Patent ID: 9590554
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: H02H,H02P

Claim:
1. An electric power converter comprising: an electric-power conversion unit that has a three-phase bridge circuit in which each of arms is formed of a power semiconductor switch, in which a DC power source is connected between DC terminals, and in which each of armature windings of a rotating electric machine is connected between corresponding AC terminals; and a control circuit that controls the power semiconductor switches, wherein there are provided a motor operation mode in which the rotating electric machine is made to operate as a motor and an electric-power-generator operation mode in which the rotating electric machine is made to operate as an electric power generator, wherein in the motor operation mode, the power semiconductor switches are controlled by the control circuit in such a way that the electric-power conversion unit converts DC electric power from the DC power source into AC electric power, and in the electric-power-generator operation mode, the power semiconductor switches are controlled by the control circuit in such a way that the electric-power conversion unit converts AC electric power outputted from the rotating electric machine, which is driven by a driving source so as to generate electric power, into DC electric power, wherein the control circuit is supplied with an operational power source from the DC power source through a positive electrode of DC terminals of the electric-power conversion unit, by way of a rush current limiting circuit, and in the electric-power-generator operation mode, the control circuit controls the power semiconductor switches in such a way that one pulse is energized in synchronization with an electric-angular cycle of a rotor of the rotating electric machine, and wherein the rush current limiting circuit has a series circuit that is connected between the DC power source and the first semiconductor switch and is formed of an inductor and a current detection resistor that are connected in series with each other and a second semiconductor switch whose inter-output-terminal voltage is controlled by a voltage across the series circuit; and based on an inter-output-terminal voltage of the second semiconductor switch, the rush current limiting circuit controls an inter-control-terminal voltage of the first semiconductor switch so as to limit an electric current to the control circuit.