The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 2024
Filed:
Feb. 16, 2022
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Fernando Arturo Ramirez Sanchez, Salem, VA (US);
Robert Gregory Wagoner, Roanoke, VA (US);
Zane Taylor Miller, Christiansburg, VA (US);
Steven Wade Sutherland, Roanoke, VA (US);
GE Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US);
Abstract
A system and method for pre-charging a DC link of a multi-level power converter, to reduce electrical transients or to decrease a charging current when a converter contactor/disconnect switch is closed, is described. The systems and methods of the present disclosure also provides a new and simplified system for pre-charging a DC link of a multi-level power converter by leveraging a neutral point of a multi-level power converter and a single-line connection to the grid side of the power converter. The DC link charger of the present disclosure, therefore, is capable of reducing the quantity of dedicated superfluous hardware and/or excess resistors, contactors, transformers, fuses, diodes, balancing components, rectifier modules, etc. demanded by conventional systems. Reduced quantities of electronic components and hardware can thereby decrease system costs per unit and lead to significant cost savings.