Power converter and controller using such power converter for electric rolling stock

• US 7,977,819 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Kitanaka, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fauth; Justen
• Application Number:
  US12/375,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 361/15, 361/16, 361/34, 361/123, 361/140
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/22 polyphase motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Provided is a power converter having an inverter (13) wherein capacitors (12) are connected in parallel on a direct current side, and a power supply circuit configured to supply the inverter with a direct current from a power supply (1) and a power storage element (14). A controller using such power converter is also provided for electric rolling stocks. The power supply circuit is provided with a power supply switch (S1) arranged between the power supply and the inverter, a DC-to-DC converter (15A) arranged between the power storage element and the inverter, and a bypass switch (S2) arranged between the power storage element and the inverter.

Claims

1. A power converter comprising:

an inverter that supplies a load with electric power;

a capacitor connected between DC terminals of the inverter;

a power supply switch provided between one terminal of the capacitor and a power collector;

a power storage unit that stores DC power;

a DC-to-DC converter having a reactor and at least one pair of switching elements connected in series for charging the power storage unit with electric power and discharging electric power from the power storage unit, the DC-to-DC converter being connected in parallel with the capacitor; and

a bypass switch that connects the power storage unit in parallel with the capacitor, without the intermediary of the at least one pair of switching elements of the converter.

2. An electric rolling stock controller comprising:

an inverter that drives a motor;

a capacitor connected between DC terminals of the inverter;

a power supply switch provided between one terminal of the capacitor and an overhead line;

a power storage unit that stores DC power;

a DC-to-DC converter having a reactor and at least one pair of switching elements connected in series for charging the power storage unit with electric power and discharging electric power from the power storage unit, the DC-to-DC converter being connected in parallel with the capacitor; and

a bypass switch that connects the power storage unit in parallel with the capacitor, without the intermediary of the at least one pair of switching elements of the converter.

3. The electric rolling stock controller according to claim 2, wherein the bypass switch connects the power storage unit in parallel with the capacitor via the reactor.

4. The electric rolling stock controller according to claim 2, wherein, when the power supply switch is off, the bypass switch is on.

5. The electric rolling stock controller according to claim 4, wherein, in the case where the power supply switch and the bypass switch are off, the DC-to-DC converter is activated, and the difference between the voltage across the capacitor and the voltage across the power storage unit is smaller than a predetermined value, the bypass switch is turned on and the switching operation of the DC-to-DC converter is halted.

6. The electric rolling stock controller according to claim 4, wherein, in the case where the power supply switch and the bypass switch are off, the DC-to-DC converter is activated, and the difference between the voltage across the capacitor and the voltage of the overhead line is smaller than a predetermined value, the power supply switch is turned on.