Control of parallel connected power devices

1. A method for controlling semiconductor power switches in parallel connected power devices,

wherein the semiconductor power switches of each of parallel connected power devices connect either the positive or the negative pole of the intermediate DC-voltage of respective power device to an output phase of the power device,

wherein at least one output phase of each power device of the parallel connected power devices is connected to a common output terminal such that the common output terminal is connected to at least two output phases,

wherein the method comprises the steps of:

measuring the voltages of output phases, which are connected in parallel, for the parallel connected power devices,

calculating timing differences of output voltage state changes on the basis of the measured output voltages of at least two power devices of the parallel connected power devices, the calculating of the timing differences includes comparing a timing of each measured output voltage of the output phases for determining differences in timing of the output voltages of the output phases connected in parallel, and

advancing or delaying the control signals of the semiconductor power switches on the basis of the calculated timing differences such that the output voltage state changes in the phases which are connected together via output impedances occur at desired time instants.

2. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control signals of the semiconductor power switches are advanced or delayed such that the output voltage state changes in the phases which are connected together via output impedances occur essentially simultaneously.

3. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control signal of the faster phase switch is delayed compared to the control signal of the slower one, and/or the control signal of the slower phase switch is advanced compared to the control signal of the faster one.

4. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein:

the waveforms of the output voltages of those output phases which are connected in parallel are measured, and

the time integrals of the output voltages over a predefined period are calculated for output phases which are connected in parallel, and

the differences of calculated time integrals in the phases which are connected together via output impedances are used as criterions for determining output voltage timing differences.

5. The method according to claim 4 ,

wherein the time integrals of the output voltages over a predefined period are calculated such that the integral calculation for each phase starts before or at the output voltage state change occurrence.

6. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein:

the waveforms of the output voltages of those output phases which are connected in parallel are measured, and

the time instants when the output voltages pass one or several predefined voltage levels are determined,

the differences of determined time instants when passing of comparable voltage levels in the phases which are connected together via output impedances are used as criterions for determining output voltage timing differences.

7. The method according claim 1 ,

wherein the output voltage timing difference calculation is executed essentially continuously during the operation of the power device.

8. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the determined output voltage timing differences are stored as parameters in the control unit of the power device.

9. The method according to claim 8 ,

wherein the output voltage timing difference calculation is executed during the manufacturing process and/or during commissioning.

10. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the parallel connected power devices is an inverter.

11. An arrangement for controlling semiconductor power switches in parallel connected power devices,

wherein the semiconductor power switches of each parallel connected power devices are arranged to connect either the positive or the negative pole of the intermediate DC-voltage of respective power device to an output phase of the power device,

wherein at least one output phase of each power device of the parallel connected power devices is connected to a common output terminal such that the common output terminal is connected to at least two output phases,

wherein:

the arrangement is arranged to measure the voltages of output phases, which are connected in parallel, for the parallel connected power devices,

to calculate the timing differences of output voltage state changes on the basis of the measured output voltages of at least two power devices of the parallel connected power devices, the calculating of the timing differences includes comparing a timing of each measured output voltage of the output phases for determining differences in timing of the output voltages of the output phases connected in parallel, and

to advance or delay the control signals of the semiconductor power switches on the basis of the calculated timing differences such that the output voltage state changes in the phases which are connected together via output impedances occur as desired time instants.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the arrangement is configured to advance or delay the control signals of the semiconductor power switches such that the output voltage state changes in the phases which are connected together via output impedances occur essentially simultaneously.

13. The arrangement according to claim 11 ,

wherein the arrangement is arranged to delay the control signal of the faster phase switch compared to the control signal of the slower one, and/or advance the control signal of the slower phase switch compared to the control signal of the faster one.

14. The arrangement according to claim 11 ,

wherein:

the arrangement is arranged to measure the waveforms of the output voltages of those output phases which are connected in parallel, and

to calculate the time integrals of the output voltages over a predefined period for output phases which are connected in parallel, and

to use the differences of calculated time integrals in the phases which are connected together via output impedances as criterions for determining output voltage timing differences.

15. The arrangement according to claim 11 ,

wherein the arrangement is arranged to calculate the time integrals of the output voltages over a predefined period such that the integral calculation for each phase starts before or at the output voltage state change occurrence.

16. The arrangement according to claim 11 ,

wherein:

the arrangement is arranged to measure the waveforms of the output voltages of those output phases which are connected in parallel,

to determine the time instants when the output voltages pass one or several predefined voltage levels, and

to use the differences of determined time instants when passing of comparable voltage levels in the phases which are connected together via output impedances as criterions for determining output voltage timing differences.

17. The arrangement according to claim 11 ,

wherein the arrangement is arranged to execute the output voltage timing difference calculation essentially continuously during the operation of the power device.

18. The arrangement according to claim 11 ,

wherein the arrangement comprises storing means to which the arrangement is arranged to store the output voltage timing differences as parameters.

19. The arrangement according to claim 18 ,

wherein the output voltage timing difference calculation is executed during the manufacturing process and/or during commissioning.

20. The arrangement according to claim 11 ,

wherein the arrangement comprises means for measuring the output phase currents.

21. The arrangement according to claim 20 ,

wherein the means for measuring the output phase currents are internal means.

22. The arrangement according to claim 20 ,

wherein the means for measuring the output phase currents are external means.

23. The arrangement according to claim 11 ,

wherein each of the parallel connected power devices is an inverter.