Methods and systems for operating power converters

• US 8,310,796 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wagoner, Robert Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHARTI HARIDAS
• Application Number:
  US13/182,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20120051106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 361/103, 361/91.1
• US Class Current: 361/91.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/08 Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/302 in bipolar transistor amplifiers H03F1/303, H03F1/305, H03F1/307 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/447 the amplifier being protected to temperature influence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/0828 in composite switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/14 Modifications for compensating variations of physical values, e.g. of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/08 by limiting; by thresholding; by slicing, i.e. combined limiting and thresholding H03K5/07 takes precedence; comparing one pulse with another H03K5/22; providing a determined threshold for switching H03K17/30

Abstract

A switching circuit for use in a power converter is provided. The switching circuit includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) including a gate terminal, a collector terminal, and an emitter terminal, a gate drive circuit electrically coupled to the gate terminal and configured to switch the IGBT on and off, and, a temperature drift resistant clamp circuit electrically coupled between the gate terminal and the collector terminal of the IGBT, the temperature drift resistant clamp circuit configured to maintain a voltage at the collector terminal below a threshold voltage and facilitate reducing the effects of temperature on operation of the switching circuit.

Claims

1. A switching circuit for use in a power converter, said switching circuit comprising:

an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) comprising a gate terminal, a collector terminal, and an emitter terminal;

a gate drive circuit electrically coupled to said gate terminal and configured to switch said IGBT on and off; and

,

a temperature drift resistant clamp circuit electrically coupled between said gate terminal and said collector terminal of said IGBT, said temperature drift resistant clamp circuit configured to maintain a voltage at said collector terminal below a threshold voltage and facilitate reducing the effects of temperature on operation of said switching circuit, wherein said temperature drift resistant clamp circuit comprises;

at least one zener diode; and

,

a temperature compensation circuit electrically coupled to said zener diode and comprising at least one thermistor that compensates for a change in a breakdown voltage of said zener diode due to a change in temperature.

2. A power generation system comprising:

a power generator; and

,

a power converter electrically coupled to said power generator, said power converter configured to convert power generated by said generator and supply the converted power to a load, wherein said power converter comprises at least one switching circuit that comprises;

an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) comprising a gate terminal, a collector terminal, and an emitter terminal;

a gate drive circuit electrically coupled to said gate terminal and configured to switch said IGBT on and off; and

,

a temperature drift resistant clamp circuit electrically coupled between said gate terminal and said collector terminal of said IGBT, said temperature drift resistant clamp circuit configured to maintain a voltage at said collector terminal below a threshold voltage and facilitate reducing the effects of temperature on operation of said switching circuit.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said power converter is configured to convert a variable frequency alternating current (AC) input power to a fixed frequency output power.

4. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said power generator is a wind turbine generator.

5. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said temperature drift resistant clamp circuit comprises:

at least one zener diode; and

,

a temperature compensation circuit electrically coupled to said zener diode.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said temperature compensation circuit comprises at least one thermistor.

7. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said temperature drift resistant clamp circuit comprises:

a backwards diode component; and

,

a temperature compensated voltage source electrically coupled to said backwards diode component.

8. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said temperature compensated voltage source comprises a direct current (DC) power source.

9. A method for reducing the effects of temperature on a switching circuit for use in a power converter, said method comprising:

providing an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) including a gate terminal, a collector terminal, and an emitter terminal;

coupling a gate drive circuit to the gate terminal, the gate drive circuit configured to switch the IGBT on and off; and

,

coupling a temperature drift resistant clamp circuit between the gate terminal and the collector terminal of the IGBT, the temperature drift resistant clamp circuit configured to maintain a voltage at the collector terminal below a threshold voltage and facilitate reducing the effects of temperature on operation of the switching circuit, the temperature drift resistant clamp circuit including a temperature compensation circuit and at least one zener diode in series.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising coupling the switching circuit within a power converter configured to convert a variable frequency alternating current (AC) input power to a fixed frequency output power.

11. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein coupling a temperature compensation circuit comprises coupling a temperature compensation circuit including a thermistor.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein coupling a temperature compensation circuit including a thermistor comprises coupling a temperature compensation circuit including a thermistor configured to compensate for a change in a breakdown voltage of the zener diode due to a change in temperature.