A multi-level inverter topology is disclosed. A power converter circuit converts a DC source at its input to provide an alternating current (AC) at its output. The power converter circuit may have a controller operably attached to multiple series connections of switches. The controller may control one or more of the multiple series connections of switches to convert a DC input to provide multi-level AC voltages with DC offset across two terminals of the power converter circuit. The multi-level AC voltages with DC offset may then be converted by use of a plurality of series connections of switches to provide a single-phase AC voltage at a first output terminal with respect to at least one of a neutral potential, an earth potential, or a terminal of the power converter circuit.

In a power conversion device in which cell converters are connected in series, each cell converter includes: main circuit conductors connecting switching elements and a capacitor to each other; a bypass portion disposed between two external terminals connected to other cell converters; external output conductors connecting the external terminals and the main circuit conductors to each other; and bypass connection conductors connecting the external output conductors and the bypass portion to each other. The bypass connection conductors or the external output conductors are disposed so as to oppose each other at a high-potential side and a low-potential side thereof. The conductors are bent so as to have portions at which currents in parts of the conductors have the same direction. Thus, mutual inductances and self-inductances are increased, whereby short-circuit current flowing to the bypass portion at the time of double failures is suppressed.

In a power conversion device in which cell converters are connected in series, each cell converter includes: main circuit conductors connecting switching elements and a capacitor to each other; a bypass portion disposed between two external terminals connected to other cell converters; external output conductors connecting the external terminals and the main circuit conductors to each other; and bypass connection conductors connecting the external output conductors and the bypass portion to each other. The bypass connection conductors or the external output conductors are disposed so as to oppose each other at a high-potential side and a low-potential side thereof. The conductors are bent so as to have portions at which currents in parts of the conductors have the same direction. Thus, mutual inductances and self-inductances are increased, whereby short-circuit current flowing to the bypass portion at the time of double failures is suppressed.

A power converter system is described. The power converter system includes a power converter comprising at least one converter unit, each converter unit comprising a plurality of semiconductor devices, each semiconductor device including at least a controllable semiconductor switch. A local controller is associated with at least one converter unit and adapted to receive CD and MD from a main controller. In response to a detected fault condition of the power converter system, the local controller is adapted to use at least one of the one or more locally-stored values to determine an operating state of the power converter system, and to use the determined operating state to select a fault operating procedure to control each associated converter unit according to the selected fault operating procedure without using any CD from the main controller.

Example embodiments of systems, devices, and methods are provided herein for energy systems having multiple modules arranged in cascaded fashion for storing power from one or more photovoltaic sources. Each module includes an energy source and converter circuitry that selectively couples the energy source to other modules in the system over an AC interface for generating AC power or for receiving and storing power from a charge source. Each module also includes a DC interface for receiving power from one or more photovoltaic sources. Each module can be controlled by control system to route power from the photovoltaic source to that modules energy source or to the AC interface. The energy systems can be arranged in single phase or multiphase topologies with multiple serial or interconnected arrays. The energy systems can be arranged such that each module receives power from the same single photovoltaic source, or multiple photovoltaic sources.

A method for controlling a power converter, which in particular has partial power converters connected in parallel, is provided. The method includes determining a nominal voltage for the power converter; and dividing an output voltage for the power converter into a number of, in particular equal, voltage ranges. The voltage ranges are limited by a discrete upper voltage limit and a discrete lower voltage limit and the voltage ranges can be adjusted by switching the power converter, in particular the partial power converters. The method includes allocating the nominal voltage a voltage range with a discrete upper and lower voltage limits; allocating a first switch setting to the lower voltage limit; allocating a second switch setting to the upper voltage limit; and switching between the first switch setting and the second switch setting so that the power converter generates an actual voltage corresponding to the nominal voltage.

Embodiments provided herein generally include apparatus, e.g., plasma processing systems, and methods for the plasma processing of a substrate in a processing chamber. Some embodiments are directed to a waveform generator. The waveform generator generally includes a first voltage stage having: a first voltage source; a first switch; and a second switch, where a first terminal of the first voltage source is coupled to a first terminal of the first switch, and where a second terminal of the first voltage source is coupled to a first terminal of the second switch. The waveform generator also includes a current stage coupled to a common node between second terminals of the first switch and the second switch, the current stage having a current source and a third switch coupled to the current source.

Embodiments of present disclosure relate to an apparatus and a method for controlling a delta-connected cascaded multilevel converter. The apparatus (100) for controlling a delta-connected cascaded multilevel converter (110) comprises: a converter controller (102) configured to: receive current signals indicating phase currents flowing through respective phase arms of the converter (110); determine a harmonic current signal indicating a circulating current of the converter (110) from the current signals; and generate, based on the determined harmonic current signal and a reference current signal, a harmonic voltage signal to cause an amplitude of the circulating current flowing through the phase arms of the converter (110) to be a predetermined amplitude.

Embodiments of present disclosure relate to an apparatus and a method for controlling a delta-connected cascaded multilevel converter. The apparatus (100) for controlling a delta-connected cascaded multilevel converter (110) comprises: a converter controller (102) configured to: receive current signals indicating phase currents flowing through respective phase arms of the converter (110); determine a harmonic current signal indicating a circulating current of the converter (110) from the current signals; and generate, based on the determined harmonic current signal and a reference current signal, a harmonic voltage signal to cause an amplitude of the circulating current flowing through the phase arms of the converter (110) to be a predetermined amplitude.

A power conversion system includes: power conversion circuitry including a plurality of submodules connected in series to each other; a host device to control each submodule included in the power conversion circuitry; a terminal device to display internal information about each submodule; and at least one repeating device to relay communication between the host device and each submodule and communication between the terminal device and each submodule. The repeating device receives, from one or more submodules communicating with the repeating device, internal information about the submodules, transmits, to the host device with a first cycle period, a first communication frame including aggregate information that is an aggregate of the received internal information, and transmits, to the terminal device with a second cycle period longer than the first cycle period, a second communication frame including internal information selected from the received internal information.