METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER

• US 20100295374A1
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Gurunathan, Ranganathan, Kumar, Pothapragada Pavana, Klikic, Damir, Nielsen, Henning Roar
• Granted Patent: US 8,143,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/063 Common neutral, e.g. AC input neutral line connected to AC output neutral line and DC middle point
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc

Abstract

At least one aspect is directed to an uninterruptible power supply that includes a first input having an input line connection and an input neutral connection to receive a first input voltage from a first voltage source, a second input to receive a second input voltage from a second voltage source, and a boost circuit configured to provide a positive output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection and a negative output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection in both a line mode of operation and a backup mode of operation. The power supply also includes a first connection circuit to couple the first input to the boost circuit in the line mode of operation, and a second connection circuit to couple the second input to the boost circuit in the backup mode of operation, the second connection circuit being configured to isolate the second voltage source from the input neutral connection in the line mode of operation.

Claims

1. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a battery;

a first input having an input line connection and an input neutral connection to receive a first input voltage from a first voltage source;

a boost circuit configured to provide a positive output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection and a negative output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection in both a line mode of operation and a backup mode of operation;

a first connection circuit to couple the first input to the boost circuit in the line mode of operation; and

a second connection circuit to couple the battery to the boost circuit in the backup mode of operation;

wherein the uninterruptible power supply is constructed and arranged to isolate the battery from the input neutral connection in the line mode of operation and wherein the uninterruptible power supply is configured to operate with an AC voltage source at the first input having a peak AC voltage that is less than the positive output DC voltage, and wherein the battery has a battery voltage that is less than the positive output DC voltage and greater than the peak AC voltage.

5. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the first connection circuit includes at least one relay.

6. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the boost circuit has a positive input, a negative input and a neutral input, wherein the neutral input is coupled to the input neutral connection, and wherein the second connection circuit includes a first diode coupled between a positive terminal of the battery and the positive input and a second diode coupled between a negative terminal of the battery and the negative input.

7. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 6, further comprising a first relay coupled in parallel with the first diode and a second relay coupled in parallel with the second diode.

10. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, further comprising a battery charging circuit coupled to the battery, the battery charging circuit having a positive charging circuit and a negative charging circuit, wherein the positive charging circuit is configured to charge the battery during a positive portion of the first input voltage, and wherein the negative charging circuit is configured to charge the battery during a negative portion of the first input voltage.

11. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the uninterruptible power supply is constructed and arranged to isolate the first voltage source from the boost circuit in the backup mode of operation and draw current from the battery.

12. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 11, wherein the power supply is constructed and arranged to simultaneously draw current from both the first voltage source and battery in a combined mode of operation.

2. (canceled)

3. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 2, further comprising an output circuit coupled to the boost circuit to receive the positive output DC voltage and the negative output DC voltage and to provide an output AC voltage at an output having an output line connection and an output neutral connection.

4. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 3, wherein the uninterruptible power supply is configured to provide an uninterrupted connection from the input neutral connection to the output neutral connection.

8-9. -9. (canceled)

13-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A power system comprising:

a first input having an input line connection and an input neutral connection to receive a first input voltage from a first voltage source;

a second voltage source;

a boost circuit configured to provide a positive output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection and a negative output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection in both a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation;

a first connection circuit to couple the first input to the boost circuit in the first mode of operation; and

a second connection circuit to couple the second voltage source to the boost circuit in the second mode of operation;

wherein the power supply is constructed and arranged to isolate the second voltage source from the input neutral connection in the first mode of operation and wherein the power supply is configured to operate with an AC voltage source at the first input having a peak AC voltage that is less than the positive output DC voltage, and wherein the second voltage source has an output voltage that is less than the positive output DC voltage and greater than the peak AC voltage.

34. The power system of claim 33, further comprising an output circuit coupled to the boost circuit to receive the positive output DC voltage and the negative output DC voltage and to provide an output AC voltage at an output having an output line connection and an output neutral connection.

35. The power system of claim 34, wherein the power system is configured to provide an uninterrupted connection from the input neutral connection to the output neutral connection.

36. The power system of claim 33, wherein the first connection circuit includes at least one relay.

37. The power system of claim 33, wherein the boost circuit has a positive input, a negative input and a neutral input, wherein the neutral input is coupled to the input neutral connection, and wherein the second connection circuit includes a first diode coupled between a positive output of the second voltage source and the positive input and a second diode coupled between a negative output of the second voltage source and the negative input.

38. The power system of claim 37, further comprising a first relay coupled in parallel with the first diode and a second relay coupled in parallel with the second diode.

39. A method of providing power to a load, the method comprising:

receiving input AC power at a line connection and a neutral connection from a first voltage source, the input AC power having a peak AC voltage;

rectifying the input power to produce a first rectified voltage at a first node during a positive portion of an input voltage wave and a second rectified voltage at a second node during a negative portion of the input voltage wave;

in a first mode of operation, producing a positive DC voltage with respect to the neutral connection from the first rectified voltage and a negative DC voltage with respect to the neutral connection from the second rectified voltage, wherein the peak AC voltage is less than the positive DC voltage; and

coupling a second voltage source having a DC voltage to the first node and the second node using a connection circuit that is configured to isolate the second voltage source from the neutral connection in the first mode of operation, wherein coupling a second voltage source includes coupling a first isolation device between the second voltage source and the first node and coupling a second isolation device between the second voltage source and the second node, wherein the DC voltage of the second DC voltage source is less than the positive DC voltage and greater than the peak AC voltage.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising simultaneously drawing current from both the first voltage source and the second voltage source in a combined mode of operation.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the second voltage source is a battery, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting an outage of the first voltage source;

producing the positive DC voltage and the negative DC voltage from a voltage of the battery in a backup mode of operation.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising producing an output AC voltage from the positive DC voltage and the negative DC voltage in both the first mode of operation and the backup mode of operation.