Patent ID: 8467206

Claim:
A power rectifying circuit for electrical current delivered by an alternating current source, comprising: two separate commutation assemblies arranged to be connected to a supply terminal of a source, at least one commutation assembly comprising a plurality of commutation boost cells in cascade; each boost cell comprising a diode connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal of the cell, a switch means connected between a second input terminal and a second output terminal of the cell, and a capacitor connected between the two output terminals of the cell, the plurality of commutation boost cells of at least one of the commutation assemblies being arranged in cascade so that the first and second output terminals of one boost cell are connected respectively to the first and second input terminals of the following boost cell, the capacitors of the two terminal boost cells of the commutation assemblies having one terminal in common, wherein the power rectifying circuit further comprises blocking means for blocking all the switch means of the circuit in case of detection of a low-impedance fault in one of the boost cells, and the power rectifying circuit further comprises means for detecting a low-impedance fault in a boost cell arranged to detect a voltage at terminals of the switch means of the cell during a predetermined time interval following a control signal to start the switch means to detect a fault of the boost diode of the cell or following a control signal to block the switch means to detect a fault of the switch means.