LINE INTERACTIVE POWER QUALITY SYSTEM

• US 20130002022A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vycon Energy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vycon Incorporated
• Inventors: McMullen, Patrick T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,723,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/46
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/30 using dynamo-electric machines coupled to flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids

Abstract

A flywheel interface system for line interactive power correction comprises a flywheel system that includes a flywheel coupled to rotate with a motor/generator. A passive rectifier is coupled to the flywheel system for converting alternating current generated by the flywheel system to direct current. An active inverter is coupled to the passive rectifier for converting the direct current from the passive rectifier to alternating current and to output the alternating current to the load. A motor drive is coupled to the motor/generator of the flywheel system for driving the motor/generator to rotate the flywheel, the motor drive including a second passive rectifier coupled to a second active inverter.

Claims

1. A system for providing power to a load, where the load is powered by a power source, the system comprising:

a flywheel system including a flywheel coupled to rotate with a motor/generator;

a passive rectifier coupled to the flywheel system for converting alternating current generated by the flywheel system to direct current;

an active inverter coupled to the passive rectifier for converting the direct current from the passive rectifier to alternating current and to output the alternating current to the load; and

a motor drive coupled to the motor/generator of the flywheel system for driving the motor/generator to rotate the flywheel, the motor drive including a second passive rectifier coupled to a second active inverter.

2. The system of claim 1, where the motor drive has a power rating that is less than a power rating of the passive rectifier and less than a power rating of the active inverter.

3. The system of claim 1, where a maximum power that the motor drive is configured to handle is less than the power of the power source.

4. The system of claim 1, where the motor drive is coupled to receive power from the power source.

5. The system of claim 4, where the motor drive is coupled to an alternating current bus of the power source that is configured for alternating current at a first frequency and the motor drive is configured to output alternating current at a second, variable frequency to the flywheel system.

6. The system of claim 5, where the active inverter is configured for a maximum switching frequency that is lower than a maximum switching frequency of the motor drive.

7. The system of claim 1, where the motor/generator includes a winding coupled to the motor drive for driving the motor/generator and coupled to the passive rectifier for providing power to the passive rectifier.

8. The system of claim 1, where a voltage associated with an output of the flywheel system varies based on a rotational speed of the motor/generator and the passive rectifier is coupled to receive the variable voltage output from the flywheel system.

9. The system of claim 1, where the power source is a three-phase power grid and the active inverter is configured to output alternating current having a frequency of the alternating current on the power grid.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor/generator comprises a rotor having permanent magnets.

11. A method, comprising:

supplying alternating current to a flywheel system to charge a flywheel in the flywheel system, the alternating current supplied from a motor drive coupled to the flywheel system;

outputting alternating current from the flywheel system to a passive rectifier during a discharge phase of the flywheel, the passive rectifier coupled to the flywheel system;

converting the alternating current from the flywheel system to direct current at the passive rectifier;

converting the direct current from the passive rectifier to alternating current at an active inverter coupled to the passive rectifier;

supplying a load with the alternating current from the active inverter.

12. The method of claim 11, where the motor drive includes a second passive rectifier coupled to a second active inverter.

13. The method of claim 11, where supplying alternating current to a flywheel system comprises supplying alternating current to a flywheel system at a variable frequency where a highest frequency of the variable frequency is higher than a highest frequency that the active inverter is configured to supply.

14. The method of claim 11, where supplying a load with alternating current from an active inverter comprises supplying the load at a maximum power greater than a maximum power that the motor drive is configured to handle.

15. The method of claim 11, where the discharge phase of the flywheel is initiated in response to a change in quality of power supplied to the load by a power grid.

16. The method of claim 15, where the change in quality of power is a change in at least one of a frequency of the power supplied by the power grid, a power level of the power supplied by the power grid, a voltage of the power supplied by the power grid, or a phase associated with the power supplied by the power grid.

18. The flywheel interface system of claim 16, where the third power rating is less than half the first or second power rating.

19. The flywheel interface system of claim 16, where a voltage output by the flywheel system varies based on a rotational speed of the motor/generator and the passive rectifier is coupled to the flywheel system to receive the varying voltage and output direct current that varies based on the varying voltage received by the passive rectifier.

20. The flywheel interface system of claim 18, where the output of the flywheel system is converted into an alternating current by the passive rectifier in combination with the active inverter, the alternating current having a frequency substantially similar to a frequency associated with a previous alternating current of a power grid used to supply power to the load.

17. A flywheel interface system for line interactive power correction, the system comprising:

a flywheel system including a flywheel coupled to rotate with a permanent magnet motor/generator;

a passive rectifier coupled to the flywheel system for converting alternating current from the flywheel system to direct current, the passive rectifier associated with a first power rating;

an active inverter coupled to the passive rectifier for converting the direct current from the passive rectifier to alternating current, the alternating current to be supplied to a load, the active inverter associated with a second power rating; and

a motor drive coupled to the motor/generator of the flywheel system for driving the motor/generator to rotate the flywheel, the motor drive including a second passive rectifier coupled to a second active inverter, the motor drive associated with a third power rating less than the first or second power rating.