Power conversion apparatus and method for controlling power conversion apparatus

A method for controlling a power conversion apparatus, the power conversion apparatus including a rectifier configured to convert AC power into constant-current DC power, a resonant inverter having a switching device and configured to convert the DC power received from the rectifier into AC power through on and off of the switching device to output the AC power to a load;

• and a control unit configured to receive settings of an output current value of the inverter, a current-supplying time of the inverter, and an operation rate of the inverter defined by dividing the current-supplying time by a sum of the current-supplying time and a non-current-supplying time, and to operate the rectifier and the inverter based on the output current value, the current-supplying time, and the operation rate of the inverter that have been set, the method being performed by the control unit and comprises steps of:
• receiving an input for setting the output current value of the inverter, the current-supplying time of the inverter, the operation rate of the inverter and the resonance frequency of the load;
• determining whether the power conversion apparatus is operable to perform an output in accordance with the output current value, the current-supplying time, the operation rate, and the resonance frequency that have been set, based on a set of data in which the output frequency, the current-supplying time, and the operation rate of the inverter are associated with an allowable output current value of the inverter at a temperature equal to or lower than a maximum operable temperature of the switching device;
• and
• operating the rectifier and the inverter only when it is determined that power conversion apparatus is operable to perform the output.