# US 2018/0026519 A1 · Multilevel converter with energy storage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0026519 A1 - Document ID: US20180026519A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/548,707 - Filed: 2015-02-04 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-04 - Assignees: ABB Schweiz AG - Applicants: ABB Schweiz AG - Inventors: Tomas TENGNER; Amel LACHICHI; Lennart HARNEFORS; Georgios KARMIRIS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180026519A1 ## CPC - H02J 3/32: using batteries or super capacitors with converting means - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02M 1/12: Arrangements for reducing harmonics from AC input or output - H02M 7/219: in a bridge configuration - 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 7/49: Combination of the output voltage waveforms of a plurality of converters - H02M 7/797: using semiconductor devices only - H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices} - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - 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) ## Abstract A multilevel power converter includes at least one phase leg. The phase leg includes a plurality of cascaded chain link connected cells, each cell including a capacitor and two semiconductor switches in series, each with an anti-parallel connected diode. The plurality of cascaded chain link connected cells includes first and second cells which form a mirrored cell-pair such that the two semiconductor switches of each of the first and second cells are all connected in series with each other. The converter further includes an energy storage connected between the first and second cells. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -9. (canceled) ### Claim 10 A multilevel power converter comprising: at least one phase leg, the at least one phase leg comprising a plurality of cascaded chain link connected cells, each of the plurality of cascaded chain link connected cells comprising a capacitor and two semiconductor switches in series, each with an anti-parallel connected diode, wherein the plurality of cascaded chain link connected cells comprises first and second cells forming a mirrored cell-pair such that the two semiconductor switches of each of the first and second cells are all connected in series with each other, and wherein the converter further comprises a first energy storage connected such as to allow the first energy storage to connect over either one or both of the cell capacitors of the first and second cells by means of switches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The converter of claim 10, wherein the first energy storage is connected via first and second switches such that when the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off, the first energy storage is connected over the capacitors of both first and second cells, and when the first switch is turned off and the second switch is turned on, the first energy storage is connected over the capacitor of the second cell but not over the capacitor of the first cell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The converter of claim 11, further comprising a distributed phase inductance connected between the first and second cells such that the distributed phase inductance is connected in series with the series connected semiconductor switches of the first and second cells, between the semiconductor switches of the first cell and the semiconductor switches of the second cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The converter of claim 12, wherein the second switch is connected in series with the distributed phase inductance. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The converter of claim 12, further comprising a bypass switch connected in series with the distributed phase inductance, for bypassing one of the first and second cells. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The converter of claim 10, wherein the first energy storage is a battery or a supercapacitor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The converter of claim 11, wherein the first cell is a full-bridge cell and the first and second switches form part of the full-bridge configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The converter of claim 10, further comprising a second energy storage connected such as to allow the second energy storage to connect over either one or both of the cell capacitors of the first and second cells. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The converter of claim 17, wherein the second energy storage is connected via first and second lower switches such that when the first lower switch is turned on and the second lower switch is turned off, the second energy storage is connected over the capacitors of both first and second cells, and when the first lower switch is turned off and the second lower switch is turned on, the second energy storage is connected over the capacitor of the first cell but not over the capacitor of the second cell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The converter of claim 13, further comprising a bypass switch connected in series with the distributed phase inductance, for bypassing one of the first and second cells. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The converter of claim 11, wherein the first energy storage is a battery or a supercapacitor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The converter of claim 12, wherein the first energy storage is a battery or a supercapacitor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The converter of claim 13, wherein the first energy storage is a battery or a supercapacitor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The converter of claim 14, wherein the first energy storage is a battery or a supercapacitor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The converter of claim 12, wherein the first cell is a full-bridge cell and the first and second switches form part of the full-bridge configuration. ### Claim 25 (depends on 13) The converter of claim 13, wherein the first cell is a full-bridge cell and the first and second switches form part of the full-bridge configuration. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The converter of claim 14, wherein the first cell is a full-bridge cell and the first and second switches form part of the full-bridge configuration. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The converter of claim 15, wherein the first cell is a full-bridge cell and the first and second switches form part of the full-bridge configuration. ### Claim 28 (depends on 11) The converter of claim 11, further comprising a second energy storage connected such as to allow the second energy storage to connect over either one or both of the cell capacitors of the first and second cells. ### Claim 29 (depends on 12) The converter of claim 12, further comprising a second energy storage connected such as to allow the second energy storage to connect over either one or both of the cell capacitors of the first and second cells.