Conversion stage, electric converter including such a conversion stage, device for converting an AC current into DC current including such a converter, terminal for recharging an electric battery including such a converter or conversion device

• US 9,270,182 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Meysenc, Luc, Gailla, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kebede, Tessema
• Application Number:
  US13/837,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20130293193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0085 Partially controlled bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1552 Boost converters exploiting the leakage inductance of a transformer or of an alternator as boost inductor
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1586 switched with a phase shift, i.e. interleaved
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33507 with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/81 arranged for operation in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The electric conversion stage according to the invention can be connected on one hand to intermediate terminals of a DC voltage electric bus, and on the other hand to output terminals. It comprises P switching branches, P≧2, the switching branches being connected in parallel between the intermediate terminals, each switching branch including first and second controllable electronic switches connected serially and connected to each other by a midpoint, each switch including a semiconductor switching element and a diode connected in anti-parallel to the semiconductor element, and means for controlling the electronic switches according to a control law.

It also comprises a capacitor connected between the two output terminals and, for each switching branch, an electromagnetic coil connected between a terminal of the capacitor and the midpoint of the corresponding switching branch, and the control law is selected from among a first control law and a second control law, the first control law being such that the semiconductor element of each first switch is always off, and the second control law being such that the semiconductor element of each second switch is always off.

Claims

1. An electric conversion stage, capable of being connected on one hand to intermediate terminals of a DC voltage electric bus, and on the other hand to output terminals, the electric conversion stage comprising:

P switching branches, P being greater than or equal to 2, the switching branches being connected in parallel between intermediate terminals, each switching branch including first and second controllable electronic switches connected serially and connected to each other by a midpoint, the first switch being connected between the first intermediate terminal and the corresponding midpoint, and the second switch being connected between the second intermediate terminal and the corresponding midpoint, each switch including a semiconductor element and a diode connected in anti-parallel to the semiconductor element, each semiconductor element being switchable between an on state and an off state,

control means for controlling the electronic switches according to a control rule,

wherein the conversion stage also comprises a capacitor connected between the two output terminals and, for each switching branch, an electromagnetic coil connected between a terminal of the capacitor and the midpoint of the corresponding switching branch, and

wherein the control rule is selected from among a first control rule and a second control rule, the first control rule being such that the semiconductor element of each first switch is always off, and the second control rule being such that the semiconductor element of each second switch is always off.

2. The conversion stage according to claim 1, wherein the first control rule is such that the semiconductor element of each second switch is controlled cyclically from the off state to the on state, then from the on state to the off state.

3. The conversion stage according to claim 1, wherein the second control rule is such that the semiconductor element of each first switch is cyclically controlled from the off state to the on state, then from the on state to the off state.

4. The conversion stage according to claim 1, wherein the conversion stage forms, according to the first control rule, a Boost converter capable of converting a DC voltage between the intermediate terminals into another DC voltage with a higher value, between the output terminals, and/or the conversion stage forms, according to the second control rule, a Buck converter capable of converting the DC voltage between the intermediate terminals into another DC voltage with a lower value, between the output terminals.

5. The conversion stage according to claim 1, wherein the conversion stage is capable of successively selecting the first control rule, then the second control rule so as to go from a Boost conversion operating mode to a Buck conversion operating mode, or successively from the second control rule to the first control rule so as to go from a Buck conversion operating mode to a Boost conversion operating mode.

6. The conversion stage according to claim 1, wherein the control means are capable of controlling the electronic switches of the switching branches, each according to a switching rule, and the switching rules of the switching branches are offset from one another.

7. The conversion stage according to claim 6, wherein the switching rules of each of the branches are of the same frequency and are phase-shifted relative to one another, the phase shift between the switching rules of each of the branches preferably being equal to 360°

/P.

8. An electric converter, capable of being linked to an AC electrical network including M phase(s), M being greater than or equal to 1, the converter comprising:

M input terminal(s), the or each input terminal corresponding to a phase of the AC network first and second intermediate terminals, and two output terminals,

a first conversion stage, connected to the input terminals and including a voltage rectifier capable of converting the AC input voltage into a DC intermediate voltage delivered between the first and second intermediate terminals, and

a second conversion stage, connected to the intermediate terminals at the output of the first conversion stage,

wherein the second conversion stage is part of the electrical conversion stage according to claim 1.

9. The converter according to claim 8, wherein the converter also comprises a relooping link connected between one of the two output terminals and a filter, the filter being connected at the output of the voltage rectifier, the relooping link enabling to monitor the discharge from the capacitor connected between the two output terminals.

10. A device for converting an alternating current into a direct current, the conversion device being capable of being linked to an AC electrical network including M phase(s), M being greater than or equal to 1, the conversion device comprising:

a voltage transformer comprising a primary circuit having M primary winding(s), first and second secondary circuits each including M secondary winding(s),

a first electric converter connected to the first secondary circuit and

a second electric converter connected to the second secondary circuit,

wherein the first and second electric converters are each according to claim 8.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein M is equal to 3, the three primary windings are connected in a star, the three secondary windings of the first secondary circuit are connected in a triangle, and the three secondary windings of the second secondary circuit are connected in a star.

12. A terminal for recharging an electric battery, in particular a motor vehicle electric battery, comprising a housing and an electric connector designed to be electrically linked to the battery,

wherein the recharge terminal comprises a conversion element from one of an electric converter and a conversion device, the conversion element being positioned in the housing,

wherein the electric converter is capable of being linked to an AC electrical network including M phase(s), M being greater than or equal to 1, the electric converter comprising:

M input terminal(s), the or each input terminal corresponding to a phase of the AC network first and second intermediate terminals, and two output terminals,

a first conversion stage, connected to the input terminals and including a voltage rectifier capable of converting the AC input voltage into a DC intermediate voltage delivered between the first and second intermediate terminals, and

a second conversion stage, connected to the intermediate terminals at the output of the first conversion stage,

wherein the second conversion stage is part of an electrical conversion stage capable of being connected on one hand to intermediate terminals of a DC voltage electric bus, and on the other hand to output terminals, the electric conversion stage comprising;

P switching branches, P being greater than or equal to 2, the switching branches being connected in parallel between intermediate terminals, each switching branch including first and second controllable electronic switches connected serially and connected to each other by a midpoint, the first switch being connected between the first intermediate terminal and the corresponding midpoint, and the second switch being connected between the second intermediate terminal and the corresponding midpoint, each switch including a semiconductor element and a diode connected in anti-parallel to the semiconductor element, each semiconductor element being switchable between an on state and an off state,

control means for controlling the electronic switches according to a control rule,

wherein the electric conversion stage also comprises a capacitor connected between the two output terminals and, for each switching branch, an electromagnetic coil connected between a terminal of the capacitor and the midpoint of the corresponding switching branch, and

wherein the control rule is selected from among a first control rule and a second control rule, the first control rule being such that the semiconductor element of each first switch is always off, and the second control rule being such that the semiconductor element of each second switch is always off,

wherein the conversion device is a device for converting an alternating current into a direct current, the conversion device being capable of being linked to an AC electrical network including M phase(s), M being greater than or equal to 1, the conversion device comprising;

a voltage transformer comprising a primary circuit having M primary winding(s), first and second secondary circuits each including M secondary winding(s),

a first electric converter connected to the first secondary circuit and

a second electric converter connected to the second secondary circuit,

wherein the first and second electric converters are each corresponding to the electric converter.

13. The recharge terminal according to claim 12, wherein the terminal also comprises an electric connecting cable, arranged at least partially outside the housing and linking the electric connector to the conversion element.