Patent Description:
For example, when the battery of an electric vehicle is charged, the AC voltage from an electrical grid is converted by an electrical converter into a DC voltage which is then provided to the battery that is being charged. For example, an electrical converter may convert a three-phase AC voltage into a DC voltage between the terminals of a DC bus to which the high-voltage (e.g. <NUM>-<NUM> V) battery of the vehicle may be connected. Also wireless charging systems for electric cars, electric motor drives, or gradient amplifiers for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners typically need such three-phase AC-to-DC conversion to create a high-voltage DC bus from which power can be drawn.

Usually the current that is drawn by the electrical converter from each phase of the three-phase grid, for example when a load draws power from the DC output of the electrical converter, needs to be substantially sinusoidal and substantially in phase with the sinusoidal voltage of that particular phase, resulting in a power factor that is substantially equal to one. Therefore, the three-phase AC-to-DC conversion advantageously requires a three-phase Power Factor Correcting (PFC) electrical AC-to-DC converter. Also low distortion, for example a low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), of the current drawn from the grid is typically required for such PFC converters.

Conventionally, when the voltage between the DC bus terminals is lower than the full-wave rectified AC voltage, electrical converters are used that comprise a boost-type PFC stage with, e.g., a <NUM> - <NUM> V DC output, which is connected in series with a DC-DC buck converter to generate the desired DC bus voltage, e.g., in the range of <NUM> - <NUM> V. Alternatively, buck-type PFC converters based on the <NUM>rd harmonic active filter principle have been introduced as a single-stage alternative to these conventional two stage converters, reducing the number of conversion stages in order to achieve a higher overall energy conversion efficiency and a higher power-to-volume ratio (i.e. a higher power density).

For example, reference <NPL>, further referred to as '[REFERENCE <NUM>]' introduces an electrical converter that uses the <NUM>rd harmonic active filter principle and that is adapted for single-stage buck-type three-phase PFC AC-to-DC conversion with DC-bus voltage levels that are lower than the full-wave rectified AC voltage, e.g., in the range of <NUM> - <NUM> V. The electrical converter comprises a phase selector for converting a three-phase AC input voltage into intermediate voltages at an upper intermediate node, a lower intermediate node and a middle intermediate node. An output stage with two DC-DC buck circuits converts the intermediate voltages into a DC output voltage. In such existing embodiments the middle intermediate node is connected to the common node of the two DC-DC buck circuits.

A disadvantage of the single-stage buck-type PFC converter based on the <NUM>rd harmonic active filter principle as presented in <FIG> of [REFERENCE <NUM>] is that in a practical realization, where a common-mode (L-C) output filter, often containing a coupled capacitive midpoint, is needed to reduce leakage currents to the load and/or to protective earth (PE), quasi lossless zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) of the semiconductor switches cannot be achieved without increasing the cost, size, and complexity of the inductors of the two DC-DC buck circuits (e.g. due to the need for magnetic coupling of these inductors). This is particularly the case when several parallel output stages are used in order to increase the power rating of the converter, and especially when these paralleled output stages are operated in an interleaved fashion in order to decrease the size of the in- and output filters of the PFC converter.

<CIT> describes a rectifier circuit with a three-phase rectifier arrangement of semiconductor valves, wherein the rectifier arrangement comprises a three-phase mains input and a DC output, and at least one of the three phases at the mains input is connected to a first pole connection of a three-pole circuit for diverting an injection current into the three-pole circuit. Each phase can respectively be connected with a switching element to the first pole connection of the three-pole circuit, and a second and third pole connection of the three-pole circuit is respectively connected to an output line of the DC output. The three-pole circuit comprises controllable semiconductor valves for the active control of the control currents and/or the injection current and at least one choke is arranged on one of the output lines at the DC output.

<CIT> describes an electrical accumulator battery charger for an electric automotive vehicle, wherein at least two bridge arms of a Vienna rectifier comprise a bidirectional insulated-gate field-effect transistor and a diode, which are connected on either side of the midpoint of the corresponding bridge arm, while the other bridge arms each comprise two diodes that are connected on either side of the midpoint of the corresponding bridge arm.

<CIT> describes a magnetic choke which is intended for use in connection with a converter bridge for connection to n phases with m bridge branches per phase.

It is an objective of embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved electrical converter and method for conversion between a three-phase AC signal and a DC signal, and in particular for converting a three-phase AC input into a DC output and/or for converting a DC input into a three-phase AC output, and more in particular a low cost electrical converter for three-phase buck-type PFC AC-to-DC conversion. Preferably, embodiments of the electrical converter have one or more of the following advantages: the converter provides the possibility to operate the switching devices under zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) conditions in order to reduce switching losses and increase the efficiency and power density of the converter, even when a common-mode (L-C) output filter with coupled capacitive midpoint is present and/or when interleaving of several parallel output stages is used in order to increase the power rating of the converter and/or decrease the size of the in- and output filters; the converter is simple to design; it is simple to extend the hardware design to an arbitrary number of interleaved stages; the converter has a high power-to-volume ratio (power density) which is enabled by little magnetic energy storage in the electrical converter; the converter generates low current distortions at the three phase terminals; the converter is able to draw substantially sinusoidal currents at the three phase terminals, at a power factor that is substantially equal to one.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is therefore provided an electrical converter comprising three phase terminals, a first DC terminal and a second DC terminal, a phase selector, a first buck circuit and a second buck circuit. The phase selector is configured for connecting the three phase terminals to a first intermediate node, a second intermediate node and a third intermediate node of the electrical converter. The first buck circuit comprises a first switch-node terminal that is operably connected to the first DC terminal and a second buck circuit comprising a second switch-node terminal that is operably connected to the second DC terminal. The first and the second buck circuits are connected for converting a voltage at the first intermediate node, the second intermediate node and the third intermediate node to a voltage between the first and second DC terminal. The first and the second buck circuits are connected in series between the first intermediate node and the second intermediate node such that there is a common node of the first and second buck circuit. The first and second buck circuit comprise at least one actively switchable device connected between the common node and the third intermediate node.

Electrical converters feature a phase selector for converting a three-phase AC signal with three AC voltages provided at the three phase terminals of the electrical converter into an intermediate signal with three DC voltages provided between the first intermediate node, typically an upper intermediate node, the second intermediate node, typically a lower intermediate node, and the third intermediate node, typically a middle intermediate node, when the conversion is from AC to DC, or vice versa when the conversion if from DC to AC. The electrical converter further comprises a power stage comprising the first and second buck circuit. By having the first and second buck circuit connected in series with at least one actively switchable device connected between the common node and the third intermediate node, as defined above, it becomes possible to have a third intermediate node, typically a middle intermediate node, which is not directly connected to the common node of the first and second buck circuit.

