In a power converting apparatus which converts AC power into DC power, an inverter circuit including at least one series-connected single-phase inverter is connected in a downstream of a stage in which an AC input is rectified in series therewith. In the downstream stage of the inverter circuit, there are provided a smoothing capacitor connected via a rectifier diode and a short-circuiting switch for bypassing the smoothing capacitor. The short-circuiting switch is set to an ON state only in each of short-circuiting phase ranges of which midpoint matches each of zero-crossing phases and an output of the inverter circuit is controlled by using a current command so that a DC voltage of the smoothing capacitor follows a target voltage and an input power factor is improved.

Power converting apparatus

A power conversion device includes a power switching circuit that supplies AC voltages generated between switching elements operating as upper arms and switching elements operating as lower arms, and a control circuit that generates and supplies to the driver circuit signals for controlling the switching operation of the switching elements by a PWM method in a first operational region in which frequency of an AC power to be outputted is low, and that generates and supplies to the driver circuit signals for controlling the switching operation of the switching elements at timings based upon the phase of the AC power to be outputted in an operational region in which the frequency of the AC power to be outputted is higher than in the first operational region.

Power Conversion Device

A half bridge is described with at least one transistor having a channel that is capable in a first mode of operation of blocking a substantial voltage in at least one direction, in a second mode of operation of conducting substantial current in one direction through the channel and in a third mode of operation of conducting substantial current in an opposite direction through the channel. The half bridge can have two circuits with such a transistor.

Bridge circuits and their components

Power switching circuits including an inductive load and a switching device are described. The switches devices can be either low-side or high-side switches. Some of the switches are transistors that are able to block voltages or prevent substantial current from flowing through the transistor when voltage is applied across the transistor.

Inductive load power switching circuits

A stable power supply apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a secondary battery, a bidirectional chopper circuit and a bidirectional converter, wherein the secondary battery, the chopper circuit and the converter are connected in this order in the direction from the secondary battery side to a system bus line side. The converter is formed of a wide-gap semiconductor device, more particularly, a wide-gap bipolar semiconductor device, and the instantaneous large-power operation capability of the wide-gap bipolar semiconductor device and the instantaneous large-power supplying capability of the secondary battery are utilized. For a short time during which the influence of an instantaneous drop is prevented, the converter is operated as a converter having capability exceeding the instantaneous large-power supplying capability of the secondary battery and having power capacity several times or more the rating of the converter.

Stable power supplying apparatus

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inverter system higher in energy conversion efficiency in an energy conversion system for photovoltaic power generation using solar cells or the like. SOLUTION: A wide gap semiconductor having high mobility is used for the DC-DC converter FETs in the inverter system. Thus, the efficiency of conversion of energy generated by solar cells is enhanced. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Takumi Usui

Papers

Direct current-to-alternating current converter for photovoltaic power generation