Energy converter

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy converter (1) for implementing an energy conversion (32) of electrical energy into heat energy, having a regenerative rectifier (4), a coil (11) and a first capacitor and a second capacitor (12, 13), the regenerative rectifier (4) being electrically connected to a direct voltage circuit (5) and being electrically connectable to a first alternating voltage network (6), the regenerative rectifier (4) having a first bridge branch (7) with a first power semiconductor module and a second power semiconductor module (8, 9), the first power semiconductor module and the second power semiconductor module (8, 9) being connected in series and forming a first midpoint tap (10), the first power semiconductor module (8) being electrically connected to a first direct voltage phase (15) of the direct voltage circuit (3) and the second power semiconductor module (9) being electrically connected to a second direct voltage phase (16), the first capacitor and the second capacitor (12, 13) being connected in series and forming a second midpoint tap (14), the first capacitor (12) being electrically connected to the first direct voltage phase (15) of the direct voltage circuit (5) and the second capacitor (13) being electrically connected to the second direct voltage phase (16), and the coil (11) being electrically connected between the first midpoint tap (10) and the second midpoint tap (14). The invention also relates to a converter (10) having the energy converter (1) and a method (33) of the energy converter (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an energy converter for performing energy conversion from electrical energy to thermal energy, comprising a regenerative rectifier, a coil, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor, wherein the regenerative rectifier is electrically connected to a DC voltage circuit and can be electrically connected to a first AC voltage network. The invention also relates to a converter having the energy converter and a method for using the energy converter. Background Technology

[0002] Electric converters are commonly used in electric drive technology. These converters typically include a rectifier that converts electrical energy from an AC voltage network (which serves as the power supply network) into a DC voltage circuit (also referred to as a DC voltage circuit, for example, in the case of a frequency converter). A DC voltage circuit is characterized by a more complex design of the DC voltage network, if necessary. For example, a (rotary) DC motor can operate on a DC voltage circuit.

[0003] By using an inverter (e.g., in a frequency converter) to further convert the electrical energy of a DC voltage circuit into another AC voltage network, an AC motor can be operated (rotating) on ​​that other AC voltage network.

[0004] If the corresponding motor is designed for lower power and the AC voltage network is, for example, a two-phase network with phase L1 and phase N, an uncontrolled rectifier is often used for cost reasons. Such a two-phase AC voltage network is also called a single-phase AC voltage network (with L1 as phase, on which a voltage relative to N is applied).

[0005] Such an uncontrolled rectifier cannot recover electrical energy from a DC voltage circuit into an AC voltage network, for example, during generator operation or during the braking process of the corresponding motor.

[0006] Since there may be undesirable large electrical energy in a DC voltage circuit, characterized by large voltage and large current that can damage electrical components in the DC voltage circuit, electrical energy can be converted into heat energy, for example, by an ohmic resistor known as a braking resistor.

[0007] Since braking resistors are typically designed to convert electrical energy into heat energy only to a limited extent, a power semiconductor switch is usually connected upstream of them. This power semiconductor switch (also known as a power semiconductor chopper) allows for a limited current flow to prevent excessive and potentially destructive heating of the braking resistor.

[0008] However, this technical solution, consisting of a braking resistor (power resistor) and, if necessary, a controllable power semiconductor chopper, is typically very expensive and can sometimes be very laborious to operate under the described usage conditions.

[0009] In the process of consciously and efficiently utilizing electrical energy, such as during braking, energy generated is now often recovered from DC voltage circuits into AC voltage networks that serve as the power supply network, even in low-power drive systems. In principle, this can be achieved through controlled regenerative rectifiers.

[0010] However, it cannot always be guaranteed that the power supply network will always have, or in principle, the ability to safely absorb electrical energy from DC voltage circuits. For example, if a fuse used to protect a converter or rectifier in the power supply network has tripped, electrical energy can no longer be recovered to the power supply network for this reason alone.

