Auxiliary resonant commutated pole three-point or multipoint converter

A multipoint converter, comprising:

• at least four main switches per converter phase disposed in series defining a series circuit, said main switches to be connected electrically in parallel between DC voltage rails formed of a positive DC voltage rail and a negative DC voltage rail;
• snubber capacitances, one of said snubber capacitances disposed in parallel with each of said main switches and said snubber capacitances defining junction points between adjacent pairs of said snubber capacitances;
• at least two converter levels having voltage neutral points disposed between the DC voltage rails, a junction point formed between adjacent pairs of said converter levels and said voltage neutral points of said converter levels being accessible;
• an output of said converter phase connected to one of said junction points of said snubber capacitances;
• further series circuits each formed of a resonant inductance and independently controllable bidirectional auxiliary switches, said junction points of said snubber capacitances which are not connected to said output are connected to said voltage neutral points of said converter levels via said further series circuits;
• and
• charge control switches connected between said junction points of said snubber capacitances which are not connected to said output of said converter phase and said junction point formed between adjacent pairs of said converter levels.