US7164562B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Configuration and method for protecting converter means
Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
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Filing: 2004-03-31
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Granted: 2007-01-16
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Expires: 2024-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A protection configuration for converter means which comprise a plurality of controllable switches, the protection configuration comprising a protection circuit coupled to the alternating voltage side of the converter means, which protection circuit comprises at least one protective switch configured to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means, wherein the protection configuration, in predetermined failure situations, is configured to close the protective switch and thus to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means. After the failure situation has cleared up, the protection configuration is configured to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means by means of the controllable switches to enhance commutation of the protective switch.
Inventors
- 👤 Reijo Virtanen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:07
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P9/00; H02P9/007; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/32; H02M7/00; H02M7/42; H02M7/44; H02M7/48; H02M7/53; H02M7/537; H02M7/5387; H02P9/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A protection configuration for converter means, which converter means are provided with a direct voltage side coupled to a direct voltage intermediate circuit, and an alternating voltage side, and which converter means comprise means for inverting the direct voltage of the direct voltage intermediate circuit and for feeding it to the alternating voltage side, the inverting means comprising a plurality of controllable switches, the protection configuration comprising a protection circuit coupled to the alternating voltage side of the converter means, which protection circuit comprises at least one protective switch configured to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means, wherein the protection configuration, in predetermined failure situations, is configured to close the protective switch and thus to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means, wherein after the failure situation is over, the controllable switches are configured to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means to redirect at least a portion of the current in the protection configuration through said controllable switches to thereby enhance commutation of the protective switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A protection configuration for converter means, which converter means are provided with a direct voltage side coupled to a direct voltage intermediate circuit, and an alternating voltage side, and which converter means comprise means for inverting the direct voltage of the direct voltage intermediate circuit and for feeding it to the alternating voltage side, the inverting means comprising a plurality of controllable switches, the protection configuration comprising a protection circuit coupled to the alternating voltage side of the converter means, which protection circuit comprises at least one protective switch configured to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means, wherein the protection configuration, in predetermined failure situations, is configured to close the protective switch and thus to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means, wherein after the failure situation is over, the controllable switches are configured to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means to redirect at least a portion of the current in the protection configuration through said controllable switches to thereby enhance commutation of the protective switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A protection configuration as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined failure situations, the configuration is configured to open the plurality of controllable switches of the inverter means of the converter means prior to closing the protective switch, and to leave the controllable switches open unit the failure situation is over.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A protection configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the configuration, after the commutation of the protective switch, is configured to open the controllable switches of the converter means and to keep them open until modulation can be started safely.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A protection configuration as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the protection circuit comprises auxiliary commutation means configured to enhance the commutation of the protective switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A protection configuration as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary commutation means comprise a plurality of diodes coupled in series with the protective switch, and a capacitor coupled in parallel with the plurality of diodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A protection configuration as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the converter means further comprise means for rectifying the alternating voltage of the alternating voltage side and for feeding it to the direct voltage intermediate circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A protection configuration as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the failure situation is over and the protective switch has commutated, the configuration is configured to return to a normal operating state wherein the plurality of controllable switches of the inverter means of the converter means are controlled in order to invert the direct voltage of the direct voltage intermediate circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A protection configuration as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the configuration is configured to protect a rotor circuit of a double-fed slip-ring generator.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of using a protection configuration for converter means, which converter means are provided with a direct voltage side coupled to a direct voltage intermediate circuit, and an alternating voltage side, and which converter means comprise means for inverting the direct voltage of the direct voltage intermediate circuit and for feeding it to the alternating voltage side, the inverting means comprising a plurality of controllable switches, the protection configuration comprising a protection circuit coupled to the alternating voltage side of the converter means, which protection circuit comprises at least one protective switch configured to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means, the method comprising the step of closing, in predetermined failure situations, the protective switch and thus short-circuiting the alternating voltage side of the converter means, wherein the method further comprises the step of configuring the controllable switches to short-circuit, after the failure situation is over, the alternating voltage side of the converter means to redirect at least a portion of the current in the protection configuration through the controllable switches to therby enhance commutation of the protective switch.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of using a protection configuration for converter means, which converter means are provided with a direct voltage side coupled to a direct voltage intermediate circuit, and an alternating voltage side, and which converter means comprise means for inverting the direct voltage of the direct voltage intermediate circuit and for feeding it to the alternating voltage side, the inverting means comprising a plurality of controllable switches, the protection configuration comprising a protection circuit coupled to the alternating voltage side of the converter means, which protection circuit comprises at least one protective switch configured to short-circuit the alternating voltage side of the converter means, the method comprising the step of closing, in predetermined failure situations, the protective switch and thus short-circuiting the alternating voltage side of the converter means, wherein the method further comprises the step of configuring the controllable switches to short-circuit, after the failure situation is over, the alternating voltage side of the converter means to redirect at least a portion of the current in the protection configuration through the controllable switches to therby enhance commutation of the protective switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the predetermined failure situations, the plurality of controllable switches of the inverter means of the converter means are opened prior to closing the protective switch, and in that the controllable switches are left open until the failure situation is over.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim in claim 9 , wherein after the protective switch has commutated, the method comprises the step of making the converter means currentless by opening the current circuit to which the converter means belong.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the opening of the current circuit is carried out by opening the controllable switches of the converter means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein after the commutation of the protective switch, the current circuit to which the converter means belong is kept open until modulation can be started safely.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the converter means are converter means of a rotor side of a double-fed slip-ring generator, and in that after the commutation of the protective switch, the current circuit to which the converter means belong is kept open until the current of a stator of the generator has dropped to a level substantially corresponding to its magnetization current.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A protection configuration as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the configuration, after the commutation of the protective switch, is configured to open the controllable switches of the converter means and to keep them open until modulation can be started safely.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein after the protective switch has commutated, the method comprises the step of making the converter means currentless by opening the current circuit to which the converter means belong.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-01-15 | 2010-07-17 | 2011-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-01-15 | 2014-07-17 | 2015-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-01-15 | 2018-07-17 | 2019-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |