Converter and submodule of a converter for charging or discharging an energy store

• US 8,981,712 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Leu, Holger, Rasic, Andreja
• Primary Examiner(s): DO, THUAN V
• Application Number:
  US13/510,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20120229080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/483 Converters with outputs that each can have more than two voltages levels

Abstract

A submodule charges or discharges an energy store and contains a capacitor unit and a power semiconductor circuit having power semiconductors that can be switched on and off. The capacitor unit and the power semiconductor circuit are connected to each other such that, after actuating the power semiconductors, the voltage released at the capacitor unit or a zero voltage can be produced at output terminals of the submodule. In order to provide a submodule allowing individual adaptation of the charging operation to the requirements of the energy store which, is cost-effective, the energy store is connected to the submodule via a DC-DC regulator. The regulator is connected to the capacitor unit and is configured to convert a capacitor voltage into a charge voltage that is required for charging the energy store, and to convert a discharge voltage released at the energy store during discharge into the capacitor voltage.

Claims

1. A submodule for charging or discharging an energy store, the submodule comprising:

output terminals;

a capacitor unit;

a power semiconductor circuit having power semiconductors which can be switched on and off, said capacitor unit and said power semiconductor circuit connected to one another such that, depending on a driving of said power semiconductors in said power semiconductor circuit, at least a voltage drop across said capacitor unit and a zero voltage being generated selectively at said output terminals of the submodule;

a DC-to-DC converter connected to said capacitor unit; and

an energy store connected to said DC-to-DC converter, the DC-to-DC converter configured to convert a capacitor voltage drop across said capacitor unit into a charging voltage, required for charging said energy store, and to convert a discharging voltage drop across said energy store during discharge into the capacitor voltage.

2. The submodule according to claim 1, wherein said DC-to-DC converter is connected in parallel with said capacitor unit.

3. The submodule according to claim 2, wherein said energy store is a rechargeable battery.

4. The submodule according to claim 3, wherein said rechargeable battery is a chemical rechargeable battery.

5. The submodule according to claim 1,

further comprising freewheeling diodes;

and

wherein four of said power semiconductors and said capacitor unit are connected to one another to form a full-bridge circuit, with in each case one of said freewheeling diodes being connected in parallel, in opposition, with each of said four power semiconductors.

6. The submodule according to claim 1,

further comprising freewheeling diodes;

and

wherein said power semiconductor circuit and said capacitor unit form a half-bridge circuit, which has two of said power semiconductors which can be switched off, with in each case one of said freewheeling diodes being connected in parallel, in opposition, with each of said two power semiconductors.

7. The submodule according to claim 1, wherein said DC-to-DC converter has a regulation unit configured with measuring sensors for detecting the charging voltage or the discharging voltage drop across said energy store and the capacitor voltage drop across said capacitor unit, said regulation unit configured to adjust the charging voltage or the discharging voltage drop depending on at least one setpoint value.

8. The submodule according to claim 1, wherein said DC-to-DC converter is selected from the group consisting of a step-up converter and a step-down converter.

9. The submodule according to claim 1, further comprising two connection terminals.

10. A converter, comprising:

converter valves having a series circuit containing submodules, each of said submodules containing;

output terminals;

a capacitor unit;

a power semiconductor circuit having power semiconductors which can be switched on and off, said capacitor unit and said power semiconductor circuit connected to one another such that, depending on a driving of said power semiconductors in said power semiconductor circuit, at least a voltage drop across said capacitor unit and a zero voltage being generated selectively at said output terminals of the submodule;

a DC-to-DC converter connected to said capacitor unit; and

an energy store connected to said DC-to-DC converter, the DC-to-DC converter configured to convert a capacitor voltage drop across said capacitor unit into a charging voltage, required for charging said energy store, and to convert a discharging voltage drop across said energy store during discharge into the capacitor voltage drop.