Multilevel converter and a method for controlling multilevel converter including balancing cell voltages

1. A multilevel converter comprising:

a single phase converter with one phase leg connected to a power network, or a three phase converter with three phase legs each connected to the power network, the phase legs of the three phase converter being interconnected in a star-configuration,

the single phase converter with one phase leg, or each three phase converter with three phase legs having switching cells, each switching cell having semi-conductor switches arranged to selectively provide a connection to a corresponding energy storage element,

the converter also includes a controller, which is provided to monitor the DC voltage of the energy storage elements,

the controller is provided to control the switching of each switching cell, wherein the phase leg of the single phase converter, or each phase leg of the three phase converter, comprises two parallel branches of switching cells, the branches being configured in a closed circuit;

wherein the controller is adapted to monitor the voltage levels of each energy storage element and to monitor phase voltages and phase currents of the power network, the controller transferring energy between the energy storage elements by controlling the switching of the switching cells in dependence of the voltage levels of each energy storage element to compensate for voltage unbalances the switching of the switching cells in each of the two branches causing a circulating current in the two branches without contributing to the phase current of the phase leg.

2. The multilevel converter according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to create a circulating current in the branches of each phase leg for effectuating the energy transfer.

3. The multilevel converter according to claim 2 , wherein the controller is adapted to effectuate the transfer of energy by individually varying the switching of the switching cells.

4. The multilevel converter according to claim 1 , being adapted to supply power to a power network and being adapted to maintain the supply of power during the transfer of energy to compensate for voltage unbalances.

5. The multilevel converter according to claim 1 , wherein the converter is a three phase converter which phase legs are star-connected, and includes a floating neutral point.

6. The multilevel converter according to claim 1 , wherein the converter is a single phase converter being adapted for rail way application, especially being arranged at a rail way for rail way application.

7. The multilevel converter according to claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device of at least one switching cell is a capacitor.

8. The multilevel converter according to claim 1 , wherein each switching cell comprises a full H-bridge with four semiconductor switching elements.

9. The multilevel converter according to claim 1 , wherein each switching cell comprises a half-bridge with four semiconductor switching elements.

10. The multilevel converter according to claim 1 , wherein each phase leg of either the single phase converter or the three phase converter further comprises a reactor series connected to each of the two parallel branches of switching cells.

11. A method for controlling a multilevel converter having a single or three phases, the multilevel converter including one phase leg, or three phase legs interconnected in a star-configuration, the one phase leg, or each of three phase legs having switching cells, each switching cell having semi-conductor switches arranged to selectively provide a connection to a corresponding energy storage element, the method including the steps of:

monitoring the voltage levels of each of the energy storage elements, wherein

the one phase leg, or each of three phase legs of the multilevel converter having two parallel branches of switching cells, wherein the branches are configured in a closed circuit and the method further includes the step of:

balancing the voltages of the energy storage elements by circulating a current within the closed circuit of the two branches of the one phase leg, or each of the three phase legs without contributing to the phase current of the phase leg by controlling the switching of the switching cells in dependence of the voltage levels of each energy storage element to compensate for voltage unbalances.

12. The method for controlling a multilevel converter according to claim 11 , further including supplying a current to a power network.

13. The method for controlling a multilevel converter according to claim 12 , wherein the supplying of a current to the power network is maintained during the balancing.

14. The method for controlling a multilevel converter according to claim 11 , further including creating a circulating current in the two branches, and wherein the balancing includes modifying the circulated current to transfer energy between the storage elements of at least two switching cells, especially upon detecting, during the monitoring of voltages, that at least one voltage deviates.

15. The method for controlling a multilevel converter according to claim 11 , further comprising the step of evening out voltage steps of power from each of the two parallel branches of switching cells for each phase leg of either the single phase converter or the three phase converter.