A method and related apparatus for extending a DC voltage range of a rectifier circuit for the supply, from an AC grid, of a DC load which is connected to a DC rectifier output of the rectifier circuit, wherein an AC rectifier input of the rectifier circuit is connected via a grid connection point to the AC grid, wherein the rectifier circuit includes an AC/DC converter having an AC input and a DC output, wherein the AC/DC converter includes a converter circuit having semiconductor switches and freewheeling diodes connected in an antiparallel arrangement thereto, wherein an inductance is connected between the AC input of the AC/DC converter and the grid connection point. The method includes setting a desired DC operating voltage U.sub.DOC,soll on the DC output of the AC/DC converter or on the DC rectifier output, or both, by an actuation of semiconductor switches of the AC/DC converter, wherein, when the desired DC operating voltage U.sub.DC,soll lies below a value of an amplitude .Math..sub.4 of an alternating voltage on the AC input of the AC/DC converter, the semiconductor switches of the AC/DC converter are actuated for an exchange of reactive power Q.sub.1(t) with the AC grid, which has a voltage-lowering effect upon the amplitude .Math..sub.4 of the AC voltage at the AC input of the AC/DC converter, such that the amplitude .Math..sub.4 approaches the desired DC operating voltage U.sub.DC,soll, and wherein the exchange of the reactive power Q.sub.1(t) with the AC grid is executed during or shortly before an electrical connection or an electrical isolation of the DC load to or from the rectifier circuit.

A method and related apparatus for extending a DC voltage range of a rectifier circuit for the supply, from an AC grid, of a DC load which is connected to a DC rectifier output of the rectifier circuit, wherein an AC rectifier input of the rectifier circuit is connected via a grid connection point to the AC grid, wherein the rectifier circuit includes an AC/DC converter having an AC input and a DC output, wherein the AC/DC converter includes a converter circuit having semiconductor switches and freewheeling diodes connected in an antiparallel arrangement thereto, wherein an inductance is connected between the AC input of the AC/DC converter and the grid connection point. The method includes setting a desired DC operating voltage U.sub.DOC,soll on the DC output of the AC/DC converter or on the DC rectifier output, or both, by an actuation of semiconductor switches of the AC/DC converter, wherein, when the desired DC operating voltage U.sub.DC,soll lies below a value of an amplitude .Math..sub.4 of an alternating voltage on the AC input of the AC/DC converter, the semiconductor switches of the AC/DC converter are actuated for an exchange of reactive power Q.sub.1(t) with the AC grid, which has a voltage-lowering effect upon the amplitude .Math..sub.4 of the AC voltage at the AC input of the AC/DC converter, such that the amplitude .Math..sub.4 approaches the desired DC operating voltage U.sub.DC,soll, and wherein the exchange of the reactive power Q.sub.1(t) with the AC grid is executed during or shortly before an electrical connection or an electrical isolation of the DC load to or from the rectifier circuit.

A multi-pulse line-interphase transformer converter includes an electric part that includes magnetic components configured to be connected to a three-phase AC grid, and an electric part that includes a multi-phase voltage system configured to be connected to a common DC capacitor. The electric part splits each AC grid phase n times into two phases, resulting in a plurality of intermediate phases at an internal interface, each intermediate phase corresponding to a pulse of the multi-pulse line-interphase transformer converter. The intermediate phases are connected to the multi-phase voltage system. The multi-phase voltage system comprises bridges with actively controlled switches. The bridges are connected in parallel to the common DC capacitor.

An electronic device and method are disclosed. The electronic device includes: a battery, a wireless power transfer (WPT) coil, wireless power transceiver circuitry, a charging circuit, and a processor electrically connected to the wireless power transceiver circuitry and the charging circuit. The processor implements the method, including: receiving first detecting power from an external electronic device, determining whether a reception voltage generated by the received first detecting power is higher than a first predetermined voltage value, based on detecting that the reception voltage is higher than the first predetermined voltage value, supplying power from the battery to the wireless power transceiver circuitry, outputting via the WPT coil, foreign object detecting power based on the supplied power, and based on detecting an electrical change in the foreign object detecting power caused by presence of a foreign object, determining that an error has occurred.

An apparatus for estimating electrical properties of an electrolyzer includes a data processing system for estimating electrical values, for example a membrane resistance, of the electrolyzer based on a difference voltage, a current, and an initial value and an attenuation time constant of a double-layer capacitance voltage of the electrolyzer during a shutdown of the electrolyzer. The difference voltage is a difference between a voltage of the electrolyzer and a total reversible voltage of the electrolyzer. The initial value and the attenuation time constant of the double-layer capacitance voltage are estimated based on values of the difference voltage when the current is zero and thus the difference voltage equals the double-layer capacitance voltage. The electrical values can be estimated even if a stepwise interruption of the current of the electrolyzer is not possible.

An apparatus for estimating electrical properties of an electrolyzer includes a data processing system for estimating electrical values, for example a membrane resistance, of the electrolyzer based on a difference voltage, a current, and an initial value and an attenuation time constant of a double-layer capacitance voltage of the electrolyzer during a shutdown of the electrolyzer. The difference voltage is a difference between a voltage of the electrolyzer and a total reversible voltage of the electrolyzer. The initial value and the attenuation time constant of the double-layer capacitance voltage are estimated based on values of the difference voltage when the current is zero and thus the difference voltage equals the double-layer capacitance voltage. The electrical values can be estimated even if a stepwise interruption of the current of the electrolyzer is not possible.

A power converting apparatus that converts alternating-current power from an alternating-current power supply into direct-current power and outputs the direct-current power to a direct-current load includes at least two switching circuits connected in parallel with the direct-current load; a coupling reactor that includes at least three connection terminals with two of the at least three connection terminals connected to an alternating-current terminal of one switching circuit different from two switching circuits among the at least two switching circuits; and a control unit that performs, at least once in a half period of the alternating-current power supply, a simple switching control that short-circuits the coupling reactor to the alternating-current power supply through the two switching circuits.

A multi-phase interleaved PFC converter includes at least six switches coupled in a multi-phase interleaved circuit arrangement, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to turn on and turn off a first one of the switches according to a PWM signal to operate the first switch as an active switch having an off-time as a function of a duty cycle of the PWM signal, while turning on and turning off a second one of the switches as a synchronous switch. The control circuit is also configured to receive signal(s) indicative of currents in each phase of the interleaved circuit arrangement, set an on-time of the second switch equal to the off-time of the first switch when the signal(s) indicate continuous mode operation, and set the on-time of the second switch to a duration less than the off-time of the first switch when the signal(s) indicate discontinuous mode operation.

A multi-phase interleaved PFC converter includes at least six switches coupled in a multi-phase interleaved circuit arrangement, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to turn on and turn off a first one of the switches according to a PWM signal to operate the first switch as an active switch having an off-time as a function of a duty cycle of the PWM signal, while turning on and turning off a second one of the switches as a synchronous switch. The control circuit is also configured to receive signal(s) indicative of currents in each phase of the interleaved circuit arrangement, set an on-time of the second switch equal to the off-time of the first switch when the signal(s) indicate continuous mode operation, and set the on-time of the second switch to a duration less than the off-time of the first switch when the signal(s) indicate discontinuous mode operation.

An AC/DC power converter includes input terminals, output terminals, a power factor correction circuit coupled between the input and output terminals and including at least one power switch defining a switched current path, and a current transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding is coupled in series with the switched current path. The power converter also includes a first sense switch coupled with a first end of the secondary winding, a second sense switch coupled with a second end of the secondary winding, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to turn on the first sense switch and turn off the second sense switch during a positive polarity of the AC voltage input, and to turn off the first sense switch and turn on the second sense switch during a negative polarity of the AC voltage input.