Abstract:
A naturally commutated cycloconverter having at the input a source of higher frequency than at its output is used as a static reactive power generator to correct displacement angle in an alternating current power system when coupled thereto at the output. Reactive power correction is obtained with such "high frequency link" by automatically controlling the output voltage of the cycloconverter so as to deviate by a required amount from the AC power system voltage. At the same time, a circulating current is established between the positive and negative banks of thyristors of the cycloconverter of such a magnitude as to compensate for the variations of the lagging quadrature component of the input current of the cycloconverter caused by output current variations, thereby permitting optimization of the high frequency link.The concept of generating controllable reactive power with a naturally commutated cycloconverter is used (1) with one cycloconverter as a controllable source of reactive power coupled to a power system; (2) with two cycloconverters tying a power system with a load, or two power systems together. In either instance, the output voltage of the cycloconverter is controlled for automatic compensation in the line power factor, and concurrently a circulating current is established in the single or in the two cycloconverters for automatic correction against variations in the lagging current at the cycloconverter input when the load conditions at the output thereof vary.
Abstract:
An active filter for reducing the common mode current in a pulse width modulated drive circuit driving a load, said drive circuit comprising an a-c source, a rectifier connected to said a-c source and producing a rectified output voltage connected to a positive d-c bus and a negative d-c bus, a PWM inverter having input terminals coupled to said positive d-c bus and negative d-c bus and having a controlled a-c output, a load driven by said a-c output of said PWM inverter, a ground wire extending from said load, and a current sensor for measuring the common mode current in said drive circuit, said current sensor producing an output current related to said common mode current; said active filter comprising a first and second transistor, each having first and second main electrodes and a control electrode, and an amplifier circuit driving said transistors; said first electrode of said first and second transistor coupled to a common node, said second electrodes of said first and second transistors being coupled to said positive d-c bus and said negative d-c respectively; said amplifier circuit having an input coupled to said output of said current sensor and having an output connected to said control electrodes; and a d-c isolating capacitor connecting said common node of said first electrode of said first and second transistors to said ground wire; and wherein said current sensor is a current transformer having a primary winding connected in series with said ground wire and a secondary winding connected as the signal input to the amplifier circuit.
Abstract:
A soft start circuit for controlling a rectifier circuit, the rectifier circuit for converting power from an AC source having one or more phases to DC power having an output voltage (Vo) from a Vo+ node to a Vo- node, the rectifier circuit including: (i) at least first and second rectifier legs coupled from the Vo- node to the Vo+ node, each rectifier leg including a diode and a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), wherein anodes of the diodes are coupled to the Vo- node, cathodes of the diodes are coupled to anodes of the SCRs at AC input nodes, and cathodes of the SCRs are coupled to the Vo+ node; and (ii) a bus capacitor coupled from the Vo+ node to the Vo- node, the soft start circuit operable to control respective firing angles of the SCRs such that: (i) the output voltage substantially linearly ramps from a low initial value to a relatively high final value, and (ii) charge up currents into the bus capacitor are controlled.
Abstract:
A soft start bridge rectifier circuit is described for controlling the operation of the bridge rectifier in order to ramp up the DC output upon connection with the AC input in order to limit in-rush current. Additionally, short-circuit/overload protection, temporary line loss protection and undervoltage checking circuitry is provided.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a circuit and method for sensing inverter current in a motor drive power train for purposes of detecting overload and fault conditions, based on the use of simple low cost ac current transformers and/or a low cost current-viewing resistor with non-critical inductance characteristics. The invention employs a current-viewing resistor in the negative dc bus of the inverter and a current transformer, connected in series with the current-viewing resistor, which is coupled to detect the current in the smoothing capacitor of the inverter circuit. If a motor braking circuit is included, the voltage developed across the braking resistor is summed with the inverter current signal to obtain a signal indicative of the total current in the inverter circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a respective current transformer is coupled to each leg of the ac input line and a further current transformer is coupled to sense the filter capacitor current. The positive components of the three phase ac input line signal are added in an operational amplifier to the capacitor to obtain the total inverter current, which can then be compared to a reference signal.
Abstract:
An electrical isolation device is connected at input terminals in lines between a structure to be cathodically protected and a ground, or between two cathodically protected structures, to block selected low levels of DC voltage while freely conducting normal AC currents and all fault currents. The device has two diode stacks, formed of layers, and the stacks are connected in parallel with one another in opposite polarity and in parallel with a capacitor across the input terminals of the device. Each diode layer include a junction wafer and a conducting metal disk. The layers in each stack are preferably pressed tightly together and to metal bus conductors by a clamp to maximize the contact of the diode layers to each other and to the conductors to minimize contact resistance. AC currents are conducted (e.g., to ground) through the capacitor while low level DC voltages are blocked by the cumulative threshold voltages of the plural diode layers connected in series in each of the stacks. When a large AC or DC fault occurs, the voltage across a stack exceeds the turn-on voltage of the stack so that fault currents are conducted to ground through the diode stacks. The number of diodes in each stack may be selected to provide a continued cathodic protection voltage in the presence of large AC fault currents. The diode stacks may also be connected together in a bridge structure to reduce the number of diodes required.
Abstract:
A resonant power supply for use in conjunction with power transistor switching circuits. In one embodiment, a series-connected LC resonant circuit is coupled to the high voltage pulsed output of the power transistors and designed to draw power from the pulsed output and deliver the same to a low voltage output capacitor at which a low voltage output is provided. The low voltage output is regulated by a zener diode connected in parallel with the output capacitor. A starting resistor of a relatively high value, typically in the Megohm range, supplies initial charge to the output capacitor to permit the first switching event to occur so that the resonant power supply can begin to provide power. The resonant frequency of the LC circuit is significantly higher than the maximum switching frequency of the power transistors, enabling the resonating high frequency wave forms of the LC circuit to supply repeated charge bursts to the output capacitor.
Abstract:
A four-terminal, unity power factor, electronic rectifier module. The electronic rectifier module is self-contained and includes therein bridge diodes which form a full wave bridge rectifier, a control circuit, and a diode which components act together to draw a sinusoidal current from the line. The self-contained, four-terminal module is designed to permit a high-frequency input capacitor and a line inductor to be connected to its input terminals and a smoothing capacitor to its output terminal. The module avoids the need to provide a separate pair of power terminals for the standard filtering components, resulting in a more economical package and in an easier-to-use module.
Abstract:
A universal battery charger circuit has polarized capacitors disposed in the input a-c lines to a bridge-connected rectifier. A voltage clamping circuit is connected to the d-c terminals of the bridge and diodes are connected in parallel with each of the polarized capacitors to define a circuit for the flow of charging current. Regulation circuits are provided for both battery voltage and charging current so that any battery of given voltage output can be charged from different input voltage sources.
Abstract:
Two or more buck converter circuits are cascaded in such a manner that the output of one serves as the input to the next, with the input voltage to each succeeding buck converter stage being reduced in magnitude. The total circuit losses are substantially reduced as compared to the losses generated in a single buck converter having the same input voltage range and the same output voltage and output current. Both positive and negative output terminals may be provided for an output stage.