General Electric Company

Xu She

James William Bray

Timothy John Sommerer

Rajib Datta

Rahul Shantilal Chokhawala

Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju

Di Zhang

Rui Zhou

Philip Michael Cioffi

Maja Harfman-Todorovic

Robert Dean King

Ramanujam Ramabhadran

Fengfeng Tao

Kum-Kang Huh

Yehuda Daniel Levy

Paul Michael Szczesny

Tannous Frangieh

Jian Dai

An electrical system includes a power electronics system and a bus bar coupled to the power electronic system. The power electronics system includes a switching device configured to selectively connect and disconnect. The bus bar includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The first conductive layer is disposed directly adjacent a first insulation layer, wherein the first conductive layer is configured to conduct a first polarity of electrical power to, from, or both the power electronics system. The second conductive layer is disposed directly adjacent the first insulation layer, and is configured to conduct a second polarity of electrical power opposite the first polarity to, from, or both the power electronics system. The first conductive layer comprises a first thickness half a second thickness of the second conductive layer.

Low inductance busbar systems and methods

A voltage converter may include a first set of silicon (Si)-based power devices coupled to a first direct current (DC) voltage source and a second set of Si-based power devices coupled to a second DC voltage source. The voltage converter may also include a first set of silicon-carbide (SiC)-based power devices coupled to the first set of Si-based power devices and to the second set of Si-based power devices. Each SiC-based power device of the first set of SiC-based power devices may switch at a higher frequency as compared to each Si-based power device of the first and second sets of the Si-based power electronic devices.

Hybrid converter system

A var compensator circuit is provided. The var compensator circuit includes a gas tube switch and a reactive impedance. The gas tube switch is configured to be coupled to a transmission line. The transmission line is configured to deliver real power and reactive power to a load at an alternating current (AC) line voltage. The reactive impedance is configured to be coupled to the transmission line at the AC line voltage through the gas tube switch. The reactive impedance is configured to modify the reactive power configured to be delivered to the load.

Gas tube-switched flexible alternating current transmission system

A direct current (DC)-DC converter includes a transformer and a gas tube-switched inverter circuit. The transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The gas tube-switched inverter circuit includes first and second inverter load terminals and first and second inverter input terminals. The first and second inverter load terminals are coupled to the primary winding. The first and second inverter input terminals are couplable to a DC node. The gas tube-switched inverter circuit further includes a plurality of gas tube switches respectively coupled between the first and second inverter load terminals and the first and second inverter input terminals. The plurality of gas tube switches is configured to operate to generate an alternating current (AC) voltage at the primary winding.

Gas tube-switched high voltage DC power converter

A resonant converter includes a primary stage having first and second switches coupled in series, a controller coupled to the first switch and the second switch to control operation thereof, a first transformer comprising a primary coil coupled to a node between the first and second switches, and a resonant inductor coupled to the primary coil of the first transformer. The resonant converter also includes a secondary stage having a second transformer formed of a primary coil coupled to the resonant inductor and a secondary coil comprising first and second coil sections, a third switch coupled to the first coil section of the secondary coil, and a fourth switch coupled to the second coil section of the secondary coil. A switch drive circuit is provided to drive the third and fourth switches for synchronous rectification, with the switch drive circuit comprising a secondary coil of the first transformer.

Circuits and methods for synchronous rectification in resonant converters

A bi-directional DC-DC converter assembly that processes and transfers differential power in a variable manner is disclosed. The converter assembly is coupled to an energy storage device and DC link, with the converter assembly including a first converter section coupled to the energy storage device and a second converter section coupled to the DC link and to the energy storage device. The converter assembly processes a first portion of the DC power output of the energy storage device and provides an unprocessed second portion of the DC power output of the energy storage device to the second converter section when providing power to the load, and processes a first portion of a regenerative power from the load and provides an unprocessed second portion of the regenerative power from the load to the first converter section when providing regenerative power to the energy storage device.

Bi-directional DC-DC power converter for a vehicle system

A power conversion system may include a plurality of power devices and a sensor operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of power devices and configured to detect a voltage, current, or electromagnetic signature signal associated with the plurality of power devices. The power converter may also include circuitry operably coupled to the plurality of power devices and the sensor. The circuitry may send a respective gate signal to each respective power device of the plurality of power devices, such that each respective gate signal is delayed by a respective compensation delay that is determined for the respective power device based on a respective time delay of the respective power device and a maximum time delay of the plurality of power devices.

Systems and methods for controlling a plurality of power semiconductor devices

A high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission system includes an alternating current (AC) electrical source and a power converter channel that includes an AC-DC converter electrically coupled to the electrical source and a DC-AC inverter electrically coupled to the AC-DC converter. The AC-DC converter and the DC-AC inverter each include a plurality of legs that includes at least one switching device. The power converter channel further includes a commutating circuit communicatively coupled to one or more switching devices. The commutating circuit is configured to 'switch on' one of the switching devices during a first portion of a cycle of the H-bridge switching circuits and 'switch off' the switching device during a second portion of the cycle of the first and second H-bridge switching circuits.

Method and system for a gas tube-based current source high voltage direct current transmission system

A voltage source converter based high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission system includes a voltage source converter (VSC)-based power converter channel. The VSC-based power converter channel includes an AC-DC converter and a DC-AC inverter electrically coupled to the AC-DC converter. The AC-DC converter and a DC-AC inverter include at least one gas tube switching device coupled in electrical anti-parallel with a respective gas tube diode. The VSC-based power converter channel includes a commutating circuit communicatively coupled to one or more of the at least one gas tube switching devices. The commutating circuit is configured to 'switch on' a respective one of the one or more gas tube switching devices during a first portion of an operational cycle and 'switch off' the respective one of the one or more gas tube switching devices during a second portion of the operational cycle.

Method and system for a gas tube switch-based voltage source high voltage direct current transmission system

A multi-level DC-DC converter includes an input side to receive a DC power having an input voltage and current, an output side to provide power to a load at a desired output voltage and current, and a plurality of tranformer-isolated DC-DC converters connected between the input and output sides, with the tranformer-isolated DC-DC converters being connected in series on one side and connected in parallel on another side. Each of the tranformer isolated DC-DC converters further includes a power transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and a plurality of switching devices each selectively operable in one of an On state and an Off state. Operating the switching devices in a complementary On state and Off state alternately at a controlled switching frequency provides for engaging the tranformer isolated DC-DC converter and operating the switching devices in a simultaneously On state bypasses the transformer isolated DC-DC converter.

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Niskayuna, NY, United States of America

Xu She