time; and

transforming natural inductive commutation operations into capacitive commutation operations with the auxiliary commutation devices by changing the polarity of the currents with the main switches before active switching processes of the main switches.

20. The method according to claim 19, which comprises always using a concatenated input voltage having the greatest magnitude as the commutation voltage for the transformed inductive commutation operation.

21. The method according to claim 19, which comprises initiating the commutation operation in all three switch groups with the switch group having the shortest duty ratio of the three main switches which are initially on.

22. The method according to claim 19, which comprises selecting the switching sequence to cause the two capacitive non-transformed commutation operations to take place first, and the transformed commutation operation to takes place at the end of the period duration of the switching frequency.

23. The method according to claim 19, which comprises always carrying out the transformation of the commutation operation using two auxiliary switches of the auxiliary commutation devices connected between the three-phase output phases of the switch groups having output currents of opposite polarity.

24. A method for operating a three-phase matrix converter for single-stage conversion of AC voltages of predetermined amplitude and frequency into AC voltages of any amplitude and frequency, which comprises:

combining four-segment switches acting as main switches into three switch groups with three-phase output connections;

providing the main switches with power semiconductors having output capacitances acting as resonance capacitances;

connecting a respective auxiliary commutation device between the three-phase output connections of each two of the switch groups, and providing each of the auxiliary commutation devices with an auxiliary switch constructed as a four-segment switch and a resonance inductance connected in series with the auxiliary switch;

selecting a switching sequence of a switch group as a function of input voltage intervals and a polarity of an output current, causing two capacitive commutation operations and one inductive commutation operation to take place;

selecting pulse patterns causing the inductive commutation operations per period duration of a switching frequency to take place at the same time; and

transforming natural inductive commutation operations into capacitive commutation operations with the auxiliary commutation devices by changing the polarity of the currents with the main switches before active switching processes of the main switches.

25. The method according to claim 24, which comprises always using a concatenated input voltage having the greatest magnitude as the commutation voltage for the transformed inductive commutation operation.

26. The method according to claim 24, which comprises initiating the commutation operation in all three switch groups with the switch group having the shortest duty ratio of the three main switches which are initially on.

27. The method according to claim 24, which comprises selecting the switching sequence to cause the two capacitive non-transformed commutation operations to take place first, and the transformed commutation operation to takes place at the end of the period duration of the switching frequency.

28. The method according to claim 24, which comprises always carrying out the transformation of the commutation operation using two auxiliary switches of the auxiliary commutation devices connected between the three-phase output phases of the switch groups having output currents of opposite polarity.