Power converter having improved terminal structure
First Claim
1. A modular power converter comprising:
- a support;
a power converter circuit disposed on a first side of the support;
an energy storage or conditioning circuit secured to a second side of the support opposite the first side; and
a terminal assembly secured intermediate the power converter circuit and the energy storage or conditioning circuit and configured to couple the power converter circuit to external circuitry and to the energy storage or conditioning circuit, wherein the terminal assembly is configured to receive input DC power and to output three phase AC power from the power converter circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A terminal structure for power electronics circuits reduces the need for a DC bus and thereby the incidence of parasitic inductance. The structure is secured to a support that may receive one or more power electronic circuits. The support may aid in removing heat from the circuits through fluid circulating through the support. The support may form a shield from both external EMI/RFI and from interference generated by operation of the power electronic circuits. Features may be provided to permit and enhance connection of the circuitry to external circuitry, such as by direct contact between the terminal assembly and AC and DC circuit components. Modular units may be assembled that may be coupled to electronic circuitry via plug-in arrangements or through interface with a backplane or similar mounting and interconnecting structures.
193 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A modular power converter comprising:
- a support;
a power converter circuit disposed on a first side of the support; an energy storage or conditioning circuit secured to a second side of the support opposite the first side; and a terminal assembly secured intermediate the power converter circuit and the energy storage or conditioning circuit and configured to couple the power converter circuit to external circuitry and to the energy storage or conditioning circuit, wherein the terminal assembly is configured to receive input DC power and to output three phase AC power from the power converter circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a support;
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14. A modular power converter comprising:
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a support having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and an edge extending between the first and second sides; a terminal assembly disposed adjacent to the edge of the support and including DC input terminals for receiving DC input power and AC output terminals for transmitting AC output power, wherein the terminal assembly includes two DC input power conductors disposed intermediate respective output AC power conductors; a power converter circuit supported on the first side of the support and coupled to the DC input terminals and to the AC output terminals of the terminal assembly; and an energy storage or conditioning circuit supported on the second side of the support and coupled to the DC input terminals and to the power converter circuit via the terminal assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A modular power converter comprising:
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a thermal support having first and second sides and configured to receive and to circulate a coolant stream; a terminal assembly including DC input terminals for receiving DC input power and AC output terminals for transmitting AC output power, wherein the terminal assembly includes two DC input power conductors disposed intermediate respective output AC power conductors; a control circuit; a drive circuit supported by the thermal support and coupled to the control circuit to receive control signals from the control circuit; a power converter circuit coupled to the drive circuit and to the DC and AC terminals, the inverter circuit being configured to convert the DC power to controlled frequency AC output power based upon the drive signals; and an energy storage or conditioning circuit coupled to the DC input terminals and to the power converter circuit via the terminal assembly; wherein the power converter circuit is supported on the first side of the thermal support and the energy storage or conditioning circuit is supported on the second side of the thermal support, whereby the coolant stream extracts heat from the support and the energy storage or conditioning circuit during operation of the converter circuit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for converting DC power to controlled output AC power comprising:
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applying input DC power to a converter including a support, a terminal assembly mounted on the support and having DC terminals for receiving the input DC power and output terminals for transmitting the output AC power, a power conversion circuit mounted on the support and coupled to the DC terminals and to the AC terminals, and an energy storage or conditioning circuit mounted on the support and coupled to the DC terminals and to the power conversion circuit via the terminal assembly, wherein the terminal assembly includes two DC input power conductors disposed intermediate respective output AC power conductors; and transferring power between the power conversion circuit and the energy storage or conditioning circuit via the terminal assembly.
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35. A modular power converter comprising:
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means for applying input DC power to the converter including a support, a terminal assembly mounted on the support and having DC terminals for receiving the input DC power and output terminals for transmitting the output AC power, a power conversion circuit mounted on the support and coupled to the DC terminals and to the AC terminals, and an energy storage or conditioning circuit mounted on the support and coupled to the DC terminals and to the power conversion circuit via the terminal assembly, wherein the terminal assembly includes two DC input power conductors disposed intermediate respective output AC power conductors; and means for transferring power between the power conversion circuit and the energy storage or conditioning circuit via the terminal assembly.
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Specification