Power converter

A power converter comprising:

• a DC power supply that outputs a DC voltage;
• a reverse flow prevention diode that is connected to one output terminal of the DC power supply so as to make a current flow in a forward direction;
• a full-bridge circuit that is formed of a plurality of semiconductor switches having circulation diodes;
• a current sensor or a current detecting shunt resistor that detects charging and discharging current of a load that is capable of being charged or discharged and is connected to the full-bridge circuit;
• an operating section that is connected so that output power of the DC power supply is input thereto through the reverse flow prevention diode;
• and
• a control section that performs control of an operation of the semiconductor switches,
• wherein in the full-bridge circuit,
• in a case where a connection point of a first and third semiconductor switches is set to a first connection point,
• a connection point of a second and fourth semiconductor switches is set to a second connection point,
• a connection point of the first and second semiconductor switches connected in series is set to a third connection point, and
• a connection point of the third and fourth semiconductor switches connected in series is set to a fourth connection point,
• one output terminal of the DC power supply is connected to the first connection point through the reverse flow prevention diode and the operating section is connected to the first connection point,
• the other output terminal of the DC power supply is connected to the second connection point, and
• the load is connected between the third connection point and the fourth connection point through an inductor, and
• wherein the control section
• performs a charging operation that supplies a charging current to the load and a discharging operation that outputs a discharging current from the load by controlling each semiconductor switch of the full-bridge circuit, and
• controls all semiconductor switches of the full-bridge circuit to be an OFF state while switching the charging operation and the discharging operation, makes an inertia current generated by energy accumulated in the inductor flow from the circulation diode of the semiconductor switch that is in an OFF state to the first connection point, and supplies the inertia current to the operating section by the reverse flow prevention diode.