METHOD AND CIRCUIT FOR USING POLARIZED DEVICE IN AC APPLICATIONS

• US 20030006738A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William B. Duff Jr
• Original Assignee: William B. Duff Jr
• Inventors: Duff, William B. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,548,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/166
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/08 Structural combinations, e.g. assembly or connection, of hybrid or EDL capacitors with other electric components, at least one hybrid or EDL capacitor being the main component
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/16 for capacitors for synchronous capacitors H02H7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

Polarized electric charge storage devices economically provide high available capacitance. The present invention directly employs polarized electrical charge storage (PECS) devices such as polarized capacitors or electrochemical batteries in general AC applications with a novel circuit topology. In one embodiment, an anti-series configuration of first and second PECS devices are used within an AC network for enhancing operation of the AC network. At least one DC source is provided for maintaining the PECS devices forwardly biased while they are subjected to an AC signal. The AC signal, which drives an AC load, is applied to the anti-series devices. The devices are sufficiently biased by the at least one DC voltage source so that they remain forwardly biased while coupling the AC signal.

Claims

1. A polarized electric charge storage (“

PECS”

) apparatus for operation in an AC network having an AC source and at least one load coupled to the AC source for receiving the AC signal, the PECS apparatus comprising;

at least first and second PECS devices in an anti-series configuration with one another, the anti-series PECS devices adapted to be operably connected to the AC network and subjected to the AC signal, and

at least one DC source coupled to the first and second PECS devices for sufficiently forwardly DC biasing the devices to substantially prevent them from being detrimentally reverse biased by the AC signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one DC source is operably coupled to the first and second devices so that the AC signal is not substantially conducted through the at least one DC source.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anti-series PECS device configuration is adapted to be connected substantially in shunt with the AC load.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anti-series PECS device configuration is adapted to be connected substantially in series between the AC source and the AC load.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one output terminal of the at least one DC source is adapted to be electrically isolated from the at least one AC source.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one DC source is ungrounded.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one output terminal of the at least one DC source is adapted to be operably connected to an AC system ground.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second PECS devices are symmetrically DC biased with respect to one another.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second PECS devices are connected to each other at a DC junction node, wherein the apparatus further includes at least one AC blocking device connected between the DC junction node and a DC reference node.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one AC blocking device comprises a resistor that has a sufficiently high impedance compared to the first and second PECS devices for blocking the AC signal so that it substantially passes through the PECS devices.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the DC junction node incorporates at least one AC device between the first and second PECS devices.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an AC blocking device between the DC junction node and another node from the first and second PECS devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one DC source includes first and second DC sources for separately biasing the first and second PECS devices.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first DC source is substantially in shunt across the first PECS device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an AC blocking device operably connected between the first DC source and the first PECS device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second DC source is substantially in parallel across the second PECS device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second DC source is connected substantially in parallel across at least the second PECS device through at least one AC blocking device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one terminal of the first DC source and at least one output terminal of the second DC source are ungrounded.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one terminal of the first DC source and at least one output terminal of the second DC source are electrically isolated with respect to the AC source.

20. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one DC source includes a first DC source having first and second output terminals for providing a DC potential, the first output terminal being coupled to the DC junction node, and the second output terminal being coupled to another node from the first and second devices.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising at least one AC blocking device in series between the DC junction node and the first output terminal.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising at least one AC blocking device in series between the another node of the first and second devices and the second output terminal.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the AC network is a polyphasic AC network with an AC leg for each phase of the network, wherein the first PECS device is adapted to be part of a first AC leg, and the second PECS device is adapted to be part of a second AC leg.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the AC network is a polyphasic AC network with an AC leg for each phase of the network, wherein the first and second PECS devices are adapted to be part of a first AC leg.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PECS configuration is adapted to be operably mounted in the AC network for steady-state operation.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second PECS devices are mounted in a common enclosure.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first and second PECS devices are suspended in a dielectric fluid and mounted to the enclosure with an insulated fastener, wherein the enclosure defines an electrically touch-safe container.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the load is a split phase AC induction motor, and the PECS devices are adapted to be connected in series between the AC source and a wind of said split phase motor and remain engaged for continuous operation of the motor.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said PECS devices are part of an LC filter circuit having an inductor, the LC filter circuit being tuned for a power fundamental frequency and additionally having a switch for shunting the PECS devices upon detection of a downstream fault.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, the AC source being a first AC source, wherein a second AC source having a different AC voltage than the first AC source is operably connected to the first PECS device via a current limited rectifier.

