Inverter scalable in power and frequency

• US 9,197,140 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Nowak, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tiku, Sisay G
• Application Number:
  US13/816,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20130135913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/40, 363/71, 363/131, 363 50- 57, 363/727
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0043 Converters switched with a phase shift, i.e. interleaved non-isolated DC/DC converters H02M3/1586
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0085 Partially controlled bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/49 Combination of the output voltage waveforms of a plurality of converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/493 the static converters being arranged for operation in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/537 using semiconductor devices only, e.g. single switched pulse inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration

Abstract

An inverter is proposed for providing an inverter output signal scalable in frequency. The inverter has a controller for controlling frequency of the inverter output signal according to a predefinable value. In order to generate a signal having a frequency value prescribed for the inverter output signal, the controller initiates a time delay of signals and superimposes the signals onto the signal having the frequency value prescribed for the inverter output signal. A low-complexity inverter concept for high voltages or high power is thus provided.

Claims

1. An inverter for providing an inverter output signal that is scalable in power and frequency, comprising:

a plurality of inverter units, each inverter unit comprising an isolating transformer, a current/voltage transformer, and switching elements, the switching elements being controlled by a respective controller for generating an inverter unit output signal,

a high-frequency output transformer receiving at least one respective inverter unit output signal,

a central controller for controlling the frequency of an overall inverter output signal according to a definable value,

wherein the central controller is adapted to cause the inverter unit output signals of the plurality of inverter units to have a time delay and to superimpose the inverter unit output signals being time delayed on the overall inverter output signal having a frequency specified for the overall inverter output signal.

2. The inverter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to cause the superimposed inverter unit output signals having the frequency that can be specified.

3. The inverter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inverter comprises a transformer for superimposing the signals of the inverter units.

4. The inverter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inverter is constructed in keeping with a cascading of the inverter units, and wherein the central controller is adapted to cause an inverter unit output signal of at least one of the inverter units to have the time delay and to superimpose the inverter unit output signal being time delayed on an output signal of the at least one of the inverter units having the frequency specified within the at least one of the inverter units.

5. The inverter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central controller is adapted to control an output frequency and/or output power of the inverter by specifying a number of the inverter units to be used for generating the output signal of the inverter.

6. The inverter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the central controller is adapted to add or disconnect the number of the inverter units to be used for generating the output signal of the inverter.

7. The inverter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inverter comprises a central cooler for cooling the inverter units.