VSC-converter

• US 6,259,616 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Spjuth, Henrik, Jacobson, Björn, Bijlenga, Bo, Blidberg, Ingemar, Ekwall, Olle
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/554,503
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/17, 363/55, 363/56, 363/97, 363/98, 363/131, 363/132
• US Class Current: 363/132
• 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: H05K 7/14339 specially adapted for high voltage operation

Abstract

In a VSC-converter for converting direct voltage to alternating voltage and conversely at least one phase leg (2) is arranged according to a NPC-connection. At least two of the four current valves (3-6) and the clamping rectifying members (10, 11) thereof are arranged close to each other and so that commutation currents generated on commutation of the converter therein will flow in substantially opposite directions.

Claims

1. A VSC-converter for converting direct voltage into alternating voltage and conversely and which comprises at least one phase leg with an NPC-connection, four current valves connected in series, including at least one semiconductor device of turn-off type and a first rectifying member connected in anti-parallel therewith, in which a point on the phase leg between two inner valves of the series connection is for connection to a phase of an alternating voltage network and opposite ends of the phase leg are for connection to a pole conductor each of a direct voltage network or a direct voltage intermediate link, and in which a series connection of two second clamping rectifying members directed in the same direction with respect to said series connection as the first rectifying members are connected between on one hand to a point between one of the outer valves of the series connection and the adjacent inner valve and on the other hand to a point between the other of the outer valves in the series connection and the adjacent inner valve, and a midpoint between the two clamping rectifying members is connected to a zero potential defined by capacitors connected in series between said pole conductors, wherein at least two of the current valves and the clamping rectifying members are arranged in relatively close proximity to each other and are oriented with respect to each other so that commutation currents generate upon commutation of the converter therein will flow in substantially opposite directions.

2. The converter according to claim 1, wherein the current valves and the clamping directing members are arranged in stacks arranged in pairs and so that commutation currents generated upon commutation of the converter will flow in substantially opposite directions in stacks belonging to the same pair.

3. The converter according to claim 1, wherein each current valve and clamping rectifying member is formed by one or several stacks of substantially identical units connected in series, and said stacks are formed with a large width and adjacent stacks are arranged at short mutual distances.

4. The converter according to claim 1, comprising rails connecting the current valves and the clamping rectifying members to each other, and the rails being arranged that commutation currents generated upon commutation of the converter flow in substantially opposite directions in adjacent such rails over at least parts of the extension thereof.

5. The converter according to claim 1, wherein for at least one of the following three pairs, the two parts included therein are arranged close to each other and so that commutation currents generated upon cummutation of the converter in those belonging to the same pair flow in substantially opposite directions:

a) the first outer current valve and the clamping rectifying member connected between the second outer current valve and the inner current valve adjacent thereto, b) the second outer current valve and the clamping rectifying member connected between the first outer current valve and the inner current valve adjacent thereto and c) the two inner current valves.

6. The converter according to claim 5, wherein all the pairs a), b) and c) have pair parts arranged close to each other and with said commutation current in each pair oppositely directed when they flow in a large commutation loop through an outer current valve, the inner current valve adjacent thereto, the other inner current valve and the clamping rectifying member connected to the latter.

7. The converter according to claim 1, wherein the four current valves and the clamping rectifying members are arranged substantially in a row one after the other with a clamping rectifying member arranged between each outer valve of the series connection and the inner valve connected thereto.

8. The converter according to claim 7, wherein the current valves and the clamping rectifying members are arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to the direction of extension of said row.

9. The converter according to claim 7, wherein one outer current valve in said series connection and the inner current valve located most remotely with respect thereto are arranged substantially in parallel with each other, and that the two other current valves are arranged substantially in parallel with each other and making an angle of substantially 180°

with respect to the two valves first mentioned.

10. The converter according to claim 1, wherein the two clamping rectifying members are arranged with their conducting directions making an angle of substantially 180°

with each other.

11. The converter according to claim 10, wherein the respective clamping rectifying member is arranged with the conducting direction thereof making an angle of substantially 180°

with the conducting direction of the first rectifying member in the outer current valve adjacent thereto.

12. The converter according to claim 7, wherein said row is folded by substantially 180°

in the region of said phase terminal, so that the outer current valves come close to each other and the phase leg gets compact.

13. The converter according to claim 1, wherein each current valve includes a plurality of semiconductor devices of turn-off type connected in series and rectifying members connected in anti-parallel therewith arranged so that they form a substantially U-shape.

14. The converter according to claim 13, wherein the legs of said U are relatively thick and the distance therebetween comparatively small for reducing the inductance of the respective current valve.

15. The converter according to claim 1, wherein the different connections between the current valves and the clamping rectifying members and capacitors (19, 20) of the converter are formed by relatively low inductance rails, with a comparatively large width transversely to the longitudinal extension thereof.

16. The converter according to claim 7, wherein the connections between the current valves and the clamping rectifying members over at least the main part of the total length thereof extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of said row.

17. The converter according to claim 7, wherein said capacitors are two in number and one of them is connected to each end of said row with one plate to the outer current valve and the other plate to the clamping rectifying member adjacent thereto.

18. The converter according to claim 17, wherein one of the capacitors is connected to the opposite end of the current valve and the clamping rectifying member with respect to the second capacitor with respect to the conducting direction.

19. The converter according to claim 1, wherein the clamping rectifying members are diodes.

20. The converter according to claim 1, wherein the first rectifying members are diodes.

21. The converter according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor devices are IGBTs.

22. The converter according to claim 1, including a plurality of phase legs for connection to a plurality of phases of an alternating voltage network.

23. The converter according to claim 1, for connection to a direct voltage network for high voltage direct current (HVDC).