Electric power converting system

• US 8,896,149 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Electric Company Limited (Fuji Electric Systems Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Electric Company Limited (Fuji Electric Systems Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hida, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIAO, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/064,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20110248564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/322 Means for rapidly discharging a capacitor of the converter for protecting electrical components or for preventing electrical shock
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode

Abstract

An electric power converting system includes a common DC power supply, and a plurality of inverter sets operated mutually independently to one another, and supplied with electric power from the common DC power supply. Each inverter set has an inverter circuit and a main circuit capacitor. The system further includes a plurality of first and second switching circuits. Each first switching circuit is provided between the common DC power supply and each inverter set, and each second switching circuit is provided in each inverter set for discharging charges in the main circuit capacitor.

Claims

1. An electric power converting system, comprising:

a common DC power supply,

a plurality of inverter sets operated mutually independently to one another, and supplied with electric power from the common DC power supply, each inverter set having an inverter circuit,

main circuit capacitors, each being connected to each inverter set,

a plurality of first switching circuits, each being provided between the common DC power supply and each inverter set and having a disconnecting switch and a first electromagnetic contactor connected in series with the disconnecting switch being at a side of the common DC power supply,

a plurality of second switching circuits, each being provided between each first switching circuit and each inverter circuit for discharging charges in the main circuit capacitor and having a charging current suppressing resistor and a second electromagnetic contactor arranged parallel to each other,

a plurality of third electromagnetic contactors, each being connected at one end to the main circuit capacitor and at another end between the first electromagnetic contactor and each second switching circuit, and

an operation sequence circuit sequentially operating the first and second switching circuits, and the third electromagnetic contactors such that when one of the plurality of inverter sets is to be disconnected from the common DC power supply, the disconnecting switch corresponding to the inverter set to be disconnected is disconnected, then the first electromagnetic contactor is opened, then the second electromagnetic contactor is opened, and then the third electromagnetic contactor is closed so as to discharge a charge in the main circuit capacitor through the charging current suppressing resistor corresponding thereto, said operation sequence circuit further controlling to monitor whether or not a voltage across the main circuit capacitor is lower than a predetermined voltage, and to inform that when the voltage across the main circuit capacitor is lower than the predetermined voltage, said one of the plurality of inverter sets is in a removable state.

2. The electric power converting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the second electromagnetic contactor which is generally closed is opened and the third electromagnetic contactor which is generally opened is closed, a discharging circuit of the capacitor passing through a positive side of the main circuit capacitor, the charging current suppressing resistor, the third electromagnetic contactor and a negative potential side of the main circuit capacitor is formed.