System and method for controlling switching elements within a single-phase bridge circuit
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an operation of switching elements contained within a single-phase bridge circuit of a power convertor, the method comprising:
- monitoring, with a computing device, gate voltages of a first switching element and a second switching element of the single-phase bridge circuit;
controlling the first and second switching elements so that each switching element is alternated between an activated state and a deactivated state;
transmitting a gating command signal to adjust the first switching element from the deactivated state to the activated state in response to;
a first gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the first switching element to the activated state;
a second gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the second switching element to the deactivated state;
a first indication being received that the gate voltage of the second switching element is less than a predetermined voltage threshold; and
a second indication being received that current is not flowing through a first anti-parallel diode associated with the first switching element;
transmitting a second gating command signal to adjust the first switching element from the activated state to the deactivated state; and
transmitting a third gating command signal to adjust the second switching element from the deactivated state to the activated state in response to;
a third gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the second switching element to the activated state;
a fourth gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the first switching element to the deactivated state;
a third indication being received that the gate voltage of the first switching element is less than the predetermined voltage threshold; and
a fourth indication being received that current is not flowing through a second anti-parallel diode associated with the second switching element.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, a method for controlling the operation of switching elements contained within a single-phase bridge circuit of a power convertor may include monitoring gate voltages of a first switching element and a second switching element of the single-phase bridge circuit and controlling the first and second switching elements so that each switching element is alternated between an activated state and a deactivated state. In addition, the method may include transmitting a gating command signal to adjust the first switching element from the deactivated state to the activated state when: a first gate drive command is received that is associated with switching the first switching element to the activated state; a second gate drive command is received that is associated with switching the second switching element to the deactivated state; and the gate voltage of the second switching element is less than a predetermined voltage threshold.
31 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an operation of switching elements contained within a single-phase bridge circuit of a power convertor, the method comprising:
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monitoring, with a computing device, gate voltages of a first switching element and a second switching element of the single-phase bridge circuit; controlling the first and second switching elements so that each switching element is alternated between an activated state and a deactivated state; transmitting a gating command signal to adjust the first switching element from the deactivated state to the activated state in response to; a first gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the first switching element to the activated state; a second gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the second switching element to the deactivated state; a first indication being received that the gate voltage of the second switching element is less than a predetermined voltage threshold; and a second indication being received that current is not flowing through a first anti-parallel diode associated with the first switching element; transmitting a second gating command signal to adjust the first switching element from the activated state to the deactivated state; and transmitting a third gating command signal to adjust the second switching element from the deactivated state to the activated state in response to; a third gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the second switching element to the activated state; a fourth gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the first switching element to the deactivated state; a third indication being received that the gate voltage of the first switching element is less than the predetermined voltage threshold; and a fourth indication being received that current is not flowing through a second anti-parallel diode associated with the second switching element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A wind turbine system for supplying power for application to a load, the wind turbine system comprising:
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a wind turbine rotor, the wind turbine rotor including a hub and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the hub; a generator coupled to the wind turbine rotor; a power converter coupled to the generator, the power converter including a single-phase bridge circuit having a first switching element and a second switching element; and a controller communicatively coupled to the power converter, the controller being configured to; monitor gate voltages of a first switching element and a second switching element of the single-phase bridge circuit; control the first and second switching elements so that each switching element is alternated between an activated state and a deactivated state; transmit a gating command signal to adjust the first switching element from the deactivated state to the activated state in response to; a first gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the first switching element to the activated state; a second gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the second switching element to the deactivated state; a first indication that the gate voltage of the second switching element is less than a predetermined voltage threshold; and a second indication being received that current is not flowing through a first anti-parallel diode associated with the first switching element; transmit a second gating command signal to adjust the first switching element from the activated state to the deactivated state; and transmit a third gating command signal to adjust the second switching element from the deactivated state to the activated state in response to; a third gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the second switching element to the activated state; a fourth gate drive command being received that is associated with switching the first switching element to the deactivated state; a third indication being received that the gate voltage of the first switching element is less than the predetermined voltage threshold; and a fourth indication being received that current is not flowing through a second anti-parallel diode associated with the second switching element. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification