Extremely-Sparse Parallel AC-Link Power Converter

A power conversion circuit comprising:

• a first diode bridge circuit comprising one diode or an even number of diodes configured to form a bridge circuit;
• a partially resonant link circuit comprising at least one capacitive element and at least one inductive element connected in parallel;
• a first switch bridge circuit comprising one switch or an even number of switches configured to form a switched bridge circuit;
• a second switch bridge circuit coupling the first diode bridge circuit to the partially resonant link circuit, wherein the second switch bridge comprises four switches configured to form a switched bridge circuit;
• and
• a second diode bridge circuit coupling the partially resonant link circuit to the first switch bridge circuit, wherein the second diode bridge circuit comprises four diodes configured to form a bridge circuit.

A method of operating a power conversion circuit comprising an input bridge stage, a link stage, an output switch bridge stage, a crossover switching circuit coupling the input bridge stage to the link stage, and a crossover bridge circuit coupling the link stage to the output switch bridge stage, wherein the method comprises:

• operating the crossover switching circuit to charge a reactive component of the link stage by turning on the switches of the crossover switching circuit to facilitate a positive current flow;
• blocking current flow from the input bridge stage to the link stage by turning off one or more switches of the crossover switching circuit to allow the link stage to resonate;
• and
• operating the output switch bridge stage to discharge the reactive component of the link stage by turning on one or more switches of the output switch bridge stage.

A power conversion device comprising:

• at least one input bridge stage comprising a plurality of uncontrollable forward-conducting reverse-blocking devices, wherein the at least one input bridge stage is configured to be coupled to a power source;
• a link stage comprising at least one reactive component of a partially resonant circuit, wherein the partially resonant circuit is configured for alternating-current (AC) operation;
• a crossover switching circuit coupling the at least one input bridge stage to the link stage, wherein the crossover switching circuit comprises a plurality of controllable forward-conducting forward-blocking devices or controllable forward-conducting bidirectional-blocking devices, and wherein the crossover switching circuit is configured to control current from the at least one input bridge stage to the link stage and allow the link current to be alternating;
• and
• a crossover bridge circuit coupling the link stage to a DC load, wherein the crossover bridge circuit comprises a bridge of uncontrollable forward-conducting reverse-blocking devices, and wherein the crossover bridge circuit is configured to allow the link current to be alternating.

A power conversion device comprising:

• at least one input bridge stage comprising a plurality of controllable forward-conducting reverse-blocking or controllable forward-conducting bidirectional-blocking switching devices, wherein the at least one input bridge stage is configured to be coupled to a power source;
• a link stage comprising at least one reactive component of a partially resonant circuit, wherein the partially resonant circuit is configured for alternating-current (AC) operation;
• a crossover switching circuit coupling the at least one input bridge stage to the link stage, wherein the crossover switching circuit comprises a plurality of controllable forward-conducting forward-blocking or controllable forward-conducting bidirectional-blocking switching devices, and wherein the crossover switching circuit is configured to control current from the at least one input bridge stage to the link stage and allow the link current to be alternating;
• and
• a crossover bridge circuit coupling the link stage to a DC load, wherein the crossover bridge circuit comprises a bridge of uncontrollable forward-conducting reverse-blocking devices, and wherein the crossover bridge circuit is configured to allow the link current to be alternating.

A power conversion device comprising:

• at least one input bridge stage comprising a plurality of controllable bidirectional-conducting bidirectional-blocking switching devices, wherein the at least one input bridge stage is configured to be coupled to a power source;
• a link stage comprising at least one reactive component of a partially resonant circuit, wherein the partially resonant circuit is configured for alternating-current (AC) operation;
• and
• a crossover bridge circuit coupling the link stage to a DC load, wherein the crossover bridge circuit comprises a bridge of uncontrollable forward-conducting reverse-blocking devices, and wherein the crossover bridge circuit is configured to allow the link current to be alternating.

A power conversion device comprising:

• a link stage comprising at least one reactive component of a partially resonant circuit, wherein the partially resonant circuit is configured for alternating-current (AC) operation;
• a crossover switching circuit coupling a DC power source to the link stage, wherein the crossover switching circuit comprises a plurality of controllable forward-conducting forward-blocking or controllable forward-conducting bidirectional-blocking switching devices, and wherein the crossover switching circuit is configured to control current from an input source to the link stage and allow the link current to be alternating;
• and
• a crossover bridge circuit coupling the link stage to a DC load, wherein the crossover bridge circuit comprises a bridge of uncontrollable forward-conducting reverse-blocking devices, and wherein the crossover bridge circuit is configured to allow the link current to be alternating.

A power conversion device comprising:

• at least one input switch bridge stage comprising a plurality of controllable forward-conducting reverse-blocking or controllable forward-conducting bidirectional-blocking switching devices, wherein the at least one input bridge stage is configured to be coupled to a power source;
• a link stage comprising at least one reactive component of a partially resonant circuit, wherein the partially resonant circuit is configured for alternating-current (AC) operation;
• at least one output switch bridge stage comprising a plurality of controllable forward-conducting forward-blocking switching devices or controllable forward-conducting bidirectional-blocking switching devices, wherein the output switch bridge stage is configured to be coupled to a load and control current output to the load;
• and
• an intermediate crossover switching circuit coupling the at least one input switch bridge stage to the link stage and coupling the link stage to the at least one output switch bridge stage, wherein the intermediate crossover switching circuit comprises a plurality of forward-conducting bidirectional-blocking switching devices, and wherein the intermediate crossover switching circuit is configured to allow the link current to be alternating.