Power converters with segregated switch and drive modules
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorDebabrata Pal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A phase leg for an inverter includes a switching module having a switch device, a power lead connected to the switching module and in electrical communication with the switch device, and a drive lead. The drive lead is connected to the switching module, is in electrical communication with the switch device, and is segregated from the power lead to limit heating of a drive module connected to the drive lead from current flowing through the power lead. Multilevel inverters and methods of making phase legs for inverters are also described.
Claims16
A multilevel inverter, comprising:
- an input bus bar;
- and
- an A-phase leg and a B-phase leg, each of the A-phase and B-phase legs comprising:
- a drive module configured to receive DC power from the input bus bar and output a drive signal;
- a switching module having a switch device configured to operate on the DC power as a function of the drive signal and output a constant frequency AC power;
- an output bus bar configured to receive the constant frequency AC power, wherein the input bus bar, drive module, switching module, and output bus bar are all spaced from one another;
- a power lead connected to the switching module and in electrical communication with the switch device and the input bus bar,
- a drive lead connected to the switching module and in electrical communication with the switch device and the drive module, wherein the drive lead is segregated from the power lead to limit heating of a drive module connected to the drive lead from current flowing through the power lead;
- and
- an output power lead connected to the switching module and in electrical communication with the switch device and the output bus bar,
- wherein each of the power lead, drive lead, and output power lead include a pin connector for providing the respective electrical communication without an intermediate printed wiring board (PWB) and for limiting thermal communication between the input bus bar, the output bus bar, the switching module, and the drive module.
A method of making a power converter, comprising:
- providing a DC power at an input bus bar;
- for each phase leg of an A-phase leg and a B-phase leg:
- receiving the DC power from the input bus bar at a drive module and outputting a drive signal;
- converting the DC power as a function of the drive signal using a switch device into a constant frequency AC power at a switching module;
- connecting a power lead to the switch device such that the power lead is in electrical communication with the switch device;
- connecting a drive lead to the switching module such that the drive lead is in electrical communication with the switch device;
- segregating the drive lead from the power lead to limit heating of a drive module connected to the drive lead from current flowing through the power lead;
- receiving the constant frequency AC power in an output bus bar that outputs the constant frequency AC power;
- and
- segregating the input bus bar, drive module, switching module, and output bus bar from one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.