Compared to the prior art, the at least one actively switchable device connected between the common node and the third intermediate node provides additional controllability and flexibility for tailoring and optimizing the shape of the currents flowing in the inductors of the series-connected first and second buck circuit such that, for example, zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) of the semiconductor switches of the buck circuits can be achieved in the whole operating range of the converter, i.e., without increasing the cost, size, and complexity of the mentioned inductors (e.g. due to the need for magnetic coupling of these inductors in prior art solutions), even when a common-mode (L-C) output filter with coupled capacitive midpoint is present and/or when interleaving of several parallel output stages is used in order to increase the power rating of the converter and/or decrease the size of the in- and output filters. The ability of the converter to operate under zero-voltage-switching conditions within its whole operating range leads to an increased conversion efficiency and/or reduced system size. The latter is the result of a higher switching frequency that can be used, leading to a reduced size of the passive filter elements (inductors and capacitors), without increasing the semiconductor switching losses.

According to an aspect, the first buck circuit is configured for allowing connecting the first switch-node terminal to any one of the first intermediate node, the third intermediate node, and the common node; and the second buck circuit is configured for allowing connecting the second switch-node terminal to any one of the second intermediate node, the third intermediate node, and the common node. This may be achieved using suitable control signals, typically pulse width modulation signals, for controlling the actively switchable devices of the first and second buck circuit. In other words, depending on the control signals, the first switch-node terminal will either be connected to the first intermediate node, or the third intermediate node, or the common node; and the second switch-node terminal will either be connected to the second intermediate node, or the third intermediate node, or the common node.

In an exemplary embodiment, the electrical converter may be configured for AC-to-DC conversion, and the three-phase AC signal may be a three-phase AC input voltage and the DC signal may be a DC output voltage having a voltage level that is lower than the full-wave rectified AC input voltage, e.g., in the range of <NUM> - <NUM> V.

Preferably, the first buck circuit comprises a first device connected for interrupting a current flow between the first switch-node terminal and the third intermediate node, a second device connected for interrupting a current flow between the first switch-node terminal and the first intermediate node, and a third device connected for interrupting a current flow between the first switch-node terminal and the common node, wherein at least two of said first, second and third devices of the first buck circuit are actively switchable. Also, preferably, the second buck circuit comprises a fourth device connected for interrupting a current flow between the second switch-node terminal and the third intermediate node, a fifth device connected for interrupting a current flow between the second switch-node terminal and the second intermediate node, and a sixth device connected for interrupting a current flow between the second switch-node terminal and the common node, wherein at least two of said fourth, fifth and sixth devices of the second buck circuit are actively switchable.

More preferably, the first and fourth devices are actively switchable, and the above mentioned at least one actively switchable device connected between the common node and the third intermediate node comprises the first and the fourth devices. When the converter is used to convert a three-phase AC input into a DC output, preferably, at least the second and fifth devices are actively switchable. When the converter is used to convert a DC input into a three-phase AC output, preferably, at least the third and sixth devices are actively switchable. In that case, the above mentioned at least one actively switchable device connected between the common node and the third intermediate node comprises the third and the sixth devices. When it is desirable to do conversion in two directions, preferably the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth devices are actively switchable, and the devices of the phase selector are also actively switchable, see further. In that case, the above mentioned at least one actively switchable device connected between the common node and the third intermediate node comprises the first, third, fourth and the sixth devices. Further, by using devices that are actively switchable, a quasi-lossless zero-voltage switching is possible. This allows for power conversion at lower switching losses, and thus higher energy efficiency. Also, higher switching frequencies may be used in order to increase the power density (reduced size) and reduce the cost of the electrical converter.

Preferably, the phase selector comprises devices, typically semiconductor devices, which are actively switchable for selectively connecting the third intermediate node to the three phase terminals. More in particular, the phase selector may be configured to connect the first intermediate node with the phase terminal having the highest voltage of the three-phase AC voltage, the second intermediate node with the phase terminal having the lowest voltage of the three-phase AC voltage, and the third intermediate node with the phase terminal having a voltage between said highest voltage and said lowest voltage.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the electrical converter comprises a controller configured to control at least one of the phase selector and the first and second buck converter. Preferably, the phase selector and the controller are configured such that switching of the devices of the phase selector is controlled according to a switching pattern in which: the phase terminal having a highest voltage is connected to the first intermediate node, the phase terminal having a lowest voltage is connected to the second intermediate node, and the phase terminal having an intermediate voltage between the highest voltage and the lowest voltage is connected to the third intermediate node.

Preferably, the controller is configured to control the first buck circuit and the second buck circuit, such that a desired DC output is obtained between the first and the second DC terminal. More in particular, the controller may be configured to control a duty cycle and/or a switching frequency and/or a conduction sequence of control signals used to control the first buck circuit and the second buck circuit. The switching frequency is typically at least <NUM> times higher than the frequency of the three-phase AC signal. Preferably, the controller is configured to vary the duty cycle of a control signal for controlling the first actively switchable device substantially synchronously with the voltage of the third intermediate node, when the voltage between the third intermediate node and the midpoint of the three-phase AC voltage is positive, and to vary the duty cycle of a control signal for controlling the fourth actively switchable device substantially synchronously with the voltage of the third intermediate node, when the voltage between the third intermediate node and the midpoint of the three-phase AC voltage is negative; and/or to vary, e.g. increase or decrease, the duty cycle of a control signal for controlling the second and fifth actively switchable device substantially synchronously with the voltage of the first and second intermediate node, respectively.

The switchable devices mentioned above are preferably semiconductor devices. It is noted that the term "semiconductor device" may refer to a single semiconductor component or a multiple semiconductor components connected in (anti-)parallel and/or in (anti-)series. For example, a semiconductor device which is actively switchable may comprise a transistor connected in anti-parallel with a diode.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second buck circuit further comprises a first filter inductor connected between the first switch-node terminal and the first DC terminal and a second filter inductor connected between the second switch-node terminal and the second DC terminal, respectively. Further, at least one filter capacitor may be provided, preferably a series connection of at least two filter capacitors, connected between the first and second DC terminals. The first and second filter inductor and/or the one or more filter capacitors may form a filter with a midpoint. In that case, the common node may be connected to the midpoint.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical converter comprises a filter comprising capacitors which interconnect the intermediate first, second and third nodes, preferably in the form of a star or delta connection. When the capacitors are interconnected in a star connection, the common node may be connected to a star point of the star connection. In addition or alternatively, a filter comprising capacitors which interconnect the phase terminals may be provided, preferably in the form of a star or delta connection.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical converter comprises measurement means for measuring at least one of the DC signal, an electrical signal influencing the DC signal, an electrical signal influenced by the DC signal. The electrical signal may be a current or a voltage. The controller comprises a control loop configured to adapt at least one of a duty cycle, a switching frequency, and a conduction sequence of control signals for controlling at least one of the first and second buck circuit based on the measurements performed by the measurement means. Typically, the controller comprises a control loop configured to adapt at least one pulse width modulation control signal for controlling at least one of the first and second buck circuit based on the measurements performed by the measurement means. Preferably, the measurement means comprises one or more of the following: a current measurement means for measuring at least one of a current between the first switch-node terminal and the first DC terminal and a current between the second switch-node terminal and the second DC terminal, a voltage measurement means for measuring voltages at the three phase terminals, a voltage measurement means for measuring a voltage between the second and first DC terminal, a current measurement means for measuring a current between the phase selector and one or each of the first, the third and the second intermediate node, a voltage measurement means for measuring a voltage of the common node. Preferably, the control loop is configured to adapt a first pulse width modulation control signal for controlling the first buck circuit and a second pulse width modulation control signal for controlling the second buck circuit. In an advantageous embodiment the controller may be configured to interleave the first and second pulse width modulation control signals.

According to a preferred embodiment, the phase selector comprises three selector legs for connecting one of the three phase terminals to the first intermediate node, the second intermediate node and the third intermediate node, wherein each of the three selector legs comprises a half bridge comprising semiconductor switches. The phase selector may comprise a half-bridge configuration with diodes, typically six diodes. Optionally, the diodes may be replaced with controllable semiconductor devices having bidirectional current flow capabilities. This will allow using the electrical converter both for converting a three-phase AC input into a DC output and for converting a DC output into a three-phase AC input. In other words, such embodiments allow for a bidirectional power flow through the converter.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second buck circuits may be scaled, e.g. when more power is needed. This can be easily done by providing a number of first buck circuit legs or a number of first buck circuits connected in parallel, and by providing a number of second buck circuit legs or a number of second buck circuits connected in parallel. When multiple first buck circuits are connected in parallel, such first buck circuits may be controlled in an interleaved way. The same applies for multiple second buck circuits connected in parallel.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a battery charging system, in particular for charging a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising a power supply unit, the power supply unit comprising an electrical converter according to any one of the embodiments described above.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a wireless charging system, in particular for charging a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising a power supply unit, the power supply unit comprising an electrical converter according to any one of the embodiments described above.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electric motor drive system, comprising a power supply unit, the power supply unit comprising an electrical converter according to any one of the embodiments described above.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a gradient amplifier comprising an electrical converter according to any one of the embodiments described above. Also, there is provided a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising the gradient amplifier.

According to yet another aspect, there is provided a method of converting between a three phase AC signal and a DC signal. The method comprises the following steps: a step of converting between the three phase AC signal and an intermediate signal, wherein the intermediate signal is applied between a first intermediate node, a second intermediate node and a third intermediate node, wherein a voltage of the three phase AC signal is applied selectively to the first intermediate node, the second intermediate node and the third intermediate node; a step of converting between the intermediate signal and the DC signal using a first and a second buck circuit, wherein the first and the second buck circuits are connected in series between the first intermediate node and the second intermediate node such that there is a common node of the first and second buck circuit, wherein said converting comprises connecting the third intermediate node to a first switch-node terminal of the first buck circuit during a first time interval and to a second switch-node terminal of the second buck circuit during a second time interval, using at least one actively switchable device between the common node and the third intermediate node. Preferably, the at least one actively switchable device of the first and second buck circuit between the common node and the third intermediate node is controlled using at least one pulse width modulation signal during said first and second time interval.

According to an aspect, the converting between the intermediate signals and the DC signal using a first and a second buck circuit comprises connecting the first switch-node terminal to any one of the first intermediate node, the third intermediate node, and the common node; and connecting the second switch-node terminal to any one of the second intermediate node, the third intermediate node, and the common node. Preferably, the first buck circuit may be controlled for connecting the first switch-node terminal alternately to the first intermediate node, the third intermediate node, and the common node, during the first time interval, and for connecting the first switch-node terminal alternately to the first intermediate node and the common node, during the second time interval; and the second buck circuit may be controlled for connecting the second switch-node terminal alternately to the second intermediate node, the third intermediate node, and the common node, during the second time interval, and for connecting the second switch-node terminal alternately to the second intermediate node and the common node during the first time interval.

According to a preferred embodiment, a voltage of the three phase AC signal having a highest voltage is applied to the first intermediate node, a voltage of the three phase AC signal having a lowest voltage is applied to the second intermediate node, and a voltage of the three phase AC signal having an intermediate voltage between the highest voltage and the lowest voltage is applied to the third intermediate node.

According to a preferred embodiment, the converting between the intermediate signal and the DC signal using a first and a second buck circuit comprises: actively controlling a first switchable device connected between the third intermediate node and the first switch-node terminal and a fourth switchable device between the third intermediate node and the second switch-node terminal; actively controlling at least one of a second switchable device connected between the first intermediate node and the first switch-node terminal and a third switchable device connected between the common node and the first switch-node terminal; actively controlling at least one of a fifth switchable divide between the second intermediate node and the second switch-node terminal and a sixth switchable device between the common node and the second switch-node terminal.

Preferably, the converting between the intermediate signals and the DC signal using a first and a second buck circuit comprises controlling at least one of a duty cycle, a switching frequency, a conduction sequence of control signals to control the first and second buck circuit. More preferably, the first switchable device is controlled with a pulse width modulation signal having a duty cycle which varies substantially synchronously with a voltage of the third intermediate node, during the first time interval, and the fourth switchable device is controlled with a pulse width modulation signal having a duty cycle which varies substantially synchronously with the voltage of the third intermediate node, during the second time interval; and/or the second and fifth switchable device are controlled with a pulse width modulation signal having a duty cycle which varies substantially synchronously with a voltage of the first and second intermediate node, respectively.

Preferably, the converting between the intermediate signals and the DC signal using a first and a second buck circuit comprises using a first filter inductor connected between the first switch-node terminal and a first DC terminal and a second filter inductor connected between the second switch-node terminal and a second DC terminal, respectively; and/or using at least one filter capacitor, preferably a series connection of at least two filter capacitors, connected between the first and second DC terminals.

Preferably, the converting between the intermediate signals and the DC signal is controlled by measuring at least one of the DC signal, an electrical signal influencing the DC signal, an electrical signal influenced by the DC signal, and by adapting at least one pulse width modulation control signal for controlling the first and/or second buck circuit based on the measured signals. The measuring may comprise measuring one or more of the following: a current between the first switch-node terminal and a first DC terminal and/or between the second switch-node terminal and a second DC terminal (N), the three phase AC signal, a voltage between a first and second DC terminal, a current between one or each of the first, the third and the second intermediate node and the common node. The adapting may comprise adapting a first pulse width modulation control signal for controlling the first buck circuit and a second pulse width modulation control signal for controlling the second buck circuit, and optionally interleaving the first and second pulse width modulation control signals.

Preferred features and technical advantages of the embodiments of the electrical converter apply mutatis mutandis for the embodiments of the method.

<FIG> shows an electrical converter <NUM>, referred to as the 'PRODRIVE-SELECT RECTIFIER', comprising two power stages <NUM>, <NUM> in the form of a three-phase active phase selector <NUM> and an output power stage <NUM>. Electrical converter <NUM> further comprises an input filter <NUM> placed between the phase selector <NUM> and the output power stage <NUM>, and an output filter <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, an input filter (not shown) may be arranged upstream of the phase selector.

The electrical converter <NUM> is an AC-to-DC converter that has three phase terminals A, B, C which are connected to a three-phase voltage of a three-phase AC grid <NUM>, and a first and second output DC terminal P, N, here an upper output terminal P and a lower output terminal N, which for example may be connected to a DC load <NUM> such as, for example, a high voltage (e.g. <NUM> - <NUM> V) battery of an electric car. The phase selector <NUM> comprises three phase connections a, b, c that are connected to the three phase inputs A, B, C, and three outputs x, y, z. These outputs may be seen as a first intermediate node x, here an upper intermediate voltage node x, a second intermediate node y, here a lower intermediate voltage node y, and a third intermediate node z, here a middle intermediate voltage node z.

