Patent ID: 7462888

Claim:
A power conversion apparatus comprising: switching modules, each of which includes: a wide-gap bipolar semiconductor element; a diode element having a wide-gap semiconductor and connected in reverse parallel to said wide-gap bipolar semiconductor element; a package accommodating said wide-gap bipolar semiconductor element and said diode element, and having an electrical connection section which connects said wide-gap bipolar semiconductor element and said diode element in reverse parallel and connects said wide-gap bipolar semiconductor element and said diode element having been connected in reverse parallel to external apparatuses; and a heating section which keeps said wide-gap bipolar semiconductor element and diode element in said package at a predetermined temperature higher than ordinary temperature, wherein a switching circuit is constructed by connecting three series connections, each comprising at least two of said switching modules connected in series, in parallel between the positive pole and the negative pole of a DC power source, and comprising a control circuit which is provided for each of said switching modules and controls the operation of said switching circuit after each switching module is heated by said heating section and the temperature of each switching module reaches a predetermined temperature.