High efficiency commutation circuit
US10840833B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 2015 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02P6/26
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A commutation circuit includes a coil connected to an H bridge, the H bridge including four main switches for reversing polarity and a resulting coil current in the coil. The commutation circuit further includes a voltage source configured to generate a bypass current, and at least one auxiliary switch for controlling the bypass current to thereby decrease a switch current through at least one of the main switches. By generating an appropriate bypass current with help of a voltage source, a switch current through a desired main switch in a leading state can be decreased and eventually brought to zero. Zero current in its turn enables the use of thyristors as main switches as it results in the thyristors to be turned off automatically. Furthermore, decreased switch current at the switching moment reduces switching losses even in different types of switches such as GTOs and IGBTs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.