31. A PECS apparatus for use in an AC application, comprising:

a first PECS device;

at least a second PECS device being connected in anti-series relation to the first PECS device; and

at least one DC bias source operably connected to said first and second PECS devices for sufficiently maintaining said first and second devices forwardly biased while being used in the AC application.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the DC voltages for biasing the first and second devices substantially cancel each other out with respect to the AC application.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising an AC electrical device located between the anti-series PECS devices, wherein the AC device is operated at a different DC voltage level than the connected AC application.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the AC device includes a DC power supply.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein a portion of the DC power supply is operably connected between the anti-series PECS devices for forwardly DC biasing said first and second devices.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the anti-series PECS devices are used to couple an AC neutral node within the AC application to a ground node.

37. The apparatus of claim 31, the first and second PECS devices each having a positive and a negative node, wherein at least the positive or negative nodes from the first and second devices are substantially connected together from a DC standpoint.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the positive nodes from the first and second devices are substantially connected together and the negative nodes from the first and second devices are substantially connected together from a DC standpoint.

39. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising one or more PECS devices substantially connected in shunt across the second PECS device, whereby the one or more PECS devices are in anti-series configuration with the first PECS device.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the one or more PECS devices are also in anti-series configuration with the second PECS device, whereby the first, second, and one or more PECS devices are in anti-series configuration with each other.

41. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising one or more sets of operably forwardly biased anti-series PECS devices connected to each other and to the first and second anti-series device configuration at a DC junction node to form an AC current divider manifold.

42. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a non-polar capacitor connected substantially in parallel across at least the first PECS device.

43. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the anti-series PECS devices are used for enhancing a steady-state AC application.

44. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one DC source is operably connected to the first and second PECS devices so that an AC signal from the AC application is not substantially conducted through the at least one DC source.

45. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the anti-series first and second devices are suspended in a dielectric fluid and mounted within an enclosure with an insulated fastener, wherein the enclosure defines an electrically touch-safe container and provides electrical contacts for connection.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the DC voltages across the at least first and second devices substantially cancel each other out with respect to the AC network.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the act of implementing the anti-series PECS devices includes implementing first and second polarized capacitors.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the first and second polarized capacitors are coupled to each other at a DC junction node, the method further comprising providing an AC blocking device between the DC junction node and a DC reference of the at least one DC source.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the act of implementing the anti-series devices within an AC network includes using the anti-series polarized capacitors in series between the AC source and the AC load for improving the power factor with respect to the AC source.

52. The method of claim 47, further comprising adjusting AC network impedance as seen by the AC source by adjustably engaging the anti-series devices within the network.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein the anti-series devices are adjustably engaged with an electrical switch.

54. The method of claim 47, wherein AC network parameters are altered by controllably varying the temperature of the PECS devices.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the act of controllably varying the temperature of the PECS devices is performed with a heat exchange apparatus.

56. The method of claim 47, further comprising providing a resistive device substantially in shunt across each of the first and second PECS devices for forwardly biasing and balancing said devices in a voltage divider application.

57. The method of claim 47, further comprising providing at least one bleed resistor operably connected to the first and second PECS devices for discharging the bias voltage across the PECS devices for safe shutdown and maintenance purposes.

58. The method of claim 47, wherein the magnitude of the AC voltage impressed across each PECS device is less than the magnitude of the DC bias voltage across each PECS device.

59. The method of claim 47, wherein the steady state superposition of DC bias voltage and AC voltage impressed across each PECS device remains within the rated voltage of each PECS device.

60. The method of claim 47, wherein at least one electrically isolated DC bias source is connected substantially in shunt across the first PECS device for use in a steady state AC application.

61. The method of claim 47, wherein at least one electrically isolated DC bias source is connected substantially in shunt across the first PECS device for use in a transient AC application.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein a rectifier bridge is used to provide electrical isolation of rectified DC for continuous charging of the first PECS device.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein at least one DC pole of the DC bias source is electrically isolated from at least one AC power source for continuous forward biasing of the first PECS device. Please add new claims 64 through 84 as set forth herein. Appendix A shows the complete set of claims upon entry of the amendment.

46. An AC network, comprising:

an AC source;

an AC load operably coupled to said AC source;

first and second PECS devices in anti-series configuration with one another operably coupled to said AC source and load; and

at least one DC source for forwardly biasing said first and second devices for preventing them from being detrimentally reverse biased by said AC source.

47. A method for using PECS devices in an AC network having an AC source and an operably coupled AC load, comprising:

implementing at least first and second PECS devices in an anti-series configuration within an AC network for enhancing operation of the AC network, wherein an AC signal is applied to the anti-series devices; and

sufficiently biasing each of the PECS devices with at least one DC voltage source so that the devices substantially remain forwardly biased during operation of the AC network.

64. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a first polarized capacitor;

(b) a second polarized capacitor coupled to the first polarized capacitor in an anti-series configuration; and

(c) at least one direct current power supply coupled to the first polarized capacitor and to the second polarized capacitor.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the first polarized capacitor includes a first polarized capacitor of variable capacitance.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the second polarized capacitor includes a second polarized capacitor of variable capacitance.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the at least one direct current power supply includes a direct current power supply electrically derived from an alternate current power supply.

69. The AC source with AC power factor control apparatus of claim 68, wherein the at least first and second PECS devices include at least one PECS device of variable capacitance.

70. The AC source with AC power factor control apparatus of claim 68, wherein the at least one DC source includes a DC source electrically derived from the AC source.

83. A kit, comprising the apparatus of claim 64.

84. The kit of claim 83, further comprising instructions.

68. An AC source with AC power factor control apparatus for use in an AC network having at least one inductive load, the AC source with AC power factor control apparatus comprising:

(a) at least first and second PECS devices in an anti-series configuration with one another, the anti-series PECS devices adapted to be connected in a series configuration with an AC source and the at least one inductive load; and

(b) at least one DC source coupled to the first and second PECS devices for sufficiently forwardly DC biasing the PECS devices to substantially prevent them from being reverse biased.

71. An inductive load with AC power factor control apparatus for use in an AC network having and at least one AC source, the inductive load with AC power factor control apparatus comprising:

(a) at least first and second PECS devices in an anti-series configuration with one another, the anti-series PECS devices adapted to be connected in a series configuration with the inductive load and the at least one AC source; and

(b) at least one DC source coupled to the first and second PECS devices for sufficiently forwardly DC biasing the PECS devices to substantially maintain them forwardly biased.

72. The inductive load with AC power factor control apparatus of claim 71, wherein the at least first and second PECS devices include at least one PECS device of variable capacitance.

73. The inductive load with AC power factor control apparatus of claim 71, wherein the at least one DC source includes a DC source electrically derived from the AC source.

74. An AC source with AC ripple current control apparatus for use in an AC network having and at least one inductive load, the AC source with AC ripple current control apparatus comprising:

(a) at least first and second PECS devices in an anti-series configuration with one another, the anti-series PECS devices adapted to be connected in a series configuration with an AC source and the at least one inductive load; and

(b) at least one DC source coupled to the first and second PECS devices for sufficiently forwardly DC biasing the PECS devices to substantially prevent them from being detrimentally reverse biased.

75. The AC source with AC ripple current control apparatus of claim 74, wherein the at least first and second PECS devices include at least one PECS device of variable capacitance.

76. The AC source with AC ripple current control apparatus of claim 74, wherein the at least one DC source includes a DC source electrically derived from the AC source.

77. An inductive load with AC current ripple control apparatus for use in an AC network having and at least one AC source, the AC load with AC current ripple control apparatus comprising:

(a) at least first and second PECS devices in an anti-series configuration with one another, the anti-series PECS devices adapted to be connected in a series configuration with an inductive load and the at least one AC source; and

(b) at least one DC source coupled to the first and second PECS devices for sufficiently forwardly DC biasing the PECS devices to substantially prevent them from being detrimentally reverse biased.

78. The inductive load with AC ripple current control apparatus of claim 77, wherein the at least first and second PECS devices include at least one PECS device of variable capacitance.

79. The inductive load with AC ripple current control apparatus of claim 77, wherein the at least one DC source includes a DC source electrically derived from the AC source.

80. An AC load voltage regulator for operation in an AC network having an AC source, the AC load voltage regulator comprising:

(a) at least first and second PECS devices in an anti-series configuration with one another, the anti-series PECS devices adapted to be operably connected to the AC network;

(b) at least one DC source coupled to the first and second PECS devices for sufficiently forwardly DC biasing the PECS devices to substantially prevent them from being detrimentally reverse biased; and

(c) at least one inductive load coupled to the first and second PECS devices in a series configuration.

81. An AC resonance control apparatus for operation in an AC network having an AC source, the AC resonance control apparatus comprising:

(a) at least first and second PECS devices in an anti-series configuration with one another, the anti-series PECS devices adapted to be operably connected to the AC network;

(b) at least one DC source coupled to the first and second PECS devices for sufficiently forwardly DC biasing the PECS devices to substantially prevent them from being detrimentally reverse biased; and

(c) at least one AC load coupled to the first and second PECS devices in a series configuration.

82. An AC three-phase, three-wire power system for use in an AC network comprising:

(a) a plurality of AC loads, each of the AC loads coupled in series with at least first and second PECS devices in an anti-series configuration with one another, wherein each of the anti-series PECS devices is adapted to be operably connected to the AC network;

(b) at least one DC source coupled to each of the first and second PECS devices for sufficiently forwardly DC biasing the PECS devices to substantially prevent them from being detrimentally reverse biased; and

(c) at least one AC three-phase, three-wire power source coupled to the AC network.