Three-level phase leg for a power converter
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorMark Eugene Shepard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A phase leg for a three-level power converter includes a heat sink device that includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The phase leg also includes a first portion including at least one semiconductor switching device coupled to the first surface. The phase leg further includes a second portion including at least one semiconductor switching device coupled to the second surface.
Claims19
A phase leg for a three-level power converter, said phase leg comprising:
- a heat sink device comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface;
- a first portion comprising at least one first semiconductor switching device coupled to said first surface;
- a first non-neutral planar bus bar coupled to said first semiconductor switching device;
- a second portion comprising at least one second semiconductor switching device coupled to said second surface;
- and
- a second non-neutral planar bus bar coupled to said second semiconductor switching device.
A phase leg for a three-level power converter, said phase leg comprising:
- a plurality of non-neutral planar bus bars;
- a plurality of semiconductor switching devices coupled to at least one of said non-neutral planar bus bars;
- and,
- a neutral planar bus bar,
- wherein, said non-neutral planar bus bars, said semiconductor switching devices, and said neutral planar bus bar are configured to define at least one commutation loop within said phase leg, said non-neutral planar bus bars and said neutral planar bus bar configured and oriented to facilitate flux cancellation in said commutation loop when current flows therethrough, thereby facilitating a reduction of energy stored within loop currents induced therein.
A two-layer, direct current (DC) link assembly for a three-level power converter comprising:
- a first layer comprising a positive planar bus bar and an adjacent negative planar bus bar separated with a spacing therebetween;
- a second layer comprising a neutral planar bus bar sized to substantially similar dimensions as said first layer;
- an insulator positioned between said first layer and said second layer, wherein said insulator is sized to completely extend over said second layer;
- and,
- at least one phase leg module coupled to said first layer and said second layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.