Patent · US Active

Neutral point clamped power converter fault detection, identification, and protection

US8472153B1 · kind B1 · utility

8Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 2011
Grant dateJun 25, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 21, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02H7/1216
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A fault detection, identification, and protection system for a phase leg of a three-level neutral point clamped (NPC) power converter includes a fault detection circuit, the fault detection circuit configured to determine, based on signals received from the two inner switches and two outer switches via their respective gate drivers, the presence of a fault in the phase leg; a fault identification circuit, the fault identification circuit being configured to determine, based on signals from the fault detection circuit, a location of the fault in the phase leg; and a protection circuit, the protection circuit being configured to turn off at least one of the inner switches or outer switches in response to the identification of the location of the fault by the fault identification circuit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.