Power converter and air conditioner having the same

A power converter comprising:

• a rectifying unit configured to rectify an input AC current;
• an interleave converter that has a plurality of converters and that is configured to convert rectified output from the rectifying unit to DC power and output the converted DC power, the plurality of converters including a first converter that includes a first switching element of a first type and a second converter that includes a second switching element of a second type having a rated voltage higher than the first type;
• and
• a converter controller configured to control the interleave converter.

An air conditioner comprising:

• a compressor;
• and
• a power converter configured to supply power to a motor in the compressor,
• wherein the power converter includes:
• a rectifying unit configured to rectify an input AC current,
• an interleave converter that has a plurality of converters and that is configured to convert rectified output from the rectifying unit to DC power and output the converted DC power,
• a capacitor connected to an output terminal of the interleave converter, and
• a converter controller configured to control the interleave converter by calculating a load level of both terminals of the capacitor and changing a number of operating converters in the plurality of converters of the interleave converter based on the calculated load level of both terminals of the capacitor.

An air conditioner comprising:

• a compressor;
• and
• a power converter configured to supply power to a motor in the compressor,
• wherein the power converter includes:
• a rectifying unit configured to rectify an input AC current,
• an interleave converter that has a plurality of converters and that is configured to convert rectified output from the rectifying unit to DC power and output the converted DC power, the plurality of converters including a first converter that includes a first switching element of a first type and a second converter that includes a second switching element of a second type having a rated voltage higher than the first type, and
• a converter controller configured to control the interleave converter.