Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Siemens Energy Global Gmbh & Co. Kg

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.

Infineon Technologies Bipolar Gmbh & Co. Kg

Herbert Gambach

Hubert Schierling

Reinhard Maier

Gerd Griepentrog

Jörg Dorn

Joerg Dorn

Dominik Ergin

Rodrigo Alonso Alvarez Valenzuela

Frank Schremmer

Martin Pieschel

Joerg Lang

Mike Dommaschk

Ingo Euler

Klaus Würflinger

Jörg Lang

Hans-Joachim Knaak

Hans-Günter Eckel

Quoc-Buu Tu

Daniel Schmitt

Christoph Armschat

Martin Glinka

Lutz-Ruediger Jaenicke

Rainer Marquardt

Andreas Zenkner

Frank Schettler

Hans-Guenter Eckel

Volker Hussennether

Andreas Philipp

Dominik Schuster

Lutz-Rüdiger Jänicke

Carsten Wittstock

Roland Schuster

Adnan Chaudhry

Thomas Westerweller

Markus Billmann

Norbert Trapp

Torsten Stoltze

Wolfgang Goblirsch

Yeqi Wang

Klaus Wurflinger

Ulrich Wenkemann

Thomas Kübel

Klemens Kahlen

Daniel BÖHME

Bastian Alt

Ignacio Esteban Lizama Arcos

Günter Sachs

Marcus Wahle

A method operates a power converter that contains power converter arms. Each of the power converter arms has switching modules and each of the switching modules has a plurality of semiconductor switches and an energy store. A temperature value for the power converter is ascertained on the basis of a state model of the power converter, wherein the ascertainment is repeated so as to obtain time-related temperature values. A number and a magnitude of temperature swings that have occurred are ascertained from the temperature values, and a remaining service life for the power converter is estimated based on the ascertained number and magnitude. A power converter is configured to carry out the above-described method.

Power converter and method for operating the power converter

A multilevel power converter has at least one phase module with a plurality of modules connected between positive and negative DC voltage connections. The phase module has a first phase module branch connected to the positive DC voltage connection, and a second phase module branch connected to the negative DC voltage connection. Each of the modules has at least two electronic switching elements and an electric energy storage unit. A third phase module branch connects the first phase module branch to the second phase module branch. A switching device connects an AC voltage connection of the multilevel power converter to a first connection node between the first phase module branch and the third phase module branch in a first switch position and connects the AC voltage connection to a second connection node between the third phase module branch and the second phase module branch in a second switch position.

Multilevel power converter

The subject of the present invention is an arrangement for switching on a two-way switch of a converter module. A power generation device for providing electric power for switching on the two-way switch is provided that is suitable for converting electromagnetic radiation into electrical power. There is also described a converter module for a modular multi-level converter having the arrangement and a method for producing operational standby for a converter module having a two-way switch.

Arrangement for switching on a two-way switch of a converter module, converter module for a modular multi-level converter having the arrangement and method for producing operational standby for a converter module having a two-way switch

A modular multilevel converter has a plurality of sub-modules, each of which includes at least two electronic switching elements and an electrical energy storage device. The sub-modules are controlled by a control device. An optical output of the control device of the converter is connected to an input of an optical distributor by way of a first optical waveguide. A plurality of outputs of the optical distributor are individually connected to an optical input of one of the sub-modules, respectively, by way of a second optical waveguide.

Multilevel converter

A modular multilevel converter includes a plurality of sub-modules. Each of the sub modules has at least two electronic switching elements, an electrical energy storage device, two galvanic power terminals, an optical communication input () and an optical communication output. A plurality of the sub-modules is connected to a series circuit by way of their communication input and communication output.

Modular multilevel converter

A device for switching a direct current includes an operating current path which has a mechanical switch, a switch-off current path which is connected in parallel to the operating current path and has a power-electronic switch, and a commutation device which allows commutation of the direct current from the operating current path into the switch-off current path. The commutation device includes a transformer.

Device for switching a direct current

An apparatus switches a direct current in a high-voltage line. The apparatus contains a multiplicity of switching units, which are arranged so as to form a series circuit in the high-voltage line. Each switching unit in this case contains a switching element and a surge arrester arranged in a parallel circuit with the switching element, the threshold voltage of the surge arrester being higher than a rated voltage of the switching element. A sum of the rated voltages of the switching elements corresponds at least to an operating voltage of the high-voltage line. The switching elements are mechanical switches, and each mechanical switch contains a contact arrangement having two disconnectable contact pieces and is configured to build up an arcing voltage on disconnection of the contact pieces with a magnitude which is higher than the rated voltage of the mechanical switch.

Apparatus and method for switching a direct current

A switching device for switching bipolar DC currents in a high-voltage system includes at least two electromechanical switching units and a semiconductor switching arrangement. The electromechanical switching units have a first switching status and a second switching status. In the first switching status, the DC current can be passed via at least one of the electromechanical switching units without in this case flowing via the semiconductor switching arrangement. In the second switching status of the electromechanical switching units, the DC current can be passed via the semiconductor switching arrangement and can be switched off.

Switching device

A submodule for a high-voltage converter with reduced risk of cross-ignition includes first and second series-connected energy storage devices, first and second semiconductor series circuits connected in parallel with the energy storage devices, respectively, and having first and second, and respectively third and fourth, switched power semiconductor switching units. A first terminal connects to a first potential point between the first and second switching units, a second terminal connects to a second potential point between the third and fourth switching units. A connecting switching unit is connected between the first and second semiconductor series circuits. A first connecting branch with a first diode connects the first potential point and the potential point between the energy storage devices. A second connecting branch with a second diode connects the second potential point and the potential point between the energy storage devices. The connecting branch diodes are oriented in mutually opposite directions.

Double module for a modular multi-stage converter

A device converts electrical energy into heat in the field of drive voltage technology and/or high voltage technology. The device contains a brake resistance and at least one controllable brake power semiconductor for controlling the conversion, enabling a rapid and economical transformation of effective power into heat as required. To this end, the brake resistance contains a plurality of individual brake resistances that are each part of a bipolar submodule. The submodules are connected in series, form a submodule series connection, and at least partially contain an energy accumulator respectively connected in parallel to an associated individual brake resistance and a controllable brake power semiconductor, which allows the current flow over the respectively associated individual brake resistance in a brake position, and interrupts the current flow over the brake resistance in a normal operating position.

Converter with distributed brake resistances

A motor drive circuit for a rail vehicle has a step-up converter, which is disposed at the input of the motor drive circuit, and which converts a mains DC voltage, at the input of the motor drive circuit into an intermediate circuit DC voltage. A pulse rectifier, which is downstream from the step-up converter, can be connected at the output to a drive motor of the rail vehicle and it is capable of converting the intermediate circuit DC voltage of the step-up converter into a motor drive voltage for driving the drive motor. A control unit activates the step-up converter in operation such that the converter generates the predetermined rated intermediate circuit DC voltage for a mains DC voltage below a predetermined rated intermediate circuit DC voltage as the intermediate circuit DC voltage. The control unit is designed such that it activates the step-up converter for a mains DC voltage above the rated intermediate circuit DC voltage such that the converter generates an intermediate circuit DC voltage identical to the mains DC voltage or an intermediate circuit DC voltage, which is greater at most by a predetermined offset value, and feeds the intermediate circuit DC voltage into the pulse rectifier.

Motor activation circuit for a rail vehicle and method for the operation thereof

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Uttenreuth, Germany

Herbert Gambach