Power conversion apparatus

1. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

first and second direct-current power supplies connected in series; and

a power converter that converts direct-current power from each of the power supplies into alternating-current power and supplies the alternating-current power to an alternating-current power system,

the power converter being so configured that at least two first valve devices constituted of first semiconductor elements are connected in series to constitute one arm, at least three of the arms are connected in parallel, an alternating-current switch constituted of a series connection of at least two second valve devices each constituted of a second semiconductor element and a diode connected in inverse parallel with the second semiconductor element is connected between a connection point of the first valve devices and a connection point of the direct-current power supplies, and each of the alternating-current switches is turned on or off, thereby enabling the power converter to perform three-level operation or two-level operation,

the power conversion apparatus further comprising:

a comparison circuit which compares a determination element related to a loss in the power converter with a switching reference value and outputs a determination instruction when a difference has occurred between the determination element and the switching reference value;

a determination circuit which determines whether the determination element is greater or less than the switching reference value when having received a determination instruction from the comparison circuit, and outputs a two-level operation switching instruction when the determination element is greater than or equal to the switching reference value; and

a switching circuit which, when having received the two-level operation switching instruction from the determination circuit, turns off the alternating-current switch and, in each of the arms, turns on the first valve devices sequentially, thereby bringing the power converter into a two-level operation state.

2. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

first and second direct-current power supplies connected in series; and

a power converter that converts direct-current power from each of the power supplies into alternating-current power and supplies the alternating-current power to an alternating-current power system,

the power converter being so configured that at least two first valve devices constituted of first semiconductor elements are connected in series to constitute one arm, at least three of the arms are connected in parallel, an alternating-current switch constituted of a series connection of at least two second valve devices each constituted of a second semiconductor element and a diode connected in inverse parallel with the second semiconductor element is connected between a connection point of the first valve devices and a connection point of the direct-current power supplies, and each of the alternating-current switches is turned on or off, thereby enabling the power converter to perform three-level operation or two-level operation,

the power conversion apparatus further comprising:

a comparison circuit which uses direct current input to the power converter as a determination element, compares the determination element with a switching reference value, and outputs a determination instruction when a difference has occurred between the determination element and the switching reference value;

a determination circuit which determines whether the determination element is greater or less than the switching reference value when having received a determination instruction from the comparison circuit, and outputs a two-level operation switching instruction when the determination element is greater than or equal to the switching reference value; and

a switching circuit which, when having received the two-level operation switching instruction from the determination circuit, turns off the alternating-current switch and, in each of the arms turns on the first valve devices sequentially, thereby bringing the power converter into a two-level operation state.

3. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

first and second direct-current power supplies connected in series; and

a power converter that converts direct-current power from each of the power supplies into alternating-current power and supplies the alternating-current power to an alternating-current power system,

the power converter being so configured that at least two first valve devices constituted of first semiconductor elements are connected in series to constitute one arm, at least three of the arms are connected in parallel, an alternating-current switch constituted of a series connection of at least two second valve devices each constituted of a second semiconductor element and a diode connected in inverse parallel with the second semiconductor element is connected between a connection point of the first valve devices and a connection point of the direct-current power supplies, and each of the alternating-current switches is turned on or off, thereby enabling the power converter to perform three-level operation or two-level operation,

the power conversion apparatus further comprising:

a comparison circuit which uses direct-current voltage applied to the power converter as a determination element, compares the determination element with a switching reference value and outputs a determination instruction when a difference has occurred between the determination element and the switching reference value;

a determination circuit which determines whether the determination element is greater or less than the switching reference value when having received a determination instruction from the comparison circuit, and outputs a two-level operation switching instruction when the determination element is greater than or equal to the switching reference value; and

a switching circuit which, when having received the two-level operation switching instruction from the determination circuit, turns off the alternating-current switch and, in each of the arms, turns on the first valve devices sequentially, thereby bringing the power converter into a two-level operation state.

4. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

first and second direct-current power supplies connected in series; and

a power converter that converts direct-current power from each of the power supplies into alternating-current power and supplies the alternating-current power to an alternating-current power system,

the power converter being so configured that at least two first valve devices constituted of first semiconductor elements are connected in series to constitute one arm, at least three of the arms are connected in parallel, an alternating-current switch constituted of a series connection of at least two second valve devices each constituted of a second semiconductor element and a diode connected in inverse parallel with the second semiconductor element is connected between a connection point of the first valve devices and a connection point of the direct-current power supplies, and each of the alternating-current switches is turned on or off, thereby enabling the power converter to perform three-level operation or two-level operation,

the power conversion apparatus further comprising:

a comparison circuit which uses direct-current power from the direct-current power supply supplied to the power converter as a determination element, compares the determination element with a switching reference value and outputs a determination instruction when a difference has occurred between the determination element and the switching reference value;

a determination circuit which determines whether the determination element is greater or less than the switching reference value when having received a determination instruction from the comparison circuit, and outputs a two-level operation switching instruction when the determination element is greater than or equal to the switching reference value; and

a switching circuit which, when having received the two-level operation switching instruction from the determination circuit, turns off the alternating-current switch and, in each of the arms turns on the first valve devices sequentially, thereby bringing the power converter into a two-level operation state.

5. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

first and second direct-current power supplies to which direct-current energy from photovoltaic cells is input and which are connected in series; and

a power converter that converts direct-current power from each of the power supplies into alternating-current power and supplies the alternating-current power to an alternating-current power system,

the power converter being so configured that at least two first valve devices constituted of first semiconductor elements are connected in series to constitute one arm, at least three of the arms are connected in parallel, an alternating-current switch constituted of a series connection of at least two second valve devices each constituted of a second semiconductor element and a diode connected in inverse parallel with the second semiconductor element is connected between a connection point of the first valve devices and a connection point of the direct-current power supplies, and each of the alternating-current switches is turned on or off, thereby enabling the power converter to perform three-level operation or two-level operation,

the power conversion apparatus further comprising:

a comparison circuit which compares direct current from the photovoltaic cells based on the amount of insolation with rated current and outputs an operation determination output when a difference has occurred between the direct current and the rated current;

a determination circuit which, when having received a determination instruction, outputs a two-level operation switching instruction if the direct current from the photovoltaic cells is greater than or equal to 50% of the rated current; and

a switching circuit which, when having received the two-level operation switching instruction from the determination circuit, turns off the alternating-current switch and in each of the arms, urns on the first valve devices in the arm sequentially, thereby bringing the power converter into a two-level operation state.

6. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

first and second direct-current power supplies to which direct-current energy from photovoltaic cells is input and which are connected in series; and

a power converter that converts direct-current power from each of the power supplies into alternating-current power and supplies the alternating-current power to an alternating-current power system,

the power converter being so configured that at least two first valve devices constituted of first semiconductor elements are connected in series to constitute one arm, at least three of the arms are connected in parallel, an alternating-current switch constituted of a series connection of at least two second valve devices each constituted of a second semiconductor element and a diode connected in inverse parallel with the second semiconductor element is connected between a connection point of the first valve devices and a connection point of the direct-current power supplies, and each of the alternating-current switches is turned on or off, thereby enabling the power converter to perform three-level operation or two-level operation,

the power conversion apparatus further comprising:

a comparison circuit which compares direct-current power from the photovoltaic cells based on the amount of insolation with rated direct-current power and outputs an operation determination output when a difference has occurred between the direct-current power from the photovoltaic cells and the rated direct-current power;

a determination circuit which, when having received a determination instruction, outputs a two-level operation switching instruction if the direct-current power from the photovoltaic cells is greater than or equal to 50% of the rated power; and

a switching circuit which, when having received the two-level operation switching instruction from the determination circuit, turns off the alternating-current switch and, in each of the arms, turns on the first valve devices sequentially, thereby bringing the power converter into a two-level operation state.