Patent ID: 7365451
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: H02J,H02M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A power converter comprising: a series transformer having a primary winding connected in series with a line and having a secondary winding; a plurality of array transformers having respective primary and secondary windings, the primary windings being connected in series, wherein the primary windings of the multiple array transformers that are connected in series are connected to the secondary winding of the series transformer; a plurality of pairs of normally-on switches, each pair of normally-on switches being connected in series with corresponding ends of the primary winding of a respective array transformer; a plurality of normally-off current bypass devices, each normally-off current bypass device being connected in parallel with a respective primary winding of a corresponding one of the array transformers and the switches connected to the ends of the primary winding of the corresponding array transformer; a plurality of AC-DC converter units, each AC-DC converter unit having an AC side connected to the secondary winding of one of the array transformers, and a DC side; and a plurality of mutually independent DC circuits, each DC circuit being connected to the DC side of a corresponding one of the AC-DC converter units, wherein, by turning on the current bypass device of the primary winding of a specific array transformer and turning off the switches at the ends of the primary winding of the specific array transformer, the specific array transformer and the AC-DC converter unit connected to the specific array transformer are electrically isolated without electrically isolating another array transformer.