[0011] The above considerations for drive systems also largely apply to energy supply or transmission systems. Here, it is typically necessary to convert excess electrical energy in the DC voltage circuit into heat or recover excess electrical energy back into the power supply network, thereby causing the consequences or problems described in the drive system. Summary of the Invention

[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved energy converter and method of converter and energy converter compared with the prior art, by which the energy converter can efficiently and safely convert electrical energy into heat energy.

[0013] This objective is achieved by the energy converter of the present invention, the converter having the energy converter, and the method of the energy converter.

[0014] To address this problem, an energy converter for converting electrical energy into thermal energy is proposed. The converter comprises a regenerative rectifier, a coil, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor. The regenerative rectifier is electrically connected to a DC voltage circuit and can be electrically connected to a first AC voltage network. The regenerative rectifier has a first bridge branch with a first power semiconductor module and a second power semiconductor module. The first and second power semiconductor modules are connected in series to form a first midpoint tap. The first power semiconductor module is electrically connected to a first DC voltage of the DC voltage circuit, and the second power semiconductor module is electrically connected to a second DC voltage of the DC voltage circuit. The first and second capacitors are connected in series to form a second midpoint tap. The first capacitor is electrically connected to the first DC voltage of the DC voltage circuit, and the second capacitor is electrically connected to the second DC voltage of the DC voltage circuit. The coil is electrically connected between the first and second midpoint taps.

[0015] In contrast to previous solutions, such as those requiring costly and relatively complex braking resistors to operate in conjunction with upstream power semiconductor choppers, this solution allows electrical energy to be efficiently and cost-effectively offloaded from the DC voltage circuit via coils and two capacitors through these two power semiconductor modules.

[0016] Therefore, excess electrical energy in a DC voltage circuit that the two capacitors can no longer absorb due to their designed capacitance can be converted into heat energy through a coil.

[0017] The regenerative rectifier also has a second bridge branch with a third power semiconductor module and a fourth power semiconductor module connected in series. The third power semiconductor module and the fourth power semiconductor module form a third midpoint tap. The first midpoint tap can be connected to the first AC voltage of the first AC voltage network, and the third midpoint tap can be connected to the second AC voltage of the first AC voltage network. The third power semiconductor module is electrically connected to the first DC voltage of the DC voltage circuit, and the fourth power semiconductor module is electrically connected to the second DC voltage of the DC voltage circuit.

[0018] Compared to, for example, frequency converters with regenerative rectifiers, this frequency converter is able to operate with DC voltage circuit capacitors, which are equivalent to the first and second capacitors, in the DC voltage circuit, where the coil is additionally arranged as a lossy inductor between the first and second midpoint taps.

[0019] In this context, lossy inductance means that the coil is used to cause large electrical losses during energy conversion, i.e., when current flows through the coil to the first or second capacitor, it reduces excess electrical energy in the DC voltage circuit by converting electrical energy into heat energy.

[0020] A regenerative rectifier is essentially designed to feed electrical energy into a DC voltage circuit via a connection to a first AC voltage network, thereby enabling the operation of electrical appliances through the DC voltage circuit, and to feed electrical energy that can be generated by a corresponding power generator (e.g., via a solar panel, battery, generator, or motor that can operate as a generator during braking) back from the DC voltage circuit to the first AC voltage network.

[0021] In a first advantageous embodiment of the energy converter, a metal device is provided on the coil, and electrical energy can be induced into the metal device and converted into heat energy.

[0022] The technical effect produced by the coil is advantageously enhanced in the energy conversion process from electrical energy to heat energy, because electrical energy is induced from the coil into the metal device and there or essentially there is also heat loss generated by the eddy current principle.

[0023] For this purpose, the metal device can advantageously be made of a ferromagnetic material having a magnetic flux density of 0.1-1 Ω. mm 2 A specific resistance ρ (Roh) within the range of / m and with characteristics of iron and stainless steel.

[0024] By using two power semiconductor modules that can operate alternately, a change in the direction of the current flowing through the coil can be generated. This can induce a time-varying magnetic field in the metal device, which in turn can generate eddy currents, thereby converting electrical energy into heat energy.

