Semiconductor switching circuit

1. A semiconductor switching circuit, for use in a HVDC power converter, comprising:

a main semiconductor switching element comprising a first connection terminal second connection terminal between which current flows from the first connection terminal to the second connection terminal when the main semiconductor switching element is switched on, the main semiconductor switching element having an auxiliary semiconductor switching element electrically connected between the first and second connection terminals; and

a control unit operatively connected with the auxiliary semiconductor switching element, the control unit being programmed to control switching of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to selectively create an alternative current path between the first and second connection terminals associated therewith wherein current is diverted to flow through the alternative current path to reduce the voltage across the main semiconductor switching element,

wherein the switching of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to create the alternative current path comprises operation of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in at least two of:

a fully-on mode in which the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated with its maximum rated base current or gate voltage;

a pulsed switched mode in which the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is turned on and off; and

an active mode in which the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated with a continuously variable base current or gate voltage.

2. A semiconductor switching circuit according to claim 1 , when the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in the pulsed switched mode and at least one of the fully-on mode and the active mode, the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the pulsed switched mode is turned on and off a plurality of times in an operating cycle.

3. A semiconductor switching circuit according to claim 1 , when the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in the active mode and at least one of the fully-on mode and the pulsed switched mode, of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the active mode is operated in its linear region and/or saturation region.

4. A semiconductor switching circuit according to claim 1 , when the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in the fully-on mode and the pulsed switched mode, the switching of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to create the alternative current path comprises operation of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the fully-on mode followed by the pulsed switched mode.

5. A semiconductor switching circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the switching of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to create the alternative current path comprises operation of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the fully-on mode, the pulsed switched mode and the active mode.

6. A semiconductor switching circuit according to claim 1 , when the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in at least the pulsed switched mode and the active mode, the switching of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to create the alternative current path comprises operation of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the pulsed switched and active modes such that the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in the active mode during a transition period between turned-on and turned-off states of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element.

7. A semiconductor switching circuit according to claim 1 , when the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in the fully-on mode and at least one of the pulsed switched mode and the active mode, the switching of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to create the alternative current path comprises operation of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the fully-on mode during a commutation overshoot transient of the main semiconductor switching element.

8. A semiconductor switching circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary semiconductor switching element comprises a transistor having an emitter or source connected to the first connection terminal of the main semiconductor switching element, a collector or drain connected to the second connection terminal of the corresponding main semiconductor switching element, and a base or gate connected to the control unit.

9. A semiconductor switching string, for use in a HVDC power converter, comprising a plurality of series-connected semiconductor switching assemblies, at least one of the semiconductor switching assemblies comprising a semiconductor switching circuit comprising:

a main semiconductor switching element comprising a first connection terminal second connection terminal between which current flows from the first connection terminal to the second connection terminal when the main semiconductor switching element is switched on, the main semiconductor switching element having an auxiliary semiconductor switching element electrically connected between the first and second connection terminals; and

a control unit operatively connected with the auxiliary semiconductor switching element, the control unit being programmed to control switching of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to selectively create an alternative current path between the first and second connection terminals associated therewith wherein current is diverted to flow through the alternative current path to reduce the voltage across the main semiconductor switching element;

wherein the switching of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to create the alternative current path comprises operation of the auxiliary semiconductor switching element in at least two of:

a fully-on mode in which the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated with its maximum rated base current or gate voltage;

a pulsed switched mode in which the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is turned on and off; and

an active mode in which the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated with a continuously variable base current or gate voltage.

10. A semiconductor switching string according to claim 9 , when the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in the pulsed switched mode and at least one of the fully-on mode and the active mode, the switching of the or each auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to create the alternative current path comprises operation of the or each auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the pulsed switched mode to compensate for a variation in reverse recovered charges of two or more of the main semiconductor switching elements.

11. A semiconductor switching string according to claim 9 , when the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in at least the pulsed switchd mode and the active mode, the switching of the or each auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to create the alternative current path comprises operation of the or each auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the active mode after the or each auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in the pulsed switched mode to compensate for a variation in reverse recovered charges of two or more of the main semiconductor switching elements.

12. A semiconductor switching string according to claim 9 , when the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in the active mode and at least one of the fully-on mode and the pulsed switched mode, the switching of the or each auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to create the alternative current path comprises operation of the or each auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the active mode to compensate for residual voltage imbalance between two or more of the main semiconductor switching elements.

13. A semiconductor switching string according to claim 9 , when the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in at least the fully-on mode and the active mode, the switching of the or each auxiliary semiconductor switching element in an operating cycle to create the alternative current path comprises operation of the or each auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the fully-on mode followed by the active mode to compensate for a variation in reverse recovered charges of two or more of the main semiconductor switching elements.

14. A semiconductor switching string according to claim 13 , when the auxiliary semiconductor switching element is operated in the fully-on mode and at least one of the pulsed switched mode and the active mode, the operation of the or each auxiliary semiconductor switching element in the fully-on mode is carried out during a commutation overshoot transient of the corresponding main semiconductor switching element.