# US 2021/0242797 A1 · Power circuits for modular multi-level converters (mmc) and modular multi-level converters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0242797 A1 - Document ID: US20210242797A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/052,662 - Filed: 2019-04-10 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-04 - Assignees: Aalborg Universitet - Applicants: Aalborg Universitet - Inventors: Stig MUNK-NIELSEN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242797A1 ## CPC - H02M 7/483: Converters with outputs that each can have more than two voltages levels - H02M 3/33576: {having at least one active switching element at the secondary side of an isolation transformer} - H02M 3/33584: {Bidirectional converters} - 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: 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 The present invention relates to electronic power circuits and their use in power converters and in modular multi-level converters (MMCs) comprising such power converters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power circuit arranged to receive a DC electric input signal at a first and a second connection terminals, and to output an AC electric output signal at a third and a fourth connection terminals, the first connection terminal being connected to a first electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch, the second connection terminal being connected to a second electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch, the third connection terminal being connected to a third electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch, the fourth connection terminal being connected to a fourth electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch, the first, second, third and fourth switches being connected to a first node connected through a first node in such a way that the switches are connected between the first node and the respective first, second, third, and fourth connection terminals, a first capacitor being connected between the first and second connection terminals, a second capacitor being connected between the third and fourth connection terminals, and wherein one of the first and second connection terminals is connected to one of the third and fourth connection terminals through at least one electrically controllable bidirectional switch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first connection terminal is connected to the third connection terminal through an electrically controllable bidirectional switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power circuit according to claim 2, wherein the switch connecting the first and third connection terminals comprises a series connection of two electrically controllable switches. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second connection terminal is connected to the fourth connection terminal through an electrically controllable bidirectional switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The power circuit according to claim 4, wherein the switch connecting the second and fourth connection terminals comprises a series connection of two electrically controllable switches. ### Claim 6 A power circuit arranged to receive a DC electric input signal at first and second connection terminals, and to output an AC electric output signal at a third and a fourth connection terminals, the first connection terminal being connected to a first electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch, the second connection terminal being connected to a second electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch, the third connection terminal being connected to a third electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch, the fourth connection terminal being connected to a fourth electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch, the first switch, the second switch, the third switch and the fourth switch being connected to a first node in such a way that the switches are connected between the first node and the respective first, second, third, and fourth connection terminals, a first electronic component being connected to the first connection terminal, a second electronic component being connected to the second connection terminal, a third electronic component being connected to a second node, the second node, the first and third electronic component and the first connection terminal being connected, a fourth electronic component being connected to a third node, the third node, the second and fourth electronic component and the second connection terminal being connected, a first capacitor being connected to the second and third node, the first, second, third and fourth electronic components being connected to a first coupled inductor in such a way that: the first electronic component is connected between the first coupled inductor and the first connection terminal, the second electronic component is connected between the first coupled inductor and the second connection terminal, the third electronic component is connected between the first coupled inductor and the second node, and the fourth electronic component is connected between the first coupled inductor and the third node, wherein further: a fifth electronic component is connected to the third connection terminal, a sixth electronic component is connected to the fourth connection terminal, a seventh electronic component connected to a fourth node, the fourth node, the fifth and seventh electronic component and the third connection terminal being connected, an eighth electronic component is connected to a fifth node, the fifth node, the sixth and eighth electronic component and the fourth connection terminal being connected, a second capacitor is connected to the fourth and fifth node, the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth electronic components, are connected to a second coupled inductor in such a way that: the fifth electronic component is connected between the second coupled inductor and the third connection terminal, the sixth electronic component is connected between the second coupled inductor and the fourth connection terminal, the seventh electronic component is connected between the second coupled inductor and the fourth node, and the eighth electronic component is connected between the second coupled inductor and the fifth node, and wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth electronic components are selected from the group consisting of an electrically controllable switch, a capacitor and a diode. ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (canceled) ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 A power circuit arranged to receive a DC electric input signal at first and second connection terminals, and to output an AC or DC electric output signal at a third and a fourth connection terminals, the first connection terminal being connected to a first electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch, the second connection terminal being connected to a second electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch, the third connection terminal being connected to a first electronic component, the fourth connection terminal being connected to a second electronic component, the first switch and the second switch being connected to a first node in such a way that the switches are connected between the first node and the respective first and second connection terminals, a third electronic component being connected to the first connection terminal, a fourth electronic component being connected to the second connection terminal, a third electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch being connected to a second node, the second node, the third electronic component the third electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch and the first connection terminal being connected, a fourth electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch being connected to a third node, the third node, the fourth electronic component, the fourth electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch and the second connection terminal being connected, a first capacitor being connected to the second and third node, the third electronic component, the fourth electronic component, the third electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch and the fourth electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch being connected to a first coupled inductor in such a way that: the third electronic component is connected between the first coupled inductor and the first connection terminal, the fourth electronic component is connected between the first coupled inductor and the second connection terminal, the third electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch is connected between the first coupled inductor and the second node, and the fourth electrically controllable bidirectional two-quadrant switch is connected between the first coupled inductor and the third node, wherein further: a fifth electronic component connected to a fourth node, the fourth node, the first and fifth electronic component and the third connection terminal being connected, a sixth electronic component is connected to a fifth node, the fifth node, the second and sixth electronic component and the fourth connection terminal being connected, a second capacitor is connected to the fourth and fifth node, the first, second, fifth and sixth electronic component are connected to a second coupled inductor in such a way that: the first electronic component is connected between the second coupled inductor and the third connection terminal, the second electronic component connected between the second coupled inductor and the fourth connection terminal, the fifth electronic component is connected between the second coupled inductor and the fourth node, and the sixth electronic component is connected between the second coupled inductor and the fifth node, and wherein: the first, second, fifth and sixth electronic component are diodes, or the first and second electronic component are diodes and the fifth and sixth electronic components are capacitors, or the first and second electronic component are capacitors and the fifth and sixth electronic components are diodes, and wherein further: the third and fourth electronic components are electrically controllable switches and the first node is connected to the fourth connection terminal, or the third and fourth electronic components are capacitors and the first node is connected to the fourth connection terminal, or the first and second electronic components are capacitors and the first node is connected to the third connection terminal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The power circuit according to claim 1, wherein the electrically controllable switches comprise IGBT or MOSFET transistors with diode function enabling bi-directional current flow. ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The power converter circuit comprising a power circuit according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The power converter circuit comprising two or more power circuits according to claim 1, wherein the two or more power circuits are connected in parallel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A power converter comprising two or more power converter circuits according to claim 14, wherein the two or more power converter circuits are connected in series. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The power converter according to claim 16, wherein the power converter circuits are configured such that each power converter circuit experiences approximately the same power, when the power converter is in use. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The power converter according to claim 16, wherein the power converter circuits are connected in series with a half bridge circuit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The power converter according to claim 16, wherein the power converter is arranged to receive a DC input voltage of 1 V-1.5 kV. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The power converter according to claim 16, wherein the power converter is arranged to output an AC voltage of 100 V-100 kV. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The power converter according to claim 16, wherein the power converter is arranged to convert electric power of 1-100 W, 100 W-1 kW, 1 kW-100 kW, 100 kW-1 MW, 1 MW-10 MW or above 10 MW. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) A device comprising a power converter according to claim 16. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) A modular multi-level converter comprising a power converter according to claim 16 and further comprising a control circuit to control the switches. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The modular multi-level converter according to claim 23, wherein the MMC operates at a fundamental frequency within the range from 1 Hz to 20 MHz. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A method for controlling a modular multi-level converter according to claim 23, the method comprising: providing an MMC according to claim 23; controlling the electrically controllable switches such that output voltage states generate an alternating voltage causing a current of controllable amplitude and frequency controlling the load connected to the MMC.