Device for short-circuiting power semiconductor modules

• US 8,164,868 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Dommaschk, Mike, Dorn, Jörg, Holweg, Johann, Lang, Jörg, Preidel, Axel, Würflinger, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W
• Application Number:
  US12/280,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20090141416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,252 Days
• Field of Search: 361/13, 361/54
• US Class Current: 361/54
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 39/004 Closing switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 79/00 Protective switches in which excess current causes the closing of contacts, e.g. for short-circuiting the apparatus to be protected H01H39/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/62 Protection against overvoltage, e.g. fuses, shunts
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4835 comprising two or more cells, each including a switchable capacitor, the capacitors having a nominal charge voltage which corresponds to a given fraction of the input voltage, and the capacitors being selectively connected in series to determine the instantaneous output voltage

Abstract

An apparatus has power semiconductor modules, which are connected to one another via connection devices so as to form a series circuit. A short-circuiting device for short-circuiting the respective power semiconductor module is assigned to each power semiconductor module. The apparatus has a reliable and at the same time cost-effective short-circuiting device. It is proposed that the short-circuiting device is a pyrotechnical/mechanical element, which has a detonation charge and a tripping device, which can be displaced by the detonation charge.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

power semiconductor modules connected in series with one another to form a series circuit, each respective one of said power semiconductor modules having an associated short-circuiting device for short-circuiting said respective power semiconductor module, said short-circuiting device being a pyrotechnic/mechanical element having an explosive charge and an initiation means being moved by said explosive charge.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pyrotechnic/mechanical element has a housing in which said explosive charge is disposed.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said housing is gas-tight when initiated, so as to avoid an occurrence of explosive gases.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pyrotechnic/mechanical element has at least two drive connections for initiation of said explosive charge.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pyrotechnic/mechanical element is composed of an electrically conductive material and, in an initiation position, connects said series circuit to a bypass branch such that said respective power semiconductor module associated with said pyrotechnic/mechanical element is short-circuited.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pyrotechnic/mechanical element can be triggered electrically.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an initiation unit configured for electrical triggering of said explosive charge;

and wherein said pyrotechnic/mechanical element has at least one measurement sensor for detection of an electrical signal to be monitored of an associated one of said power semiconductor modules, said measurement sensor connected to said initiation unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said initiation means can be moved by said explosive charge one of into said housing and out of said housing.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power semiconductor modules form part of a converter.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drive unit triggering said explosive charge of said short-circuiting device when a voltage gradient exceeds a predetermined threshold.