Twelve-pulse rectifiers including separate six-pulse controllers and methods of controlling same

• US 6,307,763 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Powerware Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Tracy, John G., Tassitino, Fred, Chavez, Miguel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L.
• Application Number:
  US09/467,655
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 363/70, 363/69, 363/65, 363/84, 363/87, 363/89, 363/125, 363/127, 363/129
• US Class Current: 363/70
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/17 arranged for operation in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/23 arranged for operation in parallel H02M7/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

Twelve-pulse rectifiers include a first controller that controls a first six-pulse rectifier, a second controller that controls a second six-pulse rectifier and a data network that couples the first controller and the second controller to exchange data therebetween. The first and second controllers preferably have a common architecture and preferably operate independently. Each controller preferably controls its associated six-pulse rectifier as a function of the current and/or voltage output of the associated six-pulse rectifier, preferably using conventional feedback control techniques. Moreover, the first controller also preferably controls the first six-pulse rectifier as a function of a second current at the second six-pulse rectifier output, and the second controller preferably controls the second six-pulse rectifier as a function of a first current at the first six-pulse rectifier output. Thus, each six-pulse rectifier may be controlled as a function of the current at the other six-pulse rectifier output. The first controller preferably receives second data representing the second current at the second six-pulse rectifier output via the data network, and the second controller preferably receives first data representing a first current at the first six-pulse rectifier output via the data network. The first controller preferably continues to control the first six-pulse rectifier upon failure of the second controller to thereby provide a first output current from the first six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output. Similarly, the second controller preferably continues to control the second six-pulse rectifier upon failure of the first controller to thereby provide a second output current from the second six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output. When the first and second controllers are operational, the first and second six-pulse rectifiers may be controlled by their respective first and second controllers.

Claims

1. A twelve-pulse rectifier comprising:

a first six-pulse rectifier including a first six-pulse rectifier output;

a second six-pulse rectifier including a second six-pulse rectifier output, the first and second six-pulse rectifier outputs being coupled together to provide a twelve-pulse rectifier output;

a first controller that controls the first six-pulse rectifier;

a second controller that controls the second six-pulse rectifier; and

a data network that couples the first controller and the second controller to transmit signals from the first controller to the second controller and from the second controller to the first controller.

2. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 1 wherein the first controller controls the first six-pulse rectifier as a function of a first voltage at the first six-pulse rectifier output, a first current at the first six-pulse rectifier output and a second current at the second six-pulse rectifier output and wherein the second controller controls the second six-pulse rectifier as a function of a second voltage at the second six-pulse rectifier output, the second current at the second six-pulse rectifier output and the first current at the first six-pulse rectifier output.

3. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 2 wherein the first controller receives second data representing the second current at the second six-pulse rectifier output via the data network and wherein the second controller receives first data representing the first current at the first six-pulse rectifier output via the data network.

4. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 1 wherein the first and second controllers have a common architecture and are not arranged in a master-slave relationship.

5. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 2:

wherein the first controller comprises a first feedback loop that controls the first six-pulse rectifier as a function of the first voltage and independent of the second six-pulse rectifier output, and a second feedback loop that also controls the first six-pulse rectifier as a function of the second current at the second six-pulse rectifier output; and

wherein the second controller comprises a first feedback loop that controls the second six-pulse rectifier as a function of the second voltage and independent of the first six-pulse rectifier output, and a second feedback loop that also controls the second six-pulse rectifier as a function of current at the first six-pulse rectifier output.

6. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 1 wherein the data network is a Controller Area Network (CAN).

7. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 1 wherein the data network couples the first controller and the second controller such that first data representing current at the first six-pulse rectifier output is provided to the second controller over the data network and second data representing current at the second six-pulse rectