公开(公告)号：US20200013570A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-09

申请号：US16470013

申请日：2017-12-11

Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH

Inventor： Colin Charnock DAVIDSON

IPC: H01H33/59 ,  H01H9/54

Abstract: A switching apparatus comprises a plurality of parallel-connected current-conductive branches, each current-conductive branch including at least one respective gas tube switch, wherein the switching apparatus further includes an electrical circuit, the electrical circuit including at least one switching element configured to be operable to selectively synthesise a or a respective voltage difference in series with one or more of the gas tube switches so as to control the distribution of current between the current-conductive branches.

公开(公告)号：US20160118907A1

公开(公告)日：2016-04-28

申请号：US14898095

申请日：2014-06-10

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH

Inventor： Colin Charnock DAVIDSON

IPC: H02M5/45 ,  H02M5/458

CPC classification number: H03K17/161 ,  H02M5/45 ,  H02M5/458 ,  H02M7/68 ,  H03K17/08144 ,  H03K17/105 ,  H03K17/16 ,  H03K17/66 ,  H03K17/687

Abstract: A semiconductor switching string includes a plurality of series-connected semiconductor switching assemblies, each having a main semiconductor switching element that includes first and second connection terminals. The main semiconductor switching element also has an auxiliary semiconductor switching element electrically connected between the first and second connection terminals. Each semiconductor switching assembly also includes a control unit configured to switch on a respective auxiliary semiconductor switching element to selectively create an alternative current path between the first and second connection terminals whereby current is diverted to flow through the alternative current path to reduce the voltage across the corresponding main semiconductor switching element. The or each control unit is further configured to switch on the auxiliary semiconductor switching element when the voltage across the corresponding main semiconductor switching element differs from a voltage reference derived from the voltage across all of the main semiconductor switching elements.

Abstract translation: 半导体开关串包括多个串联连接的半导体开关组件，每个组件具有包括第一和第二连接端子的主半导体开关元件。 主半导体开关元件还具有电连接在第一和第二连接端子之间的辅助半导体开关元件。 每个半导体开关组件还包括控制单元，其被配置为接通相应的辅助半导体开关元件，以选择性地在第一和第二连接端子之间创建替代电流路径，由此电流被转移流过替代电流路径以减小跨越 相应的主要半导体开关元件。 该或每个控制单元还被配置为当相应的主半导体开关元件两端的电压与从所有主半导体开关元件的电压导出的电压基准不同时，接通辅助半导体开关元件。

公开(公告)号：US20210328422A1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-21

申请号：US17270369

申请日：2019-08-14

Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH

Inventor： Carl D. BARKER ,  Colin Charnock DAVIDSON ,  John Lewis OUTRAM ,  Timothy James STOTT ,  Robert Stephen WHITEHOUSE

IPC: H02H7/26 ,  H02J3/36

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic valve apparatus for a high voltage direct current, HVDC, power transmission system. The electronic valve apparatus comprises a first device chain (301) including a plurality of first devices (302, 303) connected in series between an input node (330) and an output node (332) of the electronic valve apparatus (300, 400, 500). Each of the plurality of first devices (302, 303) has an asymmetric transfer function configured substantially to block current flow through the device in a first direction, and the plurality of first devices (302, 303) are connected such that they all block current flow in the same direction. The electronic valve apparatus also includes a second device chain (311) including a plurality of second devices (312, 313) connected in series between the input node (330) and the output node (332). Each of the plurality of second devices (312, 313) has an asymmetric transfer function configured substantially to block current flow through the device in a first direction, and the plurality of second devices (312, 313) are connected such that they all block current flow in the same direction. The second device chain (311) is connected in parallel with the first device chain (301).

公开(公告)号：US20200083675A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-12

申请号：US16469917

申请日：2017-12-11

Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH

Inventor： Colin Charnock DAVIDSON

IPC: H02B1/24 ,  H01H33/59 ,  H01H33/02

Abstract: A switching apparatus comprises: a plurality of parallel-connected current-conductive branches, each current-conductive branch including at least one respective gas tube switch; and a switching control unit configured to control the turn-on of the gas tube switches in a switching order so that the flow of current in the switching apparatus is controlled to switch between the current-conductive branches, wherein the switching order of the turn-on of the gas tube switches is arranged so that only one of the current-conductive branches is carrying the current during each turn-on cycle of the switching apparatus.

公开(公告)号：US20210135662A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-06

申请号：US16480918

申请日：2017-08-22

Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH

Inventor： Colin Charnock DAVIDSON ,  Adrian KEITLEY ,  Timothy James STOTT ,  Jérôme GREGOIRE

IPC: H03K17/082

Abstract: In the field of voltage source converters for high voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission there is provided a protection arrangement for a switching device. The protection arrangement comprises a thyristor that has main current-carrying terminals which in use are connected in reverse parallel with a switching device to be protected, whereby during normal operation of the switching device a reverse voltage is applied to the thyristor. The protection arrangement also includes a trigger circuit that is operatively connected with a gate control terminal of the thyristor. The trigger circuit is configured to apply a voltage to the gate control terminal of the thyristor when the reverse voltage applied to the thyristor reaches a safety threshold voltage whereby the thyristor fails and presents an irreversible short-circuit across the main current-carrying terminals of the switching device.

公开(公告)号：US20180048304A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-15

申请号：US15555835

申请日：2016-03-03

Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH

Inventor： Ikenna Bruce EFIKA ,  Colin Charnock DAVIDSON

IPC: H03K17/16 ,  H02M1/088 ,  H03K17/06

CPC classification number: H03K17/16 ,  H02M1/088 ,  H02M1/34 ,  H02M7/7575 ,  H02M2001/344 ,  H03K5/02 ,  H03K5/04 ,  H03K17/06 ,  H03K17/08144 ,  H03K17/105 ,  Y02E60/60

Abstract: A semiconductor switching string including a series-connected switching assemblies. Each assembly has a main switching element including first and second connection terminals which current flows between when the main switching element is on. The main element has an auxiliary element between the connection terminals. The string includes a local control unit connected with each auxiliary element which are programmed to switch an auxiliary element to create an alternative current path between the connection terminals that diverts current through to reduce the voltage across the corresponding main switching element. The local unit is programmed to control switching an auxiliary element to a fully-on mode in which the auxiliary element is at maximum rated base current, a pulsed mode which turns the auxiliary element on and off and/or an active mode operating the auxiliary element with a continuously variable base current. The string includes a higher level control unit programmed to implement the modes.

公开(公告)号：US20180026435A1

公开(公告)日：2018-01-25

申请号：US15541614

申请日：2015-12-18

Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH

Inventor： Colin Charnock DAVIDSON

IPC: H02H3/20 ,  H02H3/02

Abstract: A DC breakers and in particular to DC breaker modules suitable for use in a high voltage DC circuit. The breaker module comprises at least a first breaker circuit (enclosed within a conductive enclosure. The enclosure is configured such that the first breaker circuit can be connected (in an electrical path with a circuit external to the conductive enclosure. The conductive enclosure is further configured to be connected to a node of the electrical path such that, in use, the conductive enclosure is at the same voltage potential as the node of the circuit path. The conductive enclosure may be a standardised size and may, for example, be a standard shipping container. The methods and apparatus of the present application allow a DC breaker to be formed from modules that can be built, tested, transported and installed in a standardised enclosure.

公开(公告)号：US20200081064A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-12

申请号：US16469967

申请日：2017-12-11

Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH

Inventor： Colin Charnock DAVIDSON

IPC: G01R31/327 ,  H02J3/36 ,  H02M5/456

Abstract: In the field of monitoring assemblies for gas tube switching devices which is operable in a plurality of different conducting modes, a monitoring assembly includes a monitoring module to distinguish in real time at least one conducting mode from the or each other conducting mode.

公开(公告)号：US20180375330A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-27

申请号：US16063168

申请日：2016-12-06

Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH

Inventor： Colin Charnock DAVIDSON

IPC: H02J3/36 ,  H02M7/757 ,  H02M7/5387 ,  H02J3/00

Abstract: There is provided a power supply apparatus for supplying power to an external electrical load , including a power transmission line or cable through which an alternating or direct current may flow, a power supply module, a control unit, an output terminal for connection to the external electrical load, and a converter. The power supply module includes an input terminal connected to the power transmission line or cable, and includes switching elements and energy storage device(s). The control unit controls the switching elements to selectively switch each energy storage device into circuit to direct a current flowing in the power transmission line or cable to flow through each energy storage device so as to store energy to form a power source. The converter draws power from the power source and supplies the drawn power to the output terminal.

公开(公告)号：US20170346384A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-30

申请号：US15532511

申请日：2015-12-03

Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH

Inventor： Colin Charnock DAVIDSON

IPC: H02M1/08 ,  H02M5/45 ,  H03K17/10 ,  H02M1/00

CPC classification number: H02M1/08 ,  H02M1/088 ,  H02M1/34 ,  H02M5/45 ,  H02M2001/0054 ,  H02M2001/344 ,  H03K17/08144 ,  H03K17/105

Abstract: A semiconductor switching circuit, for use in a HVDC power converter, comprising: a main semiconductor switching element, including first and second connection terminals between which current flows from the first connection terminal to the second connection terminal and an auxiliary semiconductor switching element electrically connected between the first and second connection terminals thereof, and a control unit, operatively connected to auxiliary semiconductor switching element and programmed to control the switching element to create an alternative current path between the first and second connection terminals by at least two of: a fully-on mode in which the switching element is operated at its maximum rated base current or gate voltage; a pulsed switched mode in which the switching element is turned on and off; and an active mode in which the switching element is operated with a continuously variable base current or gate voltage.