| 摘要 |
Disclosed is an electric power converter comprising a plurality of reactors (4), a plurality of self quenching type switching elements (1), the reactors and switching elements being series-connected per one arm, and surge-absorbing snubber circuits (6,8) connected in parallel to the switching elements respectively, the switching circuits being driven by gate drive circuits (12) connected to respective gates of the switching elements to thereby convert a DC voltage into an AC voltage or convert an AC voltage into a DC voltage, wherein the electric power converter further comprises: means (9,7) for recovering energy accumulated on at least one side of the rectors and the snubber circuits; and means (30) for generating a first DC sourcefor supplying electric power to each of the gate drive circuits, on the basis of the recovered energy. In the electric power converter constituted by a plurality of self quenching type semiconductor switching elements connected in series, high efficiency is attained through reduction in size of the gate driver and electric power saving. <IMAGE> |