[0025] Metal devices can also be designed, for example, as housings for rectifiers or converters, in which electrical energy can be sensed.

[0026] In addition, the metal device can have a heat sink, which absorbs the heat generated during the energy conversion process and dissipates it into the environment.

[0027] In another advantageous embodiment of the energy converter, the regenerative rectifier has a second bridge branch with a third power semiconductor module and a fourth power semiconductor module connected in series, wherein the third power semiconductor module and the fourth power semiconductor module form a third midpoint tap, wherein the first midpoint tap can be connected to a first AC voltage of a first AC voltage network, and the third midpoint tap can be connected to a second AC voltage of the first AC voltage network, and the third power semiconductor module is electrically connected to a first DC voltage of a DC voltage circuit, and the fourth power semiconductor module is electrically connected to a second DC voltage of a DC voltage circuit.

[0028] In another advantageous embodiment of the energy converter, the first power semiconductor module, the second power semiconductor module, and, if available, the third and fourth power semiconductor modules are respectively configured as power semiconductor switches with or without anti-parallel connected freewheeling diodes, and each power semiconductor switch can be controlled by a drive signal from a control device.

[0029] Power semiconductor switches can advantageously take the form of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) or metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs).

[0030] The freewheeling diode, connected in antiparallel with the corresponding power semiconductor switch of the power semiconductor module, helps to support commutation during current transport between the first and second power semiconductor modules and between the third and fourth power semiconductor modules.

[0031] In another advantageous embodiment of the energy converter, the power semiconductor switches of the first and second power semiconductor modules are capable of operating at a clock frequency exceeding 40 kHz for energy conversion.

[0032] The power semiconductor switches of the first and second power semiconductor modules may have SiC or GaN, wherein these power semiconductor switches are particularly advantageous for high clock frequencies above 40kHz.

[0033] Synchronizing the power semiconductor switches of the first and second power semiconductor modules with a clock frequency exceeding 40kHz has the advantage that at least a portion of the electrical energy present in the DC voltage circuit in these power semiconductor switches can be converted into heat loss through switching losses during the energy conversion process.

[0034] High clock frequencies above 40kHz also help to further enhance the energy conversion from electrical energy to heat energy through coils, and can be used in conjunction with metal devices where available.

[0035] In the general power transfer operation of a regenerative rectifier, where there is essentially no power conversion, a lower clock frequency is typically chosen to reduce particularly unwanted switching losses.

[0036] In another advantageous embodiment of the energy converter, the control device is designed to interrupt the corresponding power semiconductor switches of the third and fourth power semiconductor modules during energy conversion by means of a corresponding drive control signal for interrupting operation, particularly based on network monitoring of the first AC voltage network.

[0037] For example, in the event of a power failure in the first AC voltage network or a fuse blowing in one of the AC voltage phases of the first AC voltage network, the power semiconductor switches of the third and fourth power semiconductor modules are interrupted, so that no current can flow through these power semiconductor switches.

[0038] Network monitoring identifies the status of the first AC voltage network, such as network faults, security status, and whether the first AC voltage network is electrically capable of absorbing electrical energy that the DC voltage circuit can provide for feeding into the first AC voltage network.

[0039] In another advantageous embodiment of the energy converter, the control device is designed to switch the corresponding power semiconductor switches of the first power semiconductor module, the second power semiconductor module, the third power semiconductor module and the fourth power semiconductor module by means of the corresponding drive control signal of the control device, so that for combined operation, especially network monitoring based on the first AC voltage network, energy conversion and energy recovery from DC voltage circuit to the first AC voltage network are performed simultaneously.

[0040] This combined operation advantageously recovers energy from the DC voltage circuit to the first AC voltage network while simultaneously performing energy conversion. In this way, the electrical energy to be recovered can be quantitatively recovered, meaning the degree of energy recovery can be limited simultaneously through energy conversion.

[0041] Therefore, this also means that energy conversion and energy recovery can be carried out in parallel during combined operation.

[0042] The network monitoring detects the status of the first AC voltage network, that is, whether the first AC voltage network is able to absorb electrical energy provided by the DC voltage circuit for feeding into the first AC voltage network to the necessary extent within a defined time range in an electrical manner.

[0043] If this is not the case, energy conversion can be activated simultaneously via network monitoring through a control device for energy recovery, and the clock frequency of the power semiconductor switches of the first and second power semiconductor modules can be increased, particularly to a clock frequency of 40 kHz or higher.

[0044] In another advantageous embodiment of the energy converter, the network monitoring is designed to detect, via a detection device, the electrical characteristics of the first AC voltage network, particularly voltage and / or current and / or power and / or frequency.

[0045] Therefore, the electrical characteristic values ​​of the first AC voltage network detected by the detection device describe the electrical state of the first AC voltage network, i.e., whether the voltage has dropped to an unacceptable value, whether there is no current flow, or whether the frequency has exceeded the unacceptable value. This electrical information is included in the assessment of the state of the first AC voltage network through network monitoring, based on which interruption operation or combined operation is initiated.

[0046] The electrical characteristics of the first AC voltage network can be determined, technically as far as possible, through measurement, calculation, or a combination of both. This can be accomplished by the detection device alone, or by the detection device in conjunction with a control device.

[0047] To achieve this objective, a converter having an energy converter according to the invention is also proposed.

[0048] The converter can be used in conjunction with energy converters in an advantageous manner and can be used in the field of electric drive technology as well as in the generation and distribution of electrical energy.

[0049] In a first advantageous embodiment of the converter, the converter has an inverter that is electrically connected to a regenerative rectifier via first and second DC voltage phases of a DC voltage circuit.

[0050] In another advantageous embodiment of the inverter converter, the inverter can be electrically connected to the motor via a second AC voltage network.

[0051] To achieve this objective, a method for an energy converter according to the present invention is also proposed, wherein, by means of a power semiconductor switch of a first power semiconductor module and a second power semiconductor module driven by a drive signal of a control device, a coil and a first capacitor and a second capacitor convert electrical energy into heat energy during energy conversion.

[0052] In a first advantageous embodiment of the method, the power semiconductor switches of the first power semiconductor module and the second power semiconductor module operate at a clock frequency exceeding 40 kHz during energy conversion.

[0053] In another advantageous embodiment of the method, the control device interrupts the corresponding power semiconductor switches of the third and fourth power semiconductor modules during interrupted operation by means of the corresponding drive control signals of the control device, particularly based on network monitoring of the first AC voltage network.

[0054] In another advantageous embodiment of the method, the regenerative rectifier is electrically connected to the first AC voltage network, and the control device controls the corresponding power semiconductor switches of the first power semiconductor module, the second power semiconductor module, the third power semiconductor module and the fourth power semiconductor module through corresponding drive control signals, so that in combined operation, especially based on network monitoring of the first AC voltage network, energy conversion and energy recovery from DC voltage circuit to the first AC voltage network are performed simultaneously. Attached Figure Description

[0055] The features, characteristics, and advantages of the invention described below, as well as the ways in which they are implemented, will become clearer and more readily understood in conjunction with the following description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings, which will be explained in more detail. The drawings show:

[0056] Figure 1 A first schematic diagram of an energy converter and a converter having an energy converter according to the present invention is shown.

[0057] Figure 2 It shows that according to Figure 1 First structural diagram of the energy converter method.

[0058] Figure 3 It shows that according to Figure 1 The energy converter is based on Figure 2 The second structural diagram of an embodiment of the method, and

[0059] Figure 4 It shows that according to Figure 1 The energy converter is based on Figure 2 A third structural diagram of another embodiment of the method. Detailed Implementation

[0060] Figure 1A first schematic diagram of an energy converter 1 for converting electrical energy into heat energy and a converter 2 having the energy converter 1 according to the present invention is shown.

[0061] The energy converter 1 has a regenerative rectifier 4, a coil 11, a first capacitor 12, and a second capacitor 13.