The phase selector <NUM> comprises, or consists of, three bridge legs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> which each comprise two passive semiconductor devices (diodes Dax and Dya for leg <NUM>, Dbx and Dyb for leg <NUM>, Dcx and Dyc for leg <NUM>) connected in the form of a half bridge configuration, and three actively switchable semiconductor devices , here called selector switches Saza, Sbzb, and Sczc. In the illustrated embodiment each selector switch comprises two anti-series connected actively switchable semiconductor components. Advantageously, each such switchable semiconductor component includes or is complemented by an anti-parallel diode. In this example, Metal Oxide Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) are used for the actively switchable semiconductor components, each including an internal anti-parallel body diode. In other embodiments an external anti-parallel diode may be provided.

The output power stage <NUM> comprises, or consists of, two stacked (i.e. series connected) buck bridge legs <NUM>, <NUM> of first and second stacked buck circuits. The first upper buck bridge leg <NUM> comprises a first semiconductor device 1p, a second semiconductor device 2p and a third semiconductor device 3p. The second lower buck bridge leg <NUM> comprises a fourth semiconductor device 1n, a fifth semiconductor device 2n and a sixth semiconductor device 3n. The second and fifth semiconductor device 2p, 2n is a buck switch (Sxp for the upper buck bridge leg <NUM> and Sny for the lower buck bridge leg <NUM>). The switches Sxp and Sny of the buck bridge legs <NUM>, <NUM> are actively switchable semiconductor devices, for example MOSFETs. The third and sixth semiconductor device 3p, 3n is a buck diode (Dmp for the upper buck bridge leg <NUM> and Dnm for the lower buck bridge leg <NUM>). The second and third semiconductor devices 2p, 3p and the fifth and sixth semiconductor devices 2n, 3n are connected in a half-bridge configuration. The switched middle node of the upper buck bridge leg <NUM> forms an upper switch-node terminal p which is connected to output P via a first buck inductor, here an upper buck inductor Lp, and the switched middle node of the lower buck bridge leg <NUM> forms a lower switch-node terminal n which is connected to output N via a second buck inductor, here a lower buck inductor Ln.

The common node m of both, stacked, buck bridge legs <NUM>, <NUM> is connected to the midpoint of the output filter <NUM> which comprises two output filter capacitors CPm, CmN that are connected in series between the upper output terminal P and the lower output terminal N.

The first and fourth semiconductor device 1p, 1n of the first and second buck bridge leg <NUM>, <NUM> is an interconnection switch SzpDzp and DnzSnz, with bi-directional voltage blocking capability, that allows for connecting the switched middle node of the respective bridge, i.e., the upper switch-node terminal p for the upper buck bridge leg <NUM> and the lower switch-node terminal n for the lower buck bridge leg <NUM>, with the middle intermediate voltage node z. The interconnection switch SzpDzp of the upper buck bridge leg <NUM> comprises an actively switchable semiconductor component Szp, e.g. a MOSFET, connected in anti-series with a diode Dzp, creating a voltage bi-directional interconnection switch. The interconnection switch DnzSnz of the lower buck bridge leg <NUM> comprises an actively switchable semiconductor component Snz, e.g. a MOSFET, connected in anti-series with a diode Dnz, creating a voltage bi-directional interconnection switch.

The upper buck bridge leg <NUM> is connected between the upper intermediate voltage node x and the common node m, and is arranged in a way that current can flow from the upper intermediate voltage node x to the upper output terminal P via the switch Sxp when the switch Sxp is closed (conducting, on state), current can flow from the middle intermediate voltage node z to the upper output terminal P via interconnection switch SzpDzp when the switch Szp is closed (conducting, on state) and the switch Sxp is open (not conducting, off state), and current can flow from the common node m to the upper output terminal P via the diode Dmp when the switches Sxp and Szp are open (not conducting, off state).

The lower buck bridge leg <NUM> is connected between the common node m and the lower intermediate voltage node y, and is arranged in a way that current can flow from the lower output terminal N to the lower intermediate voltage node y via the switch Sny when the switch Sny is closed (conducting, on state), current can flow from the lower output terminal N to the middle intermediate voltage node z via interconnection switch DnzSnz when the switch Snz is closed (conducting, on state) and the switch Sny is open (not conducting, off state), and current can flow from the lower output terminal N to the common node m via the diode Dnm when the switches Sny and Snz are open (not conducting, off state).

Advantageously, three high-frequency (HF) filter capacitors Cx, Cy, Cz, which are part of the input filter <NUM>, are interconnecting the intermediate voltage nodes x, y, z in the form of a star-connection.

Generally, it is advantageous that the three capacitors Cx, Cy, Cz have substantially equal value in order to symmetrically load the AC grid. Advantageously, the star point of the three high-frequency (HF) filter capacitors Cx, Cy, Cz is connected to the common node m of both buck bridge legs <NUM>, <NUM>, and to the midpoint of the output filter <NUM>.

The bridge leg of the phase selector <NUM> that is connected with the phase input terminal A, B, or C that has the highest voltage of the three-phase AC input voltage is switched in a way that the corresponding phase input terminal A, B, or C is connected to the upper intermediate voltage node x. To achieve this, the bridge leg connects the corresponding phase connection a, b, or c with the node x via the upper diode Dax, Dbx, Dcx of the bridge leg, while the corresponding selector switch Saza, Sbzb, Sczc of the bridge leg is open (not conducting, off state). The bridge leg of the phase selector <NUM> that is connected with the phase input terminal A, B, or C that has the lowest voltage of the three-phase AC input voltage is switched in a way that the corresponding phase input terminal A, B, or C is connected to the lower intermediate voltage node y. To achieve this, the bridge leg connects the corresponding phase connection a, b, or c with the node y via the lower diode Dya, Dyb, Dyc of the bridge leg, while the corresponding selector switch Saza, Sbzb, Sczc of the bridge leg is open (not conducting, off state). The bridge leg of the phase selector <NUM> that is connected with the phase input terminal A, B, or C that has a voltage between the highest voltage and the lowest voltage of the three-phase AC input voltage is switched in a way that the corresponding phase input terminal A, B, or C is connected to the middle intermediate voltage node z. To achieve this, the bridge leg connects the corresponding phase connection a, b, or c with the node z via the selector switch Saza, Sbzb, Sczc which is closed (conducting, on state).

