Modular high-frequency converter and method for operating the same

• US 8,908,402 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2014
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Reinhard, Markus, Kopf, Michael, Lutze, Marcel, Mantel, Mirjam, Vlkel, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US14/196,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20140254229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 363 65- 71, 363/98, 363/132, 323/225, 323/267, 323/271
• US Class Current: 363/71
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/529 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0074 Plural converter units whose inputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/539 with automatic control of output wave form or frequency H02M7/5375 - H02M7/5387 take 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A modular high-frequency converter includes submodules, each having an input-side half bridge and a DC link circuit with a DC link capacitance connected in parallel to the half bridge. A DC link circuit voltage drop across the DC link capacitance of each submodule is controlled to a target voltage by adjusting a duty cycle with a closed-loop control structure having a pilot control and a downstream closed-loop error control. Within the framework of the pilot control, a target value for each duty cycle and a target value for the supply current are determined, using a mathematical model of the converter, based on the load-side output currents flowing out of the DC link voltage circuits and on target values of the DC link circuit voltages. Switch position parameters, which map the effect of the switch positions of the input-side half bridges, are each replaced by an associated duty cycle.

Claims

1. A method for operating a modular high-frequency converter having a plurality of submodules with input-side half bridge connected in series via an inductance to a supply circuit supplied by a DC voltage source, with each of the input-side half bridge having a DC link circuit with a DC link circuit capacitance connected across an output of the input-side half bridge, the method comprising:

clocking the associated input-side half bridge with a predetermined duty cycle so as to connect the DC link circuit capacitance of each input-side half bridge to the supply circuit,

controlling a DC link circuit voltage drop across the DC link circuit capacitance of each submodule to a predetermined DC link voltage target value by adjusting the predetermined duty cycle with a closed-loop control structure having a pilot control and a closed-loop error control connected downstream of the pilot control,

determining, for the pilot control, with a model that approximately mathematically models an interaction of currents and voltages in the supply circuit and currents and voltages in the submodules, a target duty cycle value for the predetermined duty cycle of each submodule and a target current value for a supply current supplied by the supply circuit, based on load-side output currents flowing out from the DC link circuits and based on the predetermined DC link voltage target values,

in the model, replacing switch position parameters that map an effect of switch positions of the input-side half bridges based on the determined duty cycle value, and

operating the converter with the replaced switch position parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein changes over time in the DC link circuit voltages and in the supply current are neglected in the model.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein time-discrete measured values of the load-side output currents are used as input variables for the model.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein time-averaged values of the load-side output currents are used as input variables for the model.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the time-averaged values of the load-side output currents are determined by using a recursive mean value filter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a target value for each duty cycle and a target value for the supply current are determined by numerically solving of the model by using an iterative optimization method.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a voltage of the DC voltage source is used as an additional input variable for the model.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the voltage of the DC voltage source is a predetermined constant value.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the voltage of the DC voltage source is a value reconstructed by state reconstruction.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a value for the supply current of the DC voltage source determined from state reconstruction is used for the closed-loop error control.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a periodic compensation signal applied to the duty cycles outputted by the closed-loop control structure so as to completely or partially compensate a periodic fault of the DC link circuit voltages.

12. A modular high-frequency converter, comprising:

a plurality of submodules having input sides connected in series via an inductance in a supply circuit supplied by a DC voltage source, wherein each submodule comprises an input-side half bridge, a DC link circuit connected downstream of the input-side half bridge and a DC link circuit capacitance connected in parallel with the input-side half bridge, and

a control device configured to automatically

clock the associated input-side half bridge with a predetermined duty cycle so as to connect the DC link circuit capacitance of each input-side half bridge to the supply circuit,

control a DC link circuit voltage drop across the DC link circuit capacitance of each submodule to a predetermined DC link voltage target value by adjusting the predetermined duty cycle with a closed-loop control structure having a pilot control and a closed-loop error control connected downstream of the pilot control,

determine, for the pilot control, with a model that approximately mathematically models an interaction of currents and voltages in the supply circuit and currents and voltages in the submodules, a target duty cycle value for the predetermined duty cycle of each submodule and a target current value for a supply current supplied by the supply circuit, based on load-side output currents flowing out from the DC link circuits and based on the predetermined DC link voltage target values,

in the model, replace switch position parameters that map an effect of switch positions of the input-side half bridges based on the determined duty cycle value, and

operate the converter with the replaced switch position parameters.