[0062] The regenerative rectifier 4 is electrically connected to the DC voltage circuit 5 and the first AC voltage network 6, and the regenerative rectifier includes a first bridge branch 7 having a first power semiconductor module 8 and a second power semiconductor module 9 connected in series, and a second bridge branch 17 having a third power semiconductor module 18 and a fourth power semiconductor module 19 connected in series.

[0063] The first power semiconductor module 8 and the second power semiconductor module 9 form a first midpoint tap 10, wherein the first power semiconductor module 8 is electrically connected to the first DC voltage phase 15 of the DC voltage circuit and the second power semiconductor module 9 is electrically connected to the second DC voltage phase 16 of the DC voltage circuit 5.

[0064] The third power semiconductor module and the fourth power semiconductor module form a third midpoint tap 20, wherein the third power semiconductor module 18 is electrically connected to the first DC voltage phase 15 of the DC voltage circuit and the fourth power semiconductor module 19 is electrically connected to the second DC voltage phase 16 of the DC voltage circuit 5.

[0065] The first capacitor 12 and the second capacitor 13 are connected in series to form the second midpoint tap 14, wherein the first capacitor 12 is electrically connected to the first DC voltage phase 15 and the second capacitor 13 is electrically connected to the second DC voltage phase 16 of the DC current circuit 5.

[0066] Coil 11 is electrically connected between the first midpoint tap 10 and the second midpoint tap 14.

[0067] The first midpoint tap 10 is connected to the first AC voltage phase 21 of the first AC voltage network, and the third midpoint tap 20 is connected to the second AC voltage phase 36 of the first AC voltage network 6.

[0068] The metal device 37 is disposed on the coil 11, so that during the energy conversion process through the coil 11, electrical energy can be induced in the metal device 37 and converted into heat energy.

[0069] The first power semiconductor module 8, the second power semiconductor module 9, the third power semiconductor module 18, and the fourth power semiconductor module 19 each have a power semiconductor switch 22, and the power semiconductor switch has a freewheeling diode 2 connected in anti-parallel. The first power semiconductor module 8, the second power semiconductor module 9, the third power semiconductor module 18, and the fourth power semiconductor module 19 are controlled by a drive signal 28 from a control device 29.

[0070] The control device 29 of the energy converter 1 includes a network monitor 24. The electrical characteristics of the first AC voltage network 6, such as voltage and / or current and / or power and / or frequency, can be detected by the detection device 25 and transmitted to the network monitor 24 via the signal line 27.

[0071] For energy conversion, the power semiconductor switches 22 of the first power semiconductor module 8 and the second power semiconductor module 9 are capable of operating at a clock frequency exceeding 40kHz.

[0072] exist Figure 1 In addition to the energy converter 1, the converter 2 also includes an inverter 30, which is electrically connected to the regenerative rectifier 4 through the first DC voltage phase 15 and the second DC voltage phase 16 of the DC voltage circuit 5.

[0073] Inverter 30 is electrically connected to motor 3 via second AC voltage network 31. Motor 3 can therefore operate on first AC voltage network 6 via converter 2 and second AC voltage network 31.

[0074] exist Figure 1 In one application example, the inverter is designed as a B6 bridge circuit with a power semiconductor switch and a freewheeling diode connected in antiparallel to the power semiconductor switch, which can be controlled by the control device 29 via another control line.

[0075] Figure 2 It shows that according to Figure 1 The first structural diagram of the energy converter 1 method 33.

[0076] During energy conversion 32, electrical energy from the DC voltage circuit is converted into heat energy 32 by means of the power semiconductor switches, coils, and the first and second capacitors of the first and second power semiconductor modules, which are driven by the corresponding drive signals of the control device.

[0077] For energy conversion 32, the power semiconductor switches of the first and second power semiconductor modules are able to operate at a clock frequency exceeding 40kHz.

[0078] Figure 3 The second structural diagram shows the following: Figure 1According to the energy converter 1 Figure 2 Implementation of method 33.

[0079] To implement this embodiment, the regenerative rectifier can be electrically connected to a first AC voltage network.