In a three-phase AC grid with substantially balanced phase voltages va, vb, vc, for example as shown in <FIG>, the three-phase AC input voltage (mains voltage) is converted into three intermediate DC voltages vxz, vzy, vxy which are shown in <FIG> and which are provided between the upper intermediate voltage node x, the lower intermediate voltage node y and the middle intermediate voltage node z. These DC voltages thus show piece-wise sinusoidal shapes. The conversion of the three-phase AC input voltage into three intermediate DC voltages is the result of the operation of the phase selector <NUM>, as explained above. The switching states (switch on → S = <NUM>, switch off → S = <NUM>) of the selector switches Saza, Sbzb, Sczc are shown in <FIG>. It can be seen that the switches are 'on' or 'off' continuously during whole particular <NUM>° sectors (e.g. from <NUM>° to <NUM>°, from <NUM>° to <NUM>°, etc.) within the period of the AC mains voltage (<NUM>°; corresponds with a time period of <NUM> for a <NUM> grid frequency; also called a line cycle). Also the diodes of the phase selector are 'conducting' or 'not conducting' during whole particular sectors within the period (<NUM>°) of the AC mains voltage. Referring to <FIG>:.

The combination of states (conducting / not conducting) of the switches and diodes is unique for every <NUM>° sector of the three-phase AC input voltage and depends on the voltage value of the phase inputs A, B, C. The sequence of the <NUM> unique states of the switches and diodes repeats itself every period (<NUM>°) of the AC mains voltage.

Seen from the viewpoint of the intermediate voltage nodes x, y, z towards the output terminals P, N, a DC-DC buck circuit (upper buck circuit) can be identified, having three input ports x, z, m and two output ports P, m, and comprising the upper buck bridge leg <NUM>, the upper buck inductor Lp, and the upper output capacitor CPm. The voltage between input ports x and m of this upper buck circuit is the voltage vCx = vx - vm (vx and vm are shown in <FIG>) across capacitor Cx, the voltage between input ports z and m of this upper buck circuit is the voltage vCz = vz - vm (vz and vm are shown in <FIG>) across capacitor Cz, and the voltage between output ports P and m of this upper buck circuit is the voltage VPm = vP - vm (vP and vm are shown in <FIG>) across the upper output capacitor CPm. VPm has a voltage value that is substantially equal to half the total DC bus voltage (VPm ≈ VDC/<NUM>).

Seen from the viewpoint of the intermediate voltage nodes x, y, z towards the output terminals P, N, an 'inversed' (negative input voltage and negative output voltage) DC-DC buck circuit (lower buck circuit) can be identified, having three input ports y, z, m and two output ports N, m, and comprising the lower buck bridge leg <NUM>, the lower buck inductor Ln, and the lower output capacitor CmN. The voltage between input ports y and m of this lower buck circuit is the voltage vCy = vy - vm (vy and vm are shown in <FIG>) across capacitor Cy, the voltage between input ports z and m of this lower buck circuit is the voltage vCz = vz - vm (vz and vm are shown in <FIG>) across capacitor Cz, and the voltage between output ports N and m of this lower buck circuit is the voltage VNm = vN - vm (vN and vm are shown in <FIG>) across the lower output capacitor CmN. VNm has a voltage value that is substantially equal to minus half the total DC bus voltage (VNm ≈ -VDC/<NUM>).

By PWM modulation (pulse-width-modulation) of the control signals of switches Sxp and Szp of the upper buck circuit at a specified, possibly variable, switching frequency fs, the upper switch-node terminal p of the upper buck bridge leg <NUM> can be alternately connected to the upper intermediate voltage node x, the middle intermediate voltage z, or the common node m. This results in a switched voltage vpm between nodes p and m, the switched voltage vpm which may thus have three voltage levels. The duty-ratios (i.e. the relative on-time within a switching period Ts = <NUM>/fs) of the PWM-modulated control signals of the switches Sxp and Szp define the average value 〈vpm〉 of voltage vpm within a switching period. Control of these duty-ratios, and thus also control of the switching-cycle-averaged value 〈vpm〉, allows to control the switching-cycle-averaged value 〈iLp〉 of the current iLp in the upper buck inductor Lp, e.g. using a closed-loop PI (Proportional-Integrating) control structure. Additionally, control of these duty-ratios allows to control the switching-cycle-averaged values 〈ix〉 and/or 〈izp〉 of input currents ix and izp of the upper buck bridge leg <NUM> by directing the inductor current iLp to flow through Sxp (= ix) for a certain amount of time (i.e. during the on-interval of Sxp), and through SzpDzp (= izp) for a certain amount of time (i.e. during the on-interval of Szp).

By PWM modulation (pulse-width-modulation) of the control signals of switches Sny and Snz of the lower buck circuit at a specified, possibly variable, switching frequency fs, the lower switch-node terminal n of the lower buck bridge leg <NUM> can be alternately connected to the lower intermediate voltage node y, the middle intermediate voltage z, or the common node m. This results in a switched voltage vmn between nodes m and n, the switched voltage vmn which may thus have three voltage levels. The duty-ratios (i.e. the relative on-time within a switching period Ts = <NUM>/fs) of the PWM-modulated control signals of the switches Sny and Snz define the average value 〈vnm〉 of voltage vnm within a switching period. Control of these duty-ratios, and thus also control of the switching-cycle-averaged value 〈vnm〉, allows to control the switching-cycle-averaged value 〈iLn〉 of the current iLn in the lower buck inductor LN, e.g. using a closed-loop PI (Proportional-Integrating) control structure. Additionally, control of these duty-ratios allows to control the switching-cycle-averaged values 〈iy〉 and/or 〈izn〉 of input currents iy and izn of the lower buck bridge leg <NUM> by directing the inductor current iLn to flow through Sny (= iy) for a certain amount of time (i.e. during the on-interval of Sny), and through DnzSnz (= izn) for a certain amount of time (i.e. during the on-interval of Snz).

The current iz is equal to the sum of the input current izp of the upper buck circuit and the input current izn of the lower buck circuit (iz = izp + izn), which is also true for the switching-cycle-averaged values of these currents (〈iz〉 = 〈izp〉 + 〈izn〉).

Generally, it can be said that the HF components of currents ix, iy, iz at the input of the output power stage <NUM> are largely filtered by HF filter capacitors Cx, Cy, Cz. As a result, the currents i'x, i'y, i'z at the output of the phase selector <NUM> are largely equal to the switching-cycle-averaged values 〈ix〉, 〈iy〉, 〈iz〉 of currents ix, iy, iz, i.e., i'x ≈ 〈ix〉, i'y ≈ 〈iy〉, i'z ≈ 〈iz〉.

The duty cycle ratios of the PWM control signals of the switches Sxp, and Szp are such that the switching-cycle-averaged value 〈vpm〉 is substantially equal to half the total DC bus voltage (〈vpm〉 = VPm ≈ VDC/<NUM>; see <FIG>), while the duty cycle ratios of the PWM control signals of the switches Sny and Snz are such that the switching-cycle-averaged value 〈vnm〉 is substantially equal to minus half the total DC bus voltage (〈vnm〉 = VNm ≈ -VDC/<NUM>; see <FIG>). This means that the switching-cycle-averaged voltages (i.e. the volt-seconds products) of both the upper buck inductor Lp and the lower buck inductor Ln are substantially equal to zero.

An example of the switching-cycle-averaged values 〈iLp〉, 〈iLn〉 of currents iLp, iLn in the inductors Lp, Ln is shown in <FIG>. As can be seen, current iLp may be controlled to have a switching-cycle-averaged value equal to a requested DC output current (〈iLP〉 = IDC) while current iLn may be controlled to have a switching-cycle-averaged value equal to minus the requested DC output current (〈iLn〉 = -IDC).

