# US 2019/0173391 A1 · Modular isolated half-bridge based capacitor-tapped multi-module converter with inherent dc fault segregation capability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0173391 A1 - Document ID: US20190173391A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/206,797 - Filed: 2018-11-30 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Qatar University - Applicants: Qatar University - Inventors: Ahmed ELSEROUGI; Ahmed Massoud; Shehab Ahmed - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190173391A1 ## CPC - H02M 7/483: Converters with outputs that each can have more than two voltages levels - H02H 7/1222: {responsive to abnormalities in the input circuit, e.g. transients in the DC input} - H02H 7/1225: {responsive to internal faults, e.g. shoot-through (avoiding shoot-through H02M1/38)} - H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection - 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 7/53871: {with automatic control of output voltage or current} - H02M 1/0003: {Details of control, feedback or regulation circuits} - H02M 1/325: {with means for allowing continuous operation despite a fault, i.e. fault tolerant converters} - 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) ## Abstract An electrical converter, comprising a plurality of first modules and a plurality of second modules. At least one of the plurality of first modules includes a half-bridge module coupled with a direct current (DC)-link capacitor. A diode connected across the DC-link capacitor and a thyristor. At least one of the plurality of second modules is connected to at least one of the plurality of first modules. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical converter, comprising: a plurality of first modules and a plurality of second modules, wherein at least one of the plurality of first modules includes a half-bridge module coupled with a direct current (DC)-link capacitor, a diode connected across the DC-link capacitor and a thyristor, and at least one of the plurality of second modules is connected to at least one of the plurality of first modules. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein the half-bridge module is configured to operate with sinusoidal pulse width modulation with bipolar alternating current output. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first modules further include at least one filter inductance connected to at least one terminal of the half-bridge module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first modules further include a first switch and a second switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electrical converter of claim 4, wherein the first switch is closed while the second switch is open. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The electrical converter of claim 4, wherein the first switch is open while the second switch is closed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein the thyristor is a back-to-back thyristor configured to segregate between a DC side and an AC side of the electrical converter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein the electrical converter is a DC-AC converter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second modules include a single DC input and three AC outputs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of second modules is activated simultaneously when at least one of the plurality of first modules fails to operate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein DC voltage across the DC terminals of each activated module equals Vdc/N. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein voltage across DC-link capacitors of activated modules equals Vdc/2N. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein the electrical converter further comprises a per-phase AC equivalent circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrical converter of claim 13, wherein active and reactive power flow is controlled by controlling the magnitude and phase of module voltage through suitable modulating signals for the half-bridge module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein dq-frame based active and reactive power controls control active/reactive power injected into an AC grid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein the fundamental component of the generated AC voltage from each module equals MVdc/2N, where M is the peak of the modulating signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein a phase angle of generated voltage is controlled by controlling the modulating signal phase angle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein per-phase AC output sides of the modules are connected in series. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first modules are divided into three groups, wherein each group (N/3 modules) is associated with one of the three-phase voltages. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The electrical converter of claim 1, wherein, after detecting a DC-side fault, IGBT pulses are inhibited, and back-to-back thyristors are turned on, causing decay of DC-fault current freely to zero.