# US 2023/0054979 A1 · Electrical assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0054979 A1 - Document ID: US20230054979A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/794,053 - Filed: 2021-01-26 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-07 - Assignees: General Electric Technology GmbH - Applicants: General Electric Technology GmbH - Inventors: Chandra Mohan SONNATHI; Rajaseker Reddy GINNAREDDY; Carl BARKER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054979A1 ## CPC - H02M 7/125: {Avoiding or suppressing excessive transient voltages or currents} - H02M 7/217: using semiconductor devices only - H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters - 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 7/7575: {for high voltage direct transmission link} - H02M 1/322: {Means for rapidly discharging a capacitor of the converter for protecting electrical components or for preventing electrical shock} - Y02E 60/60: Arrangements for transfer of electric power between AC networks or generators via a high voltage DC link [HVCD] - 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) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Embodiments of the disclosure include an electrical assembly. The electrical assembly can include a converter including a DC side and an AC side, the DC side configured for connection to a DC network, the AC side configured for connection to an AC network, the converter including at least one switching element; a circuit interruption device operably connected to the AC side of the converter; a DC voltage modification device operably connected to the DC side of the converter, the DC voltage modification device including a DC chopper; and a controller configured to selectively control the or each switching element, the circuit interruption device and the DC voltage modification device, wherein the controller is configured to be responsive to a converter internal fault by carrying out a fault operating mode. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 An electrical assembly comprising: a converter including a DC side and an AC side, the DC side configured for connection to a DC network, the AC side configured for connection to an AC network, the converter including at least one switching element; a circuit interruption device operably connected to the AC side of the converter; a DC voltage modification device operably connected to the DC side of the converter, the DC voltage modification device including a DC chopper; and a controller configured to selectively control the or each switching element, the circuit interruption device and the DC voltage modification device, wherein the controller is configured to be responsive to a converter internal fault by carrying out a fault operating mode in which the controller controls: the or each switching element to block the converter; the circuit interruption device to electrically isolate the converter from the AC network; and the DC voltage modification device to reduce or minimize a DC voltage presented by the DC network to the DC side of the converter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrical assembly according to claim 15 wherein the converter includes a plurality of phases, each phase includes at least one switching element, and the controller is configured to be responsive to the converter internal fault occurring in one of the phases by carrying out the fault operating mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The electrical assembly according to claim 15 wherein the converter internal fault is a phase to ground fault. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The electrical assembly according to claim 15 wherein the converter includes at least one module arranged to interconnect the DC and AC sides, the or each module including at least one module switching element and at least one energy storage device the or each module switching element and the or each energy storage device in the or each module arranged to be combinable to selectively provide a voltage source, the or each module switchable to control a transfer of power between the DC and AC networks. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The electrical assembly according to claim 15 wherein the converter includes a plurality of converter limbs, each converter limb extending between first and second DC terminals, each converter limb including first and second limb portions separated by an AC terminal, each limb portion including at least one switching element, and the controller is configured to be responsive to the converter internal fault occurring in or associated with one or some of the plurality of converter limbs by carrying out the fault operating mode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The electrical assembly according to claim 15 including a sensor for detecting the converter internal fault, the sensor configured to be in communication with the controller. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The electrical assembly according to claim 15 wherein the DC voltage modification device includes a dynamic braking resistor. ### Claim 22 A method of operating an electrical assembly, the electrical assembly comprising: a converter that includes a DC side and an AC side, the DC side configured for connection to a DC network, the AC side configured for connection to an AC network, the converter including at least one switching element; a circuit interruption device operably connected to the AC side of the converter; and a DC voltage modification device operably connected to the DC side of the converter, the DC voltage modification device including a DC chopper, wherein the method comprises carrying out a fault operating mode responsive to a converter internal fault by: controlling the or each switching element to block the converter; controlling the circuit interruption device to electrically isolate the converter from the AC network; and controlling the DC voltage modification device to reduce or minimize a DC voltage presented by the DC network to the DC side of the converter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 wherein the converter includes a plurality of phases, and each phase includes at least one switching element, wherein the method includes carrying out the fault operating mode responsive to the converter internal fault occurring in one of the phases. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23 wherein the converter internal fault is a phase to ground fault. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 wherein the converter includes at least one module arranged to interconnect the DC and AC sides, the or each module including at least one module switching element and at least one energy storage device, the or each module switching element and the or each energy storage device in the or each module arranged to be combinable to selectively provide a voltage source, the or each module switchable to control a transfer of power between the DC and AC networks. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 wherein the converter includes a plurality of converter limbs, each converter limb extending between first and second DC terminals, each converter limb including first and second limb portions separated by an AC terminal, each limb portion including at least one switching element, wherein the method includes carrying out the fault operating mode responsive to the converter internal fault occurring in or associated with one or some of the plurality of converter limbs. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 including detecting the converter internal fault. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 wherein the DC voltage modification device includes a dynamic braking resistor.