A modular multilevel power converter includes first electric components on a first vehicle and second electric components on a second vehicle. The first vehicle and the second vehicle are placed at a spacing distance from each other. The first electric components and the second electric components are electrically interconnected by a plurality of first connecting conductors.

A line commutated converter (LCC) for a high voltage direct current power converter, the LCC comprising at least one LCC bridge circuit for connection to at least one terminal of a DC system, each bridge circuit comprising a plurality of arms, each associated with a respective phase of an AC system, each arm comprising: an upper thyristor valve or valves, and lower thyristor valve or valves connected in series; an associated branch extending from between the upper and lower thyristors; and at least one thyristor-based capacitor module for each phase, each module comprising a plurality of module thyristors, the or each capacitor module operable to insert a main capacitor into the respective arm of the bridge circuit by firing at least one or more of said module thyristors.

A modular multilevel power converter includes first electric components on a first vehicle and second electric components on a second vehicle. The first vehicle and the second vehicle are placed at a spacing distance from each other. The first electric components and the second electric components are electrically interconnected by a plurality of first connecting conductors.

A line commutated converter (LCC) for a high voltage direct current power converter, the LCC comprising at least one LCC bridge circuit for connection to at least one terminal of a DC system, each bridge circuit comprising a plurality of arms, each associated with a respective phase of an AC system, each arm comprising: an upper thyristor valve or valves, and lower thyristor valve or valves connected in series; an associated branch extending from between the upper and lower thyristors; and at least one thyristor-based capacitor module for each phase, each module comprising a plurality of module thyristors, the or each capacitor module operable to insert a main capacitor into the respective arm of the bridge circuit by firing at least one or more of said module thyristors.

A device includes a first silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR), a second SCR connected in anti-parallel with the first SCR, and a commutation module. The commutation module is configured to apply a reverse bias voltage to the first SCR or the second SCR to turn off the first SCR or the second SCR. The device further includes a voltage clamp configured to dissipate energy when the first SCR or the second SCR are turned off. The voltage clamp is charged as one of the first SCR or the second SCR are powered on.

A method for power conversion includes coupling a first string to a second string via a first connecting node and a second connecting node to form at least one leg of a power converter. The first string is operatively coupled across a first bus and a second bus and comprises a first branch and a second branch coupled via a third connecting node. The first branch and the second branch include a plurality of controllable semiconductor switches. Furthermore, the second string comprises a first chain link and a second chain link coupled via an alternating current phase bus and includes a plurality of switching units. The first chain link and/or the second chain link are controlled to generate a negative voltage across at least one of the plurality of controllable semiconductor switches during a switch turn off process.

A device includes a first silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR), a second SCR connected in anti-parallel with the first SCR, and a commutation module. The commutation module is configured to apply a reverse bias voltage to the first SCR or the second SCR to turn off the first SCR or the second SCR. The device further includes a voltage clamp configured to dissipate energy when the first SCR or the second SCR are turned off. The voltage clamp is charged as one of the first SCR or the second SCR are powered on.

A method for power conversion includes coupling a first string to a second string via a first connecting node and a second connecting node to form at least one leg of a power converter. The first string is operatively coupled across a first bus and a second bus and comprises a first branch and a second branch coupled via a third connecting node. The first branch and the second branch include a plurality of controllable semiconductor switches. Furthermore, the second string comprises a first chain link and a second chain link coupled via an alternating current phase bus and includes a plurality of switching units. The first chain link and/or the second chain link are controlled to generate a negative voltage across at least one of the plurality of controllable semiconductor switches during a switch turn off process.

Provided are a double auxiliary resonant commutated pole three-phase soft-switching inverter circuit and a modulation method. The circuit includes a three-phase main inverter circuit and a three-phase double auxiliary resonant commutator circuit. An A-phase double auxiliary resonant commutator circuit, an A-phase main inverter circuit, a B-phase double auxiliary resonant commutator circuit, a B-phase main inverter circuit, a C-phase double auxiliary resonant commutator circuit and a C-phase main inverter circuit are connected in parallel in sequence and simultaneously connected with a DC power supply in parallel. The present invention can achieve the separation of the resonant current of the double auxiliary resonant commutator circuit from the load current at the moment of current commutation, thereby effectively reducing the current stress of the auxiliary switching tubes and the efficiency can be greatly increased particularly under light load condition.

A power converter is presented. The power converter includes at least one leg, the at least one leg includes a first string, where the first string includes a plurality of controllable semiconductor switches, a first connecting node, and a second connecting node, and where the first string is operatively coupled across a first bus and a second bus. Furthermore, the at least one leg includes a second string operatively coupled to the first string via the first connecting node and the second connecting node, where the second string includes a plurality of switching units. A method for power conversion is also presented.