Electrical arrangement comprising sub-modules
View Patent ↗An arrangement includes at least one series circuit having at least two series-connected submodules and an inductor. At least one of the submodules in one or a plurality of the series circuits has a step-up/step-down converter and a storage module. A protective module with at least one actuator is electrically connected between the step-up/step-down converter and the storage module. A method for operating the arrangement is also provided.
1. An arrangement, comprising:
at least one series circuit including at least two series-connected sub modules and an inductor;
at least one of said at least two series-connected sub modules of said at least one series circuit including a step-up/step-down converter, a storage module, and a protective module including at least one actuator electrically connected between said step-up/step-down converter and said storage module;
said protective module having first and second input terminals to be connected to said step-up/step-down converter and first and second output terminals to be connected to said storage module, and said second input terminal and said second output terminal being interconnected;
said at least one actuator of said protective module including at least first, second and third actuators and an internal terminal;
said first actuator connected between said internal terminal and said second input terminal of said protective module;
said second actuator connected between said first output terminal and said internal terminal of said protective module; and
said third actuator connected between said first input terminal and said internal terminal of said protective module.
2. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:
said first and second input terminals of said protective module connect said protective module to said step-up/step-down converter and said first and second output terminals of said protective module connect said protective module to said storage module; and
said first actuator is an electrical switch being electrically disposed to short-circuit at least one of said first and second input terminals or said first and second output terminals in an activated state.
3. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said first actuator is a switch.
4. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said first actuator is an irreversibly switching switch or a pyrotechnically driven switch.
5. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said second actuator is a fuse.
6. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said third actuator is a fuse.
7. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said protective module has a triggering unit generating a trigger signal for activating or electrically closing said at least one actuator if at least one electrical value or a measured value indicates a fault or reaches or exceeds a predefined threshold.
8. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:
said protective module has a triggering unit generating a trigger signal for activating or electrically closing said at least one actuator if at least one electrical value or a measured value indicates a fault or reaches or exceeds a predefined threshold, and said triggering unit generates said trigger signal if at least one of:
a magnitude of a current at said first or second input terminal of said protective module reaches or exceeds a predefined first current threshold,
a magnitude of a current at said first or second output terminal of said protective module reaches or exceeds a predefined second current threshold, or
a magnitude of a voltage between said first and second output terminals of said protective module reaches or exceeds a predefined voltage threshold.
9. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein:
said step-up/step-down converter has at least one switch; and
said triggering unit activates said at least one switch in said step-up/step-down converter if a magnitude of a current at said first or second input terminal of said protective module reaches or exceeds said first current threshold.