Structure and method for performing active injection mode filtering on an AC power system

• US 5,608,276 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aim Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Helionetics, Inc.
• Inventors: Suelzle, Larry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US08/476,990
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 307/105, 307/102, 307/103, 307/152, 363/39, 363/40, 323/208-211, 327/551, 327/552
• US Class Current: 307/152
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/01 Arrangements for reducing harmonics or ripples
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/40 Arrangements for reducing harmonics

Abstract

An active current injection device is used to generate and inject fundamental and non-fundamental frequency current components onto an AC power line. A current pump control circuit receives an input signal which is representative of the line voltage of the power line. In response, the current pump control circuit generates a control signal which is used to generate a current component at the fundamental frequency which lags the line voltage by approximately 90 degrees. This fundamental frequency current component is transmitted through an impedance to the power line, thereby causing a voltage drop at the fundamental frequency across the impedance which is within a selected range about the line voltage. In one embodiment, this selected range is equal to approximately 25 to approximately 150 percent of the line voltage. Also, a damping control circuit receives an input signal which is representative of the line voltage of the power line. In response, the damping control circuit generates an output signal having a first component proportional to the line voltage and a second component proportional to the rate of change of the line voltage. This output signal is used to generate an electronic load current component which loads the non-fundamental frequency components of the line voltage. In addition, a four-wire adapter circuit allows an active current injection device to be operated from a four-conductor, three-phase AC power line using three transducers.

Claims

1. A method for injecting current onto an AC power line, wherein said power line is operated at a line voltage which exhibits a fundamental frequency component and non-fundamental frequency components, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing said line voltage on said power line;

generating a first signal having a first component and a second component, wherein said first component is proportional to said line voltage and said second component is proportional to the rate of change of said line voltage;

filtering a fundamental frequency component from said first signal, thereby producing a second signal proportional to the non-fundamental frequency components of said first signal;

generating an electronic load current component in response to said second signal, wherein said electronic load current component is proportional to said second signal and opposite in phase to said second signal; and

providing said electronic load current component to said power line, thereby loading the non-fundamental frequency components of said line voltage.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing said electronic load component to said power line upstream from a load which draws non-fundamental frequency current components;

sensing current on said power line between said load and the point where said electronic load current component is provided to said power line;

creating a control signal representative of said non-fundamental frequency current components;

generating an injection current component in response to said control signal, wherein said injection current component is equal to and in phase with said non-fundamental frequency current components; and

providing said injection current component to said power line.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

setting said electronic current component approximately equal to the non-fundamental frequency current components drawn by said load as a result of the non-fundamental frequency components of said line voltage.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of generating said electronic load current component further comprises the step of:

generating a first sub-component of the electronic load current component in response to said second component of said first signal, wherein said first sub-component of said electronic load current component corresponds to the non-fundamental frequency current components drawn by a capacitive portion of the load.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of generating said electronic load current component further comprises the step of:

generating a second sub-component of the electronic load current component in response to said first component of said first signal, wherein said second sub-component of said electronic load current component corresponds to the non-fundamental frequency current components drawn by a resistive portion of the load.

6. A current injection device for injecting current onto a power line, wherein said power line is operated at a line voltage which exhibits a fundamental frequency component and non-fundamental frequency components, said current injection device comprising:

a damping control circuit coupled to said power line, wherein said damping control circuit generates an output signal having a first component and a second component, wherein said first component is proportional to said line voltage and said second component is proportional to the rate of change of said line voltage;

a filter coupled to said damping control circuit, wherein said filter removes the fundamental frequency component of said output signal, resulting in a filtered output signal proportional to the non-fundamental frequency components of said output signal; and

a current generator coupled to said filter and said power line, wherein said current generator generates an electronic load current component in response to said filtered output signal and provides said electronic load current component to said power line, wherein said electronic load current component is proportional to said filtered output signal and opposite in phase to said filtered output signal, thereby loading the non-fundamental frequency components of said line voltage.

7. The current injection device of claim 6, wherein said current injection device is connected upstream from a load which draws non-fundamental frequency current components, said current injection device further comprising:

a current sensor coupled to said power line between said load and the point where said current generator provides said electronic load current component to said power line, said current sensor creating a control signal representative of said non-fundamental frequency current components;

means for providing said control signal to said current generator, wherein said current generator generates an injection current component equal to and in phase with said non-fundamental frequency current components; and

means for providing said injection current component to said power line.

8. The current injection device of claim 7, wherein said electronic load current component is approximately equal to the non-fundamental frequency current components drawn by said load as a result of said non-fundamental frequency components of said line voltage.

9. The current injection device of claim 7, wherein said second component of said output signal causes said current generator to generate a portion of the electronic load current component which corresponds with the non-fundamental frequency current components drawn by a capacitive portion of the load.

10. The current injection device of claim 9, wherein said first component of said output signal causes said current generator to generate a portion of the electronic load current component which corresponds with the non-fundamental frequency current components drawn by a resistive portion of the load.

11. The current injection device of claim 9, wherein said second component of said output signal is adjustable.