US 12,489,375 B2
Power conversion apparatus including upper and lower arm circuits and a flying capacitor
Koji Maki, Kanagawa (JP); and Hiroshi Mochikawa, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/158,503.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-048048 (JP), filed on Mar. 24, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0308030 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. H02M 7/483 (2007.01); H02M 1/00 (2006.01); H02M 7/5387 (2007.01)
CPC H02M 7/4837 (2021.05) [H02M 1/0095 (2021.05); H02M 7/5387 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power conversion apparatus comprising:
a power storage;
an upper arm including, between an alternating-current terminal and a positive direct-current terminal, a first upper arm circuit and a second upper arm circuit connected in series;
a lower arm including, between the alternating-current terminal and a negative direct-current terminal, a first lower arm circuit and a second lower arm circuit connected in series; and
a flying capacitor electrically connected, between the first upper arm circuit and the second upper arm circuit, to the upper arm, and electrically connected, between the first lower arm circuit and the second lower arm circuit, to the lower arm, wherein
each of the first upper arm circuit and the second upper arm circuit is configured in such a manner that one or more first switch circuits each including a first switching element are connected in series,
each of the first lower arm circuit and the second lower arm circuit is configured in such a manner that one or more second switch circuits each including a second switching element are connected in series,
at least one of the first switch circuits includes a first capacitor connected in parallel with the first switching element, or at least one of the second switch circuits includes a second capacitor connected in parallel with the second switching element, and
the power conversion apparatus further comprises:
a first regenerative rectification circuit configured, if at least one of the first switch circuits includes the first capacitor connected in parallel with the first switching element, to cause the first capacitor to be connected in parallel with the power storage via the first switching element; and
a second regenerative rectification circuit configured, if at least one of the second switch circuits includes the second capacitor connected in parallel with the second switching element, to cause the second capacitor to be connected in parallel with the power storage via the second switching element;
wherein a voltage of the flying capacitor is smaller than a sum of voltages of the capacitors of the upper arm, and smaller than a sum of voltages of the capacitors of the lower arm.