[0080] During interruption operation 34, during energy conversion 32, control device 29, in particular based on network monitoring 24 of the first AC voltage network, interrupts the corresponding power semiconductor switches of the third and fourth power semiconductor modules by means of corresponding drive control signals of control device 29.

[0081] This occurs, for example, when a fault occurs in the first AC voltage network, such that no current flows through these power semiconductor switches and the rectifier is in a safer electrical state than the first AC voltage network to perform energy conversion 32, method 33.

[0082] In order to interrupt operation 34, network monitoring 24 identifies the state of an exemplary selected network fault in the first AC voltage network, and control device 29 uses the information to interrupt the power semiconductor switches of the third power semiconductor module and the fourth power semiconductor module.

[0083] Figure 4 The third structural diagram illustrates the following: Figure 1 According to the energy converter 1 Figure 2 Another embodiment of method 33.

[0084] In another embodiment, the regenerative rectifier is electrically connected to a first AC voltage network.

[0085] The control device 29 drives the corresponding power semiconductor switches of the first, second, third and fourth power semiconductor modules through corresponding drive signals, especially based on the network monitoring 24 of the first AC voltage grid, so that in combined operation 35, energy conversion 32 and energy recovery 26 from electrical energy from the DC voltage circuit to the first AC voltage network are performed simultaneously.

[0086] Therefore, the power semiconductor switches of the first and second power semiconductor modules can operate at a clock frequency of over 40 kHz during energy conversion 32.

[0087] In combined operation 35, energy recovery 26 is performed simultaneously with energy conversion 32, from the DC voltage circuit to the first AC voltage network. The amount of electrical energy to be recovered can be adjusted, so the level of recovered energy 26 can be limited by the concurrent energy conversion 32.

[0088] Therefore, this also means that energy conversion 32 can be carried out in parallel with energy recovery 26 during combined operation 35.

[0089] For combined operation 35, network monitoring 24 detects the status of the first AC voltage network, that is, whether the first AC voltage network is able to absorb the electrical energy provided by the DC voltage circuit for feeding into the first AC voltage network to the necessary extent within a defined time range in terms of electrical properties.

Claims

1. An energy converter (1) for implementing energy conversion (32) from electrical energy to thermal energy, said energy converter having: - Regenerative rectifier (4). -coil (11), and - First capacitor (12) and second capacitor (13). in, The regenerative rectifier (4) is electrically connected to the DC voltage circuit (5) and the regenerative rectifier can be electrically connected to the first AC voltage network (6). - The regenerative rectifier (4) has a first bridge branch (7), which has a first power semiconductor module (8) and a second power semiconductor module (9). - The first power semiconductor module (8) and the second power semiconductor module (9) are connected in series to form a first midpoint tap (10). The first power semiconductor module (8) is electrically connected to the first DC voltage phase (15) of the DC voltage circuit (5), and the second power semiconductor module (9) is electrically connected to the second DC voltage phase (16) of the DC voltage circuit. - The first capacitor (12) and the second capacitor (13) are connected in series to form a second midpoint tap (14). - The first capacitor (12) is electrically connected to the first DC voltage phase (15) of the DC voltage circuit (5), and the second capacitor (13) is electrically connected to the second DC voltage phase (16) of the DC voltage circuit. - The coil (11) is electrically connected between the first midpoint tap (10) and the second midpoint tap (14). -The regenerative rectifier (4) has a second bridge branch (17), which has a third power semiconductor module (18) and a fourth power semiconductor module (19) connected in series, wherein, - The third power semiconductor module (18) and the fourth power semiconductor module (19) form a third midpoint tap (20). - The first midpoint tap (10) can be connected to the first AC voltage phase (21) of the first AC voltage network (6), and the third midpoint tap (20) can be connected to the second AC voltage phase (36) of the first AC voltage network. The third power semiconductor module (18) is electrically connected to the first DC voltage phase (15) of the DC voltage circuit (5), and the fourth power semiconductor module (19) is electrically connected to the second DC voltage phase (16) of the DC voltage circuit. The coil (11) is provided with a metal device (37), and electrical energy can be induced into the metal device (37) via the coil (11) and converted into heat energy.