Also shown in <FIG> is an example of the switching-cycle-averaged values 〈iy〉, 〈iy〉, 〈iz〉 of currents iy, iy, iz. As can be seen, these currents may be controlled to have piece-wise sinusoidal shapes. The currents i'x = 〈iy〉, i'y = 〈iy〉, i'z = 〈iz〉 at the output of the phase selector <NUM> are thus having the same piece-wise sinusoidal shapes and are transformed, i.e., as a result of the operation of the phase selector <NUM>, into three sinusoidal AC phase currents ia, ib, ic which are shown in <FIG>, realizing Power Factor Correction (PFC) operation of the electrical converter <NUM>.

<FIG> shows examples of the duty-cycles (with duty-cycle ut: <NUM> ≤ Dut ≤ <NUM>, where Dut = <NUM> means continuously 'off' within a switching period Ts and Dut = <NUM> means continuously 'on' within a switching period Ts) of the switches and diodes (Sxp, Szp, Dzp, Dmp) of the upper buck bridge leg <NUM> and <FIG> shows the duty-cycles of the switches and diodes (Sny, Snz, Dnz, Dnm) of the lower buck bridge leg <NUM>. These duty-cycles correspond with the examples of <FIG>.

As can be seen from <FIG>, the duty-ratio of the control signal of switch Snz equals zero during certain intervals within the line cycle of the mains voltage, i.e., in these intervals the switch Snz is continuously open (not conducting). Conform <FIG> this is the case for the intervals where vzy > vxz. This means that the current izn (and its switching-cycle-averaged value 〈izn〉) is zero during these intervals, resulting in i'z = 〈iz〉 = 〈izp〉 (> <NUM>) during these intervals, as can also be seen from <FIG> and <FIG>. Similarly, and as can be seen from <FIG>, the duty-ratio of the control signal of switch Szp equals zero during certain intervals within the line cycle of the mains voltage, i.e., in these intervals the switch Szp is continuously open (not conducting). Conform <FIG> this is the case for the intervals where vzy < vxz. This means that the current izp (and its switching-cycle-averaged value 〈izp〉) is zero during these intervals, resulting in i'z = 〈iz〉 = 〈izn〉 (< <NUM>) during these intervals, as can also be seen from <FIG>, <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the stepping down step performed by the upper and lower buck circuit comprises alternately (i.e. using a PWM signal) connecting the middle intermediate node z to an upper switch-node terminal p of the upper buck circuit during a first time interval T1 (where vzy > vxz ) and to a lower switch-node terminal n of the lower buck circuit during a second time interval T2 (where vzy < vxz ). During the first time interval T1, the switch Szp is continuously switched on and off with a switching frequency and a first varying duty cycle and the switch Snz is off. During the second time interval T2, the switch Szp is off, and the switch Snz is continuously switched on and off with a switching frequency and a second varying duty cycle.

<FIG> shows the states of the switches Sxp and Szp of the upper buck bridge leg <NUM>, and <FIG> shows the states of the switches Sny and Snz of the lower buck bridge leg <NUM>, within a line cycle of the mains voltage. The switches Sxp, Szp, Sny, Snz are all PWM modulated at a frequency (i.e. the switching frequency fs; e.g. <NUM>) that is substantially higher than the mains frequency (e.g. <NUM>), as can be seen from the black-colored bars, indicating PWM modulation of the corresponding switch. As mentioned above, switch Snz is continuously open (not conducting) during the intervals within the line cycle of the mains voltage where vzy > vxz, while switch Szp is continuously open (not conducting) during the intervals within the line cycle of the mains voltage where vzy < vxz.

<FIG> show diagrams of currents, voltages, and switching signals on a milliseconds time axis, i.e. regarding three consecutive switching cycles of the bridge legs of the output power stage <NUM> of the electrical converter <NUM>. Each switching cycle has a switching period Ts equal to <NUM>/fs, with fs the switching frequency. <FIG> corresponds with a time interval around ωt = <NUM>° within the line cycle of the mains voltage (see reference numeral III in <FIG>), <FIG> corresponds with a time interval around ωt = <NUM>° within the line cycle of the mains voltage (see reference numeral IV in <FIG>), and <FIG> corresponds with a time interval around ωt = <NUM>° within the line cycle of the mains voltage (see reference numeral V in <FIG>). For all <FIG>, the selector switches and diodes of the phase selector <NUM> are in the following switching states, see also <FIG>:.

The left columns ('upper buck circuit') of <FIG> correspond with the operation of the upper buck circuit, while the right columns ('lower buck circuit') of <FIG> correspond with the operation of the lower buck circuit. Each of <FIG> shows:.

In the regarded time interval of <FIG>, i.e., around ωt = <NUM>° within the line cycle of the mains voltage (see reference numeral III in <FIG>), vzy > vxz, i'z = 〈iz〉 = 〈izp〉, and 〈izn〉 = <NUM>, i.e., the duty-ratio of the control signal of switch Snz equals zero (switch Snz is continuously open; not conducting).

In the regarded time interval of <FIG>, i.e., around ωt = <NUM>° within the line cycle of the mains voltage (see reference numeral IV in <FIG>), vzy = vxz, 〈izp〉 = <NUM>, 〈izn〉 = <NUM>, and i'z = 〈iz〉 = 〈izp〉 + 〈inz〉 = <NUM>, i.e., the duty-ratio of the control signals of switches Szp and Snz equals zero (switches Szp and Snz are continuously open; not conducting).

In the regarded time interval of <FIG>, i.e., around ωt = <NUM>° within the line cycle of the mains voltage (see reference numeral V in <FIG>), vy, < vxz, 〈izp〉 = <NUM>, and i'z = 〈iz〉 = 〈inz〉, i.e., the duty-ratio of the control signal of switch Szp equals zero (switch Szp is continuously open; not conducting).

In <FIG>, the semiconductor devices (switches and diodes) of the buck bridge legs <NUM>, <NUM> of the output power stage <NUM> are sequentially conducting. For example, in <FIG> the conduction sequence of the switches and diodes of the PWM-modulated upper buck bridge leg <NUM> within a switching period Ts (= <NUM>/fs) is as follows:.

During intervals <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, Sny is switched such that it is on when Szp Dzp or Dmp conducts (i.e. whilst Dmp is off) and hence Dnm switches simultaneously with Dmp (see right upper figure inset of <FIG>). This sequence repeats itself in the following switching period. It is noted that this is merely an example, and that the upper and lower buck circuits may operate independently of each other. For example, the operation of the first and second buck circuit may be interleaved, resulting in an overlap of the on-time of Dmp and Dnm. Different conduction sequences, possibly including more intervals, may also be used for the buck bridge legs. For example, in <FIG> a fourth conduction interval may be added to the conduction sequence of the switches and diodes of the PWM-modulated upper buck bridge leg <NUM> within a switching period Ts (= <NUM>/fs), which may result in:.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the duty cycle of Sxp, (DutSxp) may be increased and decreased synchronously with the voltage vx, the duty cycle (DutSny) of Sny may be increased and decreased synchronously with the voltage -vy, the duty cycle of Szp (DutSzp) may be increased and decreased synchronously with the voltage vz when vzy > vxz, and the duty cycle of Snz (DutSnz) may be increased and decreased synchronously with the voltage vz when vzy < vxz.

