Matrix converter apparatus

• US 7,782,643 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Eiji, Hara, Hidenori
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US11/911,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20090059633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 363 34- 37, 363 50- 53, 363/55, 363/56.01, 363/148, 363/152
• US Class Current: 363/148
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/293 using semiconductor devices only

Abstract

There is provided a matrix converter apparatus including both functions of outputting a step up voltage and outputting a step down voltage. In a matrix converter apparatus for directly connecting respective phases of a three phase alternating current power source (1) and respective phases of an output side by a bidirectional switch constituted by IGBT transistors or the like connected reversely in parallel therewith, controlling to output an alternating current power source voltage by a PWM control based on an output voltage instruction, and outputting an arbitrary direct current or alternating current voltage, respective reactors (61), (62), (63) inserted to be connected between the respective phases of the polyphase alternating current power source 1 and the bidirectional switches are included, and by controlling to ON/OFF the bidirectional switches, terminals of two or more of the reactors on a side of the bidirectional switch are shortcircuited, and thereafter opened to thereby step up an output voltage of the matrix converter apparatus. Further, when the terminals are switched from being shortcircuited to being opened, conduction paths of currents flowing in the respective reactors which have been shortcircuited are ensured by controlling to ON/OFF the bidirectional switch group (5) and a capacitor group (7).

Claims

1. A matrix converter apparatus for directly connecting respective phases of an alternating current power source and respective phases of an output side by means of respective bidirectional switches having a self arc suppression function, and controlled by a PWM control based on an output voltage instruction and outputting an arbitrary direct current or alternating current voltage,

the matrix converter apparatus comprising:

respective reactors, each reactor constituted by one winding, connected between the respective phases of the alternating current power source and the bidirectional switches;

a first capacitor group constituted by respective capacitors for respectively connecting between U-phase and V-phase, V-phase and W-phase and W-phase and U-phase;

U-phase, V-phase and W-phase being the phases of an output side directly connected by the bidirectional switches;

a circuit of stepping up an output voltage of the matrix converter apparatus by short-circuiting respective terminals connected to the bidirectional switches associated with two or more of the reactors by closing the directional switches, and thereafter opening the bidirectional switches; and

a circuit for ensuring respective conduction paths of currents flowing in the respective reactors which have been short-circuited when the terminals are switched from being short-circuited to being opened.

2. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the circuit of ensuring the conduction paths comprises:

the first capacitor group, and

the bidirectional switches.

7. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a positive terminal side of a direct current power source is one phase and a negative terminal side thereof is the other phase so that the direct current power source is two-phase, and

the direct current power source is substituted for the alternating current power source.

8. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a positive terminal side of a direct current power source is one phase and a negative terminal side thereof is the other phase so that the direct current power source is two-phase, and

each phase of the direct current power source is substituted for each phase of the alternating current power source, and

the reactor is inserted to be connected only between either one of a positive terminal side and a negative terminal side of the direct current power source and the bidirectional switches.

9. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detecting voltage switching apparatus for detecting the output voltage of the matrix converter apparatus when a step up voltage is outputted, and for detecting the alternating current power source voltage when a step down voltage is outputted.

10. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detecting current switching apparatus for detecting an input current to the matrix converter apparatus when a step up voltage is outputted, and for detecting an output current from the matrix converter apparatus when a step down voltage is outputted.

11. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a gate signal outputting portion for outputting a gate signal based on an output voltage instruction; and

a gate signal switching apparatus for changing to switch respective corresponding relationships between the bidirectional switch and the gate signal when a step down voltage is outputted and when a step up voltage is outputted.

3. A matrix converter apparatus for directly connecting respective phases of an alternating current power source and respective phases on an output side by means of respective bidirectional switches having a self arc suppression function and controlled by a PWM control based on an output voltage instruction, and outputting an arbitrary direct current or alternating current voltage,

the matrix converter apparatus comprising:

respective reactors, each reactor constituted by one winding, connected between the respective phases of the alternating current power source and the bidirectional switches;

a first capacitor group constituted by respective capacitors for respectively connecting between U-phase and V-phase, V-phase and W-phase and W-phase and U-phase;

U-phase, V-phase and W-phase being the phases of an output side directly connected by the bidirectional switches; and

a first connecting/disconnecting circuit capable of connecting and disconnecting connections by means of the respective capacitors between U-phase and V-phase, V-phase and W-phase and W-phase and U-phase, wherein

the first connection/disconnection circuit maintains the connections when a step up voltage of the matrix converter apparatus is outputted, and disconnects the connections when a step down voltage therefore is outputted.

4. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the first connecting disconnecting circuit includes:

a first rectifying diode group constituted by a connection in parallel of three units, each of which comprises two diodes in series; and

a first semiconductor switching element connected between positive and negative output terminals of the first rectifying diode group,

terminals on one side of the respective capacitors constituting the first capacitor group are connected to the respective phases of the output side of the matrix converter apparatus, and

terminals thereof on the other side are connected to the respective series connecting points of the first rectifying diode group.

12. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

a positive terminal side of a direct current power source is one phase and a negative terminal side thereof is the other phase so that the direct current power source is two-phase, and

the direct current power source is substituted for the alternating current power source.

13. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

a positive terminal side of a direct current power source is one phase and a negative terminal side thereof is the other phase so that the direct current power source is two-phase, and

each phase of the direct current power source is substituted for each phase of the alternating current power source, and

the reactor is inserted to be connected only between either one of a positive terminal side and a negative terminal side of the direct current power source and the bidirectional switches.

14. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a detecting voltage switching apparatus for detecting the output voltage of the matrix converter apparatus when a step up voltage is outputted, and for detecting the alternating current power source voltage when a step down voltage is outputted.

15. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a detecting current switching apparatus for detecting an input current to the matrix converter apparatus when a step up voltage is outputted, and for detecting an output current from the matrix converter apparatus when a step down voltage is outputted.

16. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a gate signal outputting portion for outputting a gate signal based on an output voltage instruction; and

a gate signal switching apparatus for changing to switch respective corresponding relationships between the bidirectional switch and the gate signal when a step down voltage is outputted and when a step up voltage is outputted.

5. A matrix converter apparatus for directly connecting respective phases of an alternating current power source and respective phases on an output side by means of respective bidirectional switches having a self arc suppression function and controlled by a PWM control based on an output voltage instruction and outputting an arbitrary direct current or alternating current voltage,

the matrix converter apparatus comprising:

respective reactors, each reactor constituted by one winding, connected between the respective phases of the alternating current power source and the bidirectional switches;

a second capacitor group constituted by respective capacitors for respectively connecting between R-phase and S-phase, S-phase and T-phase and T-phase and R-phase;

R-phase, S-phase and T-phase being the phases of an input side of the matrix converter apparatus; and

a second connection/disconnection circuit capable of connecting and disconnecting connections by means of the respective capacitors between R-phase and S-phase, S-phase and T-phase and T-phase and R-phase, wherein

the second connection/disconnection circuit disconnects the connections when a step up voltage of the matrix converter apparatus is outputted, and maintains the connections when a step down voltage thereof is outputted.

6. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the second connecting/disconnecting circuit includes:

a second rectifying diode group constituted by a connection in parallel of three units, each of which comprises two diodes in series; and

a second semiconductor switching element connected between positive and negative output terminals of the second rectifying diode group,

terminals on one side of respective capacitors constituting the second capacitor group are connected to respective terminals connected to the bidirectional switch associated with the respective reactors, and

terminals thereof on the other side are connected to the respective series connecting points of the second rectifying diode group.

17. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

a positive terminal side of a direct current power source is one phase and a negative terminal side thereof is the other phase so that the direct current power source is two-phase, and

the direct current power source is substituted for the alternating current power source.

18. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a detecting voltage switching apparatus for detecting the output voltage of the matrix converter apparatus when a step up voltage is outputted, and for detecting the alternating current power source voltage when a step down voltage is outputted.

19. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a detecting current switching apparatus for detecting an input current to the matrix converter apparatus when a step up voltage is outputted, and for detecting an output current from the matrix converter apparatus when a step down voltage is outputted.

20. The matrix converter apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a gate signal outputting portion for outputting a gate signal based on an output voltage instruction; and

a gate signal switching apparatus for changing to switch respective corresponding relationships between the bidirectional switch and the gate signal when a step down voltage is outputted and when a step up voltage is outputted.