Converter submodule with short-circuit device and power converter having same

US9806599B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED · GB

Inventors

• Martin Geske · Berlin, DE
• Joerg Janning · Berlin, DE
• Thomas Brueckner · Munich, DE
• Roland Jakob · Inzlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 15, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 31, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 15, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H02M1/325
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A short-circuit device and a protection method for a submodule for a power converter are disclosed. The submodule includes a bridge circuit having at least one power semiconductor branch extending between a first and a second DC voltage node and at least one controllable power semiconductor switch disposed therein to which a freewheeling diode is connected in anti-parallel, and a capacitor connected in parallel to the bridge circuit. The short-circuit device has at least one selected of the freewheeling diodes anti-parallel to the power semiconductor switches of the bridge circuit, wherein the at least one selected freewheeling diode is manufactured in press pack design and rated such that, when a fault occurs in the submodule, the at least one selected freewheeling diode breaks down due to the fault conditions and provides a durable, stable, low-impedance short circuit path between a first and a second AC voltage connection of the submodule.