Abstract:
A method for operating an electrical circuit including a modular switch with four power semiconductor components and one capacitor. With this method, either both the first and the second power semiconductor components are switched so as to be conducting, and both the third and the fourth power semiconductor components are controlled so as to be blocking, so that a current flows from the first connection across the first power semiconductor component, across the capacitor and across the second power semiconductor component to the second connection, or both the third and fourth power semiconductor components are switched so as to be conducting, and both the first and the second power semiconductor components are controlled so as to be blocking, so that the current flows in reverse direction from the second connection across the fourth power semiconductor component, across the capacitor and across the third power semiconductor component to the first connection.
Abstract:
A double submodule for a modular multilevel converter comprising a first and second submodule coupled to the first. Each submodule comprises an asymmetric H bridge circuit with two parallel bridges branches, connected between a first and a second direct voltage node of the submodule. Each bridge branch is formed by a series connection from a controllable power semiconductor switch and a diode. A storage capacitor is connected in parallel to the asymmetric H bridge circuit between the first and the second direct voltage node of the submodule. The first and the second submodule are interconnected in such a way that a power semiconductor switch or a diode is part of a bridge branch of the first submodule as well as part of a bridge branch of the second submodule. A modular multilevel converter, comprises a series connection of such double submodules in each of its converter branches, is also disclosed.