Multilevel AC/DC converter for traction applications

• US 7,558,087 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Akdag, Alper, Meysenc, Luc, Stefanutti, Philippe, Hugo, Nicolas, Noisette, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley; Shawn
• Application Number:
  US12/068,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 363/35, 363/53, 363/127, 363/69
• US Class Current: 363/35
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0074 Plural converter units whose inputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/297 for conversion of frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/219 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4807 having a high frequency intermediate AC stage
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/49 Combination of the output voltage waveforms of a plurality of converters

Abstract

A power supply system for railway traction applications including a multilevel AC/DC converter. The converter comprises a plurality of series-connected single-stage cycloconverters or direct AC frequency converters connected between an AC supply line and a traction transformer. The transformer is operable at a transformer nominal frequency below 3 kHz and above the AC line frequency. On the secondary side of the transformer, more than one parallel-connected secondary converter are provided and connected to a DC link. In case of failure of one of the secondary converters, the multilevel AC/DC converter may continue to operate with reduced power delivered by the remaining operating levels.

Claims

1. A multilevel AC/DC converter for converting a single-phase, line-frequency AC supply voltage of an AC supply line to a DC link voltage (U_DC) of a DC link in railway traction applications, comprising

a traction transformer for establishing a galvanic isolation between the AC supply line and the DC link, wherein the traction transformer is operable at a transformer nominal frequency (f_TR) above the AC line frequency,

multiple primary converters connectable to the AC supply line, wherein inputs of the primary converters are connected in series and wherein an output of each primary converter is connected to a primary winding of the traction transformer, and

at least two secondary converters, a secondary converter being connectable to the DC link, wherein an input of the respective secondary converter is connected to a respective secondary winding of the traction transformer,

wherein outputs of the at least two secondary converters are connected in parallel, wherein the primary converters are cycloconverters, and wherein the nominal frequency of the traction transformer(f_TR) is less than 3 kHz.

2. The converter according to claim 1, wherein the nominal frequency of the traction transformer (f_TR) is less than 1 kHz.

3. The converter according to claim 1, wherein no snubber capacitors are connected in parallel to the semiconductor switches of the at least two secondary converters.

4. The converter according to claim 1, wherein a secondary winding of the traction transformer is arranged concentrically to each primary winding of the traction transformer and connected to an input of a dedicated one of the at least two secondary converters.

5. The converter according to claim 4, wherein each primary winding and the concentrically arranged secondary winding of the traction transformer have at least approximately the same number of turns.

6. The converter according to claim 1, wherein means for over-voltage protection and/or means for voltage-rise protection of each primary converter are arranged between the inputs of the primary converter.

7. A method of converting a single-phase, line-frequency AC supply voltage of an AC supply line to a DC link voltage (U_DC) of a DC link in railway traction applications by means of a multilevel AC/DC converter, comprising,

establishing a galvanic isolation between the AC supply line and the DC link by means of a traction transformer operable at a transformer nominal frequency (f_TR) above the AC line frequency,

connecting multiple primary converters to the AC supply line, wherein inputs of the primary converters are connected in series and wherein an output of each primary converter is connected to a primary winding of the traction transformer,

connecting a secondary converter to the DC link, wherein an input of the secondary converter is connected to a secondary winding of the traction transformer,

wherein outputs of at least two secondary converters are connected in parallel,

wherein the primary converters are cycloconverters, and wherein the traction transformer is operated at a frequency of less than 3 kHz.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the traction transformer is operated at a frequency of less than 1 kHz.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the semiconductor switches of the at least two secondary converters are operated in hard switching off and natural switching on.