<FIG> show respectively the currents iLp, iLn, ix, iy, iz within a whole line cycle (<NUM>°) of the mains voltage. Also shown are the switching-cycle-averaged values 〈iLp〉, 〈iLn〉, 〈ix〉, 〈iy〉, 〈iz〉 of these currents which correspond with the currents shown in <FIG>.

In order to minimize the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of the AC input current of the electrical converter, the high-frequency ripple of phase currents ia, ib, ic is advantageously minimized, which is taken care of by the input filter <NUM>.

Compared to embodiments where the first and second buck circuit are connected in parallel between the upper and lower intermediate node, embodiments of the invention have the advantage that the currents can be lower. Indeed, when two buck circuits are connected in parallel between the upper and lower intermediate node, wherein one buck circuit is connected to the positive node and the other one to the negative node, one buck circuit sees the reverse current of the other buck circuit, resulting in higher currents. This disadvantage is not present when two buck circuits are connected in series between the upper and lower intermediate node as in embodiments of the invention.

In <FIG>, an electrical converter <NUM> is shown which differs from converter <NUM> in that the third and sixth semiconductor devices 3p, 3n are different: diodes Dmp, Dnm of the output power stage <NUM> of the converter shown in <FIG> have been replaced with controllable semiconductor switches Spm, Smn, in this case MOSFETs, in the output power stage <NUM>. This allows for the inductor current 〈iLp〉 to also become negative within the conduction interval of Spm and for the inductor current 〈iLn〉 to also become positive within the conduction interval of Smn, which was not possible for the implementation of the output power stage <NUM> with diodes (Dmp, Dnm). As a result, quasi-lossless zero-voltage switching (ZVS) of all the semiconductor switches (Sxp, Szp, Spm, Sny, Snz, Smn) of the output power stage <NUM> is possible. This allows for power conversion at lower switching losses and thus higher energy efficiency. Also, higher switching frequencies may be used in order to increase the power density (reduced size) and reduce the cost of the electrical converter <NUM>. <FIG> show respectively the currents iLp, iLn, ix, iy, iz within a whole line cycle (<NUM>°) of the mains voltage in case of ZVS operation of output power stage <NUM>. Also shown are the switching-cycle-averaged values 〈iLp〉, 〈iLn〉, 〈ix〉, 〈iy〉, 〈iz〉 of these currents which correspond with the currents shown in <FIG>.

The electrical converters <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) and <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) are unidirectional since the phase selector <NUM> and the output power stages <NUM>, <NUM> contain diodes, only allowing power to be drawn from the electrical AC grid <NUM> and provide this power at the output to a load <NUM>. <FIG>, on the other hand, shows an electrical converter <NUM> that is bidirectional. Electrical converter <NUM> differs from converters <NUM>, <NUM> in that the diodes Dax, Dbx, Dcx, Dya, Dyb, Dyc of the phase selector <NUM> and the diodes Dzp, Dmp, Dnz, Dnm of the output power stages <NUM>, <NUM> have been replaced with controllable semiconductor switches Sxa, Sxb, Sxc, Say, Sby, Scy in the phase selector <NUM> and Spz, Spm, Szn, Smn in the output power stage <NUM>, respectively. It is noted that the electrical converter <NUM> may be used as a DC-to-AC converter with A, B, C being the output terminals and P, N the input terminals, as will be clear to a person skilled in the art. This may be useful e.g. in applications using solar cells.

In <FIG> another electrical converter <NUM> is shown which differs from converter <NUM> in that the stacked buck bridge legs <NUM>, <NUM> of the output power stage <NUM> are implemented using a different configuration of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth semiconductor devices 1p, 2p, 3p, 1n, 2n, 3n, providing the same functionality. Also, in the electrical converter <NUM>, the HF capacitors Cxy, Cxz, Czy which interconnect the intermediate voltage nodes x, y, z are connected in a delta configuration instead of a star configuration.

In either electrical converters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, diodes may be replaced by actively switchable semiconductor devices to allow for bidirectional power flow of the electrical converter (as in the embodiment of <FIG>).

In either electrical converters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the HF capacitors Cx, Cx, Cz, Cxy, Cxz, Czy may be placed between the phase input terminals A, B, C and the phase selector <NUM>, <NUM>, and interconnect the phase input terminals A, B, C in the form of a star or delta configuration. A combination of a set of HF capacitors which interconnect the intermediate voltage nodes x, y, z (as in electrical converters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a set of HF capacitors which interconnect the phase input terminals A, B, C, either in the form of a star or delta configuration, or a combination, may also be used.

In either electrical converters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the HF capacitors Cx, Cy, Cz are connected in a star configuration. Alternatively, a delta configuration of these capacitors may be used in either of these electrical converters.

In electrical converter <NUM>, the HF capacitors Cxy, Cxz, Czy are connected in a delta configuration. Alternatively, a star configuration of these capacitors may be used.

In <FIG> another electrical converter <NUM> is shown which differs from converter <NUM> in that the output filter <NUM> is replaced by an active output filter <NUM> that includes a boost stage. An active output filter may be used in the electrical converters of either <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>.

<FIG> show different variants of the three-phase phase selector <NUM>, which may be used in the electrical converters of either <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>. In the exemplary embodiment of <FIG>, each actively switchable semiconductor device Saza, Sbzb, and Sczc comprises four diodes and a transistor with an anti-parallel diode. In the exemplary embodiment of <FIG>, each actively switchable semiconductor device Saza, Sbzb, and Sczc comprises four diodes and a transistor with an anti-parallel diode, and the semiconductor device Saza, Sbzb, and Sczc are included in the legs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. It is noted that when the transistor of the semiconductor device Saza, Sbzb, and Sczc is off (i.e. does not conduct) current in the legs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> can still flow through the diodes of the semiconductor device Saza, Sbzb, and Sczc.

As shown in <FIG>, in order to accomplish the piece-wise sinusoidal shapes of intermediate currents <MAT>, which results in three sinusoidal AC phase currents ia, ib, ic, a central control unit <NUM> may be used which controls all the controllable semiconductor devices (switches) of the electrical converter <NUM>, sending control signals to each switch via a communication interface <NUM>. In particular, semiconductor devices Saza, Sbzb, Sczc, Sxp, Sny, Szp, Snz are controlled by controller <NUM>. Furthermore, the control unit has measurement input ports <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, for receiving measurements of:.

and an input port <NUM> to receive a set-value, which may be a requested DC output voltage <MAT>.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of an advantageous implementation of the central control unit <NUM> which is shown in a schematically way in <FIG>. The electrical converter <NUM> is represented in <FIG> as a 'single-wire' equivalent circuit, wherein the annotations of the elements correspond with those given in <FIG>. Three slashes in a signal line indicate the bundling of multiple signals, and may represent the transition to a vector representation.

The goal of the control unit <NUM> is to control the output voltage VDC to a requested set-value <MAT> that is received from an external unit via input port <NUM>, and to balance the voltage across the two output capacitors CPm and CmN, for example by controlling the voltage across the lower output capacitor CmN to be substantially equal to half the DC bus voltage. Additionally, the current drawn from the phase inputs (a, b, c) needs to be shaped substantially sinusoidal and controlled substantially in phase with the corresponding phase voltage. As explained previously, this can also be achieved by controlling the intermediate currents <MAT>, i.e., instead of directly controlling the phase currents ia, ib, ic, to have piece-wise sinusoidal shapes.

The control of the output voltage VDC is advantageously done using a cascaded control structure, comprising an outer voltage control loop <NUM> and inner current control loop <NUM>. The set-value of the output voltage is input to a comparator <NUM> via input port <NUM>, and is compared with the measured output voltage obtained from a measurement means <NUM> (for example comprising a low-pass filter). The output of comparator <NUM> is the control-error signal of the output voltage, which is further input to a control element <NUM> (for example comprising a proportional-integral control block) that outputs instantaneous set-values related to the phase currents and/or set-values related to the DC component of the inductor currents. These set-values are input to multiplier <NUM>, and multiplied with signals that are obtained from calculation element <NUM> that outputs normalized instantaneous values of the phase voltages. The inputs of calculation element <NUM> are the measured phase voltages va, vb, vc obtained from a measurement means <NUM> (for example comprising a low-pass filter). The output of the multiplier <NUM> are set-values <MAT> for the instantaneous, for example low-pass filtered, phase currents ia, ib, ic, and the instantaneous, for example low-pass filtered, DC component of inductor currents iLp, iLn. Set-values <MAT> are shaped substantially sinusoidal and positioned substantially in phase with the corresponding phase voltages. Set-values <MAT> are substantially constant and, as explained above, may represent the DC output current to a load <NUM> as <MAT> and <MAT>. The set-values <MAT>, are input to the current controller <NUM> after passing an addition element <NUM> and a selection element <NUM> whose functions are further detailed in the following text.

The current controller <NUM> is split into five individual current controllers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, wherein:.

Selector element <NUM> is used to send the set-values <MAT>, for the instantaneous phase currents and inductor currents to the correct individual current controller <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> depending on the voltage value of the phase inputs A, B, C, resulting in intermediate current set-values <MAT> and inductor current set-values <MAT> for each individual current controller, wherein:.

In each individual current controller the received set-value <MAT> for the instantaneous current is input to a comparator, for example comparator <NUM> of individual current controller <NUM>, and compared with the measured current <MAT>, iLn,measured obtained from a measurement means <NUM> (for example comprising a low-pass filter) and from a measurement means <NUM>. The output of the comparator is the control-error signal of the current, which is further input to a control element, for example control element <NUM> (for example a proportional-integral controller) of individual current controller <NUM>. The output of current controller <NUM>, which is for example a bundled combination of outputs of individual current controllers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is input to a PWM generation element, for example PWM generation element <NUM>. The PWM generation element generates the PWM-modulated control signals for the controllable semiconductor switches of the PWM-controlled bridge legs, i.e. the upper buck bridge leg <NUM> of the upper buck circuit and the lower buck bridge leg <NUM> of the lower buck circuit. These PWM-modulated control signals are sent to the appropriate bridge legs via communication interface <NUM>.

The selector switches of the phase selector <NUM> are either 'on' or 'off' during each <NUM>° sector of the three-phase AC input voltage, depending on the voltage value of the phase inputs A, B, C, as explained above in connection with <FIG>. The control signals for the selector switches are generated by switch-signal generators <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> based on measured phase voltages obtained from a measurement means <NUM>.

DC bus mid-point balancing is done by adding an offset value, by addition element <NUM>, to the set-values <MAT> for the instantaneous, for example low-pass filtered, phase currents ia, ib, ic, and/or instantaneous, for example low-pass filtered, inductor currents iLp, iLn which are output by multiplier <NUM>. The offset value is obtained by comparing the measured DC bus midpoint voltage obtained from a measurement means <NUM> (for example comprising a low-pass filter) with a set-value (for example VDC/<NUM>) using comparator <NUM> and feeding the error signal (output of comparator <NUM>) into a control element <NUM>.

The phase currents ia, ib, ic shown in <FIG> are obtained by controlling the electrical converter <NUM> using such control unit <NUM> and control method detailed in the foregoing text. As explained above, the phase currents ia, ib, ic are indirectly controlled, i.e., they are the result of the controlling of the intermediate currents <MAT> (shown in <FIG>) and/or the inductor currents iLp, iLn and of the operation of the phase selector <NUM>. The set-points for the intermediate currents <MAT> are derived from set-values <MAT> by selector element <NUM> based on the measured phase voltages.

In <FIG> another output stage <NUM> is shown in which the stacked series connected buck bridge legs <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG> are replaced by a first parallel connection of upper bridge legs <NUM> and a second parallel connection of lower bridge legs <NUM>, wherein the first parallel connection of upper bridge legs <NUM> is connected in series with the second parallel connection of lower bridge legs <NUM>. The first parallel connection of buck bridge legs <NUM> comprises two first semiconductor devices, two second semiconductor devices and two third semiconductor devices. The parallel connection of second buck bridge legs <NUM> comprises two fourth semiconductor devices, two fifth semiconductor node terminals n1, n2 for the lower buck bridge legs <NUM>, with the middle intermediate voltage node z. <FIG> illustrates that the output stage may be scaled by providing multiple first upper buck circuits in parallel and by providing multiple second lower buck circuits in parallel. This may be useful, e.g. when more power is needed. When multiple first and second buck circuits are connected in parallel as in <FIG>, such respective first and second buck circuits may be controlled in an interleaved way.

Claim 1:
Electrical converter (<NUM>) for conversion between a three-phase AC signal and a DC signal, comprising:
three phase terminals (A, B, C),
a first DC terminal (P) and a second DC terminal (N),
a phase selector (<NUM>) for connecting the three phase terminals to a first intermediate node (x), a second intermediate node (y) and a third intermediate node (z) of the electrical converter,
a first buck circuit comprising a first switch-node terminal (p) that is operably connected to the first DC terminal (P) and a second buck circuit comprising a second switch-node terminal (n) that is operably connected to the second DC terminal (N), wherein the first and the second buck circuits are connected for converting a voltage at the first intermediate node (x), the second intermediate node (y) and the third intermediate node (z) to a voltage between the first and second DC terminal (P, N),
wherein the first and the second buck circuits are connected in series between the first intermediate node (x) and the second intermediate node (y) such that there is a common node (m) of the first and second buck circuit, wherein the first and second buck circuit comprise at least one actively switchable device connected between the common node and the third intermediate node,
characterised in that the first buck circuit is configured for allowing connecting the first switch-node terminal (p) to any one of the first intermediate node (x), the third intermediate node (z), and the common node (m), and in that the second buck circuit is configured for allowing connecting the second switch-node terminal (n) to any one of the second intermediate node (y), the third intermediate node (z), and the common node (m).