2. The energy converter (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The first power semiconductor module (8), the second power semiconductor module (9), and, if applicable, the third power semiconductor module (18) and the fourth power semiconductor module (19) are each configured as power semiconductor switches (22), which may or may not have freewheeling diodes (23) connected in antiparallel, and wherein the first power semiconductor module (8), the second power semiconductor module (9), the third power semiconductor module (18) and the fourth power semiconductor module (19) are each driven by the drive signal (28) of the control device (29).

3. The energy converter (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The power semiconductor switches (22) of the first power semiconductor module (8) and the second power semiconductor module (9) for the energy conversion (32) are capable of operating at a clock frequency of more than 40 kHz.

4. The energy converter (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The control device (29) is designed to interrupt the corresponding power semiconductor switches (22) of the third power semiconductor module (18) and the fourth power semiconductor module (19) during the energy conversion (32) by means of the corresponding drive control signal (28) of the control device (29) for interrupting operation (34), based on the network monitoring (24) of the first AC voltage network (6).

5. The energy converter (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The control device (29) is designed to switch the corresponding power semiconductor switches (22) of the first power semiconductor module, the second power semiconductor module, the third power semiconductor module and the fourth power semiconductor module (8, 9, 18, 19) by means of the corresponding drive control signal (28) of the control device (29), thereby performing the energy conversion (32) and energy recovery (26) of electrical energy from the DC voltage circuit (5) to the first AC voltage network (6) for combined operation (35), based on network monitoring (24) of the first AC voltage network (6).

6. The energy converter (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The network monitor (24) is designed to detect the electrical characteristics of the first AC voltage network (6) by means of a detection device (25).

7. The energy converter (1) according to claim 6, wherein, The electrical characteristic values ​​are voltage and / or current and / or electrical power and / or frequency.

8. The energy converter (1) according to claim 5, wherein, The network monitor (24) is designed to detect the electrical characteristics of the first AC voltage network (6) by means of a detection device (25).

9. The energy converter (1) according to claim 8, wherein, The electrical characteristic values ​​are voltage and / or current and / or electrical power and / or frequency.

10. A converter (2) having an energy converter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The converter (2) according to claim 10, comprising an inverter (30), wherein, The inverter (30) is electrically connected to the regenerative rectifier (4) via the first DC voltage phase (15) and the second DC voltage phase (16) of the DC voltage circuit (5).

12. The converter (2) according to claim 11, wherein, The inverter (30) can be electrically connected to the motor (3) via a second AC voltage network (31).

13. A method (33) for an energy converter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, Electrical energy is converted into heat energy during the energy conversion (32) by means of the power semiconductor switch (22) of the first power semiconductor module (8) and the second power semiconductor module (9), the coil (11), and the first capacitor (12) and the second capacitor (13) driven by the corresponding drive control signal (28) of the control device (29).

14. The method (33) according to claim 13, wherein, During the energy conversion (32), the power semiconductor switches (22) of the first power semiconductor module (8) and the second power semiconductor module (9) operate at a clock frequency of more than 40 kHz.

15. The method (33) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein, During the energy conversion (32), by means of the corresponding drive control signal (28) of the control device (29), based on the network monitoring (24) of the first AC voltage network (6), the control device (29) interrupts the corresponding power semiconductor switches (22) of the third power semiconductor module (18) and the fourth power semiconductor module (19) when interrupting operation (34).

16. The method (33) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein, - The regenerative rectifier (4) is electrically connected to the first AC voltage network (6), and - The control device (29) drives the corresponding power semiconductor switches (22) of the first power semiconductor module (8), the second power semiconductor module (9), the third power semiconductor module (18) and the fourth power semiconductor module (19) by means of the corresponding drive control signal (28), so that in combined operation (35), based on the network monitoring (24) of the first AC voltage network (6), the energy conversion (32) and the energy recovery (26) of electrical energy from the DC voltage circuit (5) to the first AC voltage network (6) are implemented simultaneously.

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