AC-to-AC converter and method for converting a first frequency AC-voltage to a second frequency AC-voltage

• US 20120147633A1
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Jones, Rodney
• Granted Patent: US 9,099,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/37
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/42 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14325 for cabinets or racks

Abstract

An AC-to-AC-converter for converting a first frequency AC-voltage to a second frequency AC-voltage is disclosed. The converter includes: a first converter section which includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first DC-output node, and a second DC-output node; a second converter section which includes a first DC-input node connected to the first DC-output node, a second DC-input node connected to the second DC-output node, and at least two second output terminals; a DC-link overvoltage clamp which is coupled between the first DC-output node and the second DC-output node; and a capacitor system. The first converter section, the second converter section, the DC-link overvoltage clamp, and the capacitor system are integrated into one assembly.

Claims

1. An AC-to-AC-converter for converting a first frequency AC-voltage to a second frequency AC-voltage, the converter comprising:

a first converter section including at least a first input terminal and a second input terminal and including a first DC-output node and a second DC-output node, the first converter section being adapted for converting the first frequency AC-voltage applied between the first input terminal and the second input terminal to a DC-voltage between the first DC-output node and the second DC-output node;

a second converter section including a first DC-input node connected to the first DC-output node and including a second DC-input node connected to the second DC-output node and including at least two second output terminals, the second converter section being adapted for converting the DC-voltage between the first DC-input node and the second DC-input node to the second frequency AC-voltage between the at least two second output terminals;

a DC-link overvoltage clamp coupled between the first DC-output node and the second DC-output node; and

a capacitor system coupled between the first DC-output node and the second DC-output node,

wherein the first converter section, the second converter section, the DC-link overvoltage clamp, and the capacitor system are integrated into one assembly.

2. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 1, further comprising;

a heat dissipator including a heat supply surface and a heat dissipation surface for dissipating heat supplied to the heat supply surface,

wherein the first converter section comprises at least one first power transistor in thermal contact with the heat supply surface,

the second converter section comprises at least one second power transistor in thermal contact with the heat supply surface, and

the DC-link overvoltage clamp comprises a third power transistor in thermal contact with the heat supply surface.

4. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 2, wherein the heat dissipater comprises a coolant liquid inlet for supplying cooling liquid to be in thermal contact with the dissipation surface and a coolant liquid outlet for discharging coolant liquid carrying heat received from the dissipation surface.

5. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 2, wherein the DC-link overvoltage clamp further comprises a diode and a fuse,

wherein the third power transistor comprises a first terminal connected to the first DC-output node, and a second terminal connected to a mid point to which a first diode terminal and a first resistor terminal are connected,

wherein a second diode terminal and a second resistor terminal are connected to the second DC-output node.

6. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 5, wherein the third power transistor comprises a control terminal, wherein a conducting state between the first terminal of the third power transistor and the second terminal of the third power transistor depends on a signal applied to the third control terminal of the power transistor,

the converter further comprising:

a clamp control circuit including an output terminal connected to the control terminal of the third power transistor, wherein a signal generated at the output terminal of the clamp control circuit is based on a voltage between the first DC-output node and the second DC-output node.

7. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 6, wherein the clamp control circuit is adapted to generate a signal at its output terminal such that the third power transistor is in the conducting state, if the voltage between the first DC-output node and the second DC-output node is above a threshold voltage, in order to protect the first power transistor and/or the second power transistor from an overvoltage.

8. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 6, further comprising:

a first gate driver circuit for controlling a gate of the first power transistor;

a second gate driver circuit for controlling a gate of the second power transistor;

a power supply for supplying the first gate driver circuit, the second gate driver circuit and the clamp control circuit with electric energy.

9. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor system comprises at least one set of serially connected capacitors connected between the first DC-output node and the second DC-output node.

10. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 1, further comprising a DC-link-laminate system comprising a first metal surface connected to the first DC-output node and a second metal surface connected to the second DC-output node.

11. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 1, further comprising a casing for enclosing at least the first converter section, the second converter section, the DC-link overvoltage clamp, and the capacitor system.

12. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 1, wherein the DC-link overvoltage clamp is arranged adjacent to the first converter section or the second converter section.

13. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 1, wherein a base area of the assembly amounts to less than 5 times a base area of a power transistor times a number of power transistors comprised in the assembly.

14. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 13, wherein a base area of the assembly amounts to 3 times a base area of a power transistor times a number of power transistors comprised in the assembly.

15. A wind turbine, comprising:

an electric generator including at least a first output terminal and a second output terminal for outputting a variable frequency power signal;

a rotor for driving the electric generator; and

an AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 1, wherein the first input terminal of the first converter section is connected to the first output terminal of the generator and the second input terminal of the first converter section is connected to the second output terminal of the generator.

3. The AC-to-AC-converter according to claim 3, wherein the heat dissipater is integrally formed.

16. A method for converting a first frequency AC-voltage to a second frequency AC-voltage, the method comprising:

converting the first frequency AC-voltage applied between a first input terminal of a first converter section and a second input terminal of the first converter section to a DC-voltage between a first DC-output node and a second DC-output node;

converting the DC-voltage between a first DC-input node of a second converter section and a second DC-input node of the second converter section to a second frequency AC-voltage between at least two second output terminals of the second converter section;

clamping the DC-voltage to be below a threshold voltage by using a DC-link overvoltage clamp coupled between the first DC-output node and the second DC-output node; and

rectifying the DC-voltage by using a capacitor system coupled between the first DC-output node and the second DC-output node,

wherein the first converter section, the second converter section, the DC-link overvoltage clamp, and the capacitor system are integrated into one assembly.