Apparatus for protection of converter modules
View Patent ↗A device ( 1 ) has a series circuit of submodules with a power semiconductor circuit and an energy accumulator connected in parallel with the power semiconductor circuit. Each submodule is associated with a short circuit device for shorting the submodule. The short circuit device is a vacuum switching tube. The device is cost-effective and at the same time enables safe bridging of a defective submodule.
1. A circuit configuration, comprising:
a series circuit of a plurality of submodules each having a power semiconductor circuit and an energy storage device connected in parallel with said power semiconductor circuit;
each said submodule having a vacuum interrupter tube associated therewith, said vacuum interrupter tube forming a short-circuiting device for short-circuiting the respective said submodule;
a tripping and latching unit for latching said vacuum interrupter tube in a disconnected position with a latch and for removing said latch; and
said vacuum interrupter tube being configured to be moved, without a drive, from a disconnected position into a connected position, in which the respective said submodule is short-circuited, when said latch is removed, whereupon said vacuum interrupter tube is moved from the disconnected position into the connected position substantially only as a result of a pressure difference between an interior of said vacuum interrupter tube and an exterior atmosphere.
2. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said tripping and latching unit has a permanent magnet configured to produce a latching force, and a tripping means configured to counteract a holding force in order to release said latch.
3. The circuit configuration according to claim 2 , wherein the tripping means is an electrical coil.
4. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said power semiconductor circuit is a full-bridge circuit.
5. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said power semiconductor circuit is a half-bridge circuit.
6. The circuit configuration according to claim 1 configured as a converter with an AC voltage connection for connection of an AC voltage power supply system.
7. A circuit configuration, comprising:
a multiplicity of submodules connected in series with one another, each of said submodules having a power semiconductor circuit and an energy storage device connected in parallel with said power semiconductor circuit;
a multiplicity of vacuum interrupter tubes each connected in parallel with a respective said submodule and each forming a short-circuiting device for short-circuiting the respective said submodule;
each said vacuum interrupter tube being movable from a disconnected position, in which the respective said submodule is active, into a connected position in which the respective said submodule is bypassed;
a tripping and latching unit for latching each said vacuum interrupter tube in a disconnected position with a latch and for removing said latch; and
wherein, when said latch is removed, said vacuum interrupter tube is moved from the disconnected position into the connected position substantially only as a result of a pressure difference between an interior of said vacuum interrupter tube and an exterior atmosphere.