Uninterruptible power supply method

• US 5,856,712 A
• Filed: 04/22/1997
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: I-Hits Laboratory Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation (Mitsubishi Corporation)
• Original Assignee: I-Hits Laboratory Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation (Mitsubishi Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yasunobu, Sugawara, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, JONATHAN STUART
• Application Number:
  US08/838,052
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 307/43, 307/44, 307/64, 307/65, 307/66, 307/80, 307/85, 307/86, 307/87, 363/34, 363/37, 363/9, 363/10
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/067 using multi-primary transformers, e.g. transformer having one primary for each AC energy source and a secondary for the loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/21 using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4807 having a high frequency intermediate AC stage

Abstract

A method for providing an uninterruptible power supply to a load both at ordinary times and in an emergency. At ordinary times, commercial AC input power is modulated into high-frequency AC power, which is then applied to a primary winding of a high-frequency transformer having the primary winding, a secondary winding and a tertiary winding. High-frequency AC power induced in the secondary winding from the primary winding is demodulated into AC output power, which is then supplied to the load. High-frequency AC power induced in the tertiary winding from the primary winding is rectified into DC power, with which a storage battery is charged. In an emergency, DC power from the storage battery is converted into high-frequency AC power, which is then applied to the tertiary winding. High-frequency AC power induced in the secondary winding from the tertiary winding is averaged, thereby producing AC output power, then the AC output power is supplied to the load.

Claims

1. A method of providing an uninterruptible supply of power to a load during an ordinary times mode and in an emergency mode, said method comprising, during the ordinary times mode, the steps of:

modulating commercial AC input power into high-frequency AC power;

applying the high-frequency AC power to a primary winding of a high-frequency transformer having the primary winding, a secondary winding and a tertiary winding;

demodulating high-frequency AC power induced in the secondary winding from the primary winding into AC output power which is approximately equivalent to the commercial AC input power and has a waveform similar to that of the commercial AC input power;

supplying the AC output power to the load;

rectifying high-frequency AC power induced in the tertiary winding from the primary winding into DC power; and

charging a storage battery with the DC power; and

said method further comprising, during the emergency mode, the steps of;

converting DC power from the storage battery into high-frequency AC power;

applying the high-frequency AC power to the tertiary winding;

averaging high-frequency AC power induced in the secondary winding from the tertiary winding, thereby producing AC output power; and

supplying the AC output power to the load.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the steps of said modulating commercial AC input power into high-frequency AC power, said demodulating high-frequency AC power into AC output power, said rectifying high-frequency AC power into DC power, said converting DC power into high-frequency AC power, and said averaging high-frequency AC power is accomplished by using semiconductor switches.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated and inverted.

5. A method as in claim 3, wherein each of the semiconductor switches is a bi-directional semiconductor switch or a uni-directional semiconductor switch.

6. A method as in claim 2, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are inverted.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein each of the semiconductor switches is a bi-directional semiconductor switch or a uni-directional semiconductor switch.

8. A method as in claim 2, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated and inverted.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein each of the semiconductor switches is a bi-directional semiconductor switch or a uni-directional semiconductor switch.

10. A method as in claim 2, wherein each of the semiconductor switches is a bi-directional semiconductor switch or a uni-directional semiconductor switch.

11. A method as in claim 2, wherein a voltage of the AC output power supplied to the load both during the ordinary times mode and during the emergency mode is adjusted.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adjustment of the voltage of the AC output power is achieved by using semiconductor switches.

13. A method as in claim 2, wherein the high-frequency AC power applied to the tertiary winding during the emergency mode is square wave AC.

14. A method as in claim 1, wherein a voltage of the AC output power supplied to the load both during the ordinary times mode and during the emergency mode is adjusted.

15. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adjustment of the voltage of the AC output power is achieved by using semiconductor switches.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein the high-frequency AC power applied to the tertiary winding during the emergency mode is square wave AC.

17. A method as in claim 15, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated.

18. A method as in claim 15, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are inverted.

19. A method as in claim 15, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated and inverted.

20. A method as in claim 15, wherein each of the semiconductor switches is a bi-directional semiconductor switch or a uni-directional semiconductor switch.

21. A method as in claim 14, wherein the high-frequency AC power applied to the tertiary winding during the emergency mode is square wave AC.

22. A method as in claim 14, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated.

23. A method as in claim 14, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are inverted.

24. A method as in claim 3, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated and inverted.

25. A method as in claim 14, wherein each of the semiconductor switches is a bi-directional semiconductor switch or a uni-directional semiconductor switch.

26. A method as in claim 1, wherein the high-frequency AC power applied to the tertiary winding during the emergency mode is square wave AC.

27. A method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of producing a sinusoidal output as the AC output power by smoothing, through the use of semiconductor switches, average values of positive and negative high-frequency square wave pulses of square wave AC induced in the secondary winding from the tertiary winding.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated.

29. A method as in claim 27, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are inverted.

30. A method as in claim 26, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated and inverted.

31. A method as in claim 27, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated and inverted.

32. A method as in claim 27, wherein each of the semiconductor switches is a bi-directional semiconductor switch or a uni-directional semiconductor switch.

33. A method as in claim 26, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are modulated.

34. A method as in claim 26, wherein drive-pulse phases of the semiconductor switches are inverted.

35. A method as in claim 26, wherein each of the semiconductor switches is a bi-directional semiconductor switch or a uni-directional semiconductor switch.