# US 12,009,738 B2 · Assembly having a multilevel power converter

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- Number: US 12,009,738 B2
- Document ID: US12009738B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/611,255
- Filed: 2019-05-15
- Published: 2022-07-21
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-15
- Assignees: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Rodrigo Alonso Alvarez Valenzuela; Sebastian Semmler
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009738B2

## CPC

- H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
- H02M 7/12: using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
- H02M 7/4835: {comprising two or more cells, each including a switchable capacitor, the capacitors having a nominal charge voltage which corresponds to a given fraction of the input voltage, and the capacitors being selectively connected in series to determine the instantaneous output voltage}
- H02M 7/7575: {for high voltage direct transmission link}
- H02H 3/18: responsive to reversal of direct current
- H02J 3/36: Arrangements for transfer of electric power between AC networks via high-voltage DC [HVDC] links; Arrangements for transfer of electric power between generators and networks via HVDC links
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)
- H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY

## Abstract

An assembly having a multilevel power converter, which has at least one phase module, wherein the phase module has a plurality of modules, each with a first electrical module terminal and a second electrical module terminal. The plurality of modules includes modules of a first type, which are able to output a voltage of only one polarity or zero voltage at their first electrical module terminal and their second electrical module terminal. The plurality of modules includes modules of a second type, which are able to output a voltage of one polarity, a voltage of opposite polarity or zero voltage at their first electrical module terminal and their second electrical module terminal. Depending on the polarity of a voltage across the modules of the second type, a voltage limiting device limits the voltage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly having a multilevel power converter, comprising:
at least one phase module having a plurality of modules, each with a first electrical module terminal and a second electrical module terminal;
said plurality of modules including modules of a first type, which are configured to output a voltage of exclusively one polarity or zero voltage at said first electrical module terminal and said second electrical module terminal thereof;
said plurality of modules including modules of a second type, which are configured to output a voltage of one polarity, a voltage of opposite polarity, or zero voltage at said first electrical module terminal and said second electrical module terminal thereof; and
a voltage limiting device connected to said at least one phase module and configured to limit a voltage occurring across said modules of the second type depending on the polarity of said voltage; and wherein:
said at least one phase module comprises an AC voltage terminal, a first DC voltage terminal, and a second DC voltage terminal;
said first DC voltage terminal and said second DC voltage terminal are connected to a direct-current transmission link; and
said direct-current transmission link includes two different conductor types that differ from each other with regard to a capacitance per unit length thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one phase module comprises an AC voltage terminal, a first DC voltage terminal, and a second DC voltage terminal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said modules of the second type are arranged adjacent said AC voltage terminal of said at least one phase module, and said modules of the first type are arranged adjacent said first DC voltage terminal and/or said second DC voltage terminal of said at least one phase module.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of modules comprises at least one first electronic switching element, a second electronic switching element, and an electrical energy storage device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of said modules of the first type comprises said first electronic switching element and said second electronic switching element connected in a half-bridge circuit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said modules of the first type comprise an additional semiconductor valve selected from the group consisting of a diode, a thyristor, an IGCT, and a GTO connected in parallel with said second electronic switching element.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of said modules of the second type comprises said first electronic switching element, said second electronic switching element, a third electronic switching element, and a fourth electronic switching element connected in a full-bridge circuit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said voltage limiting device is configured limit only a voltage of one polarity that occurs across said modules of the second type, and to leave substantially unchanged the voltage of the opposite polarity that occurs across said modules of the second type.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said voltage limiting device is configured to conduct a current through said voltage limiting device only when the voltage of the one polarity occurs across said modules of the second type.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said voltage limiting device comprises at least one semiconductor valve.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said voltage limiting device comprises at least 50 semiconductor valves connected in a series circuit of semiconductor valves.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said at least one semiconductor valve is selected from the group consisting of a diode, a thyristor, an IGCT, a GTO, and a transistor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The assembly according to claim 10, further comprising an electrical resistor connected in series with said at least one semiconductor valve.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The assembly according to claim 13, wherein said electrical resistor is a varistor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said different conductor types are selected from the group consisting of an overhead line, a cable, and a gas-insulated line.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said cable is selected from the group consisting of a plastic-insulated cable, an oil-insulated cable, and a mass-impregnated cable.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said multilevel power converter comprises a plurality of two or three said phase modules, and wherein said voltage limiting device is switchable between said phase modules or a dedicated said voltage limiting device is respectively assigned to each of said phase modules.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A high-voltage direct-current transmission installation, comprising an assembly according to claim 1.

### Claim 19

A method for polarity-dependent limiting of a voltage in a multilevel power converter with at least one phase module, the method comprising:
providing the phase module with a plurality of modules each including a first electrical module terminal and a second electrical module terminal;
wherein the plurality of modules include:
modules of a first type, which are capable of outputting a voltage of exclusively one polarity or zero voltage at their first electrical module terminal and their second electrical module terminal; and
modules of a second type, which are capable of outputting a voltage of one polarity, a voltage of opposite polarity, or zero voltage at their first electrical module terminal and their second electrical module terminal; and
wherein the at least one phase module includes:
an AC voltage terminal, a first DC voltage terminal, and a second DC voltage terminal;
the first DC voltage terminal and the second DC voltage terminal are connected to a direct-current transmission link; and
the direct-current transmission link includes two different conductor types that differ from each other with regard to a capacitance per unit length thereof; and
limiting, by a voltage limiting device, only a voltage of one polarity that occurs across the modules of the second type leaving substantially unchanged a voltage of the opposite polarity that occurs across the modules of the second type.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method according to claim 19, which comprises only when the voltage of the one polarity occurs across the modules of the second type flowing a current through the voltage limiting device and thereby limiting the voltage of the one polarity.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method according to claim 19, which comprises:
providing each of the modules of the first type with a first electronic switching element and a second electronic switching element connected in a half-bridge circuit;
providing an additional semiconductor valve connected in parallel with the second electronic switching element; and
conducting a part of the current flowing through the modules of the first type through the additional semiconductor valve only when the voltage of the one polarity occurs across the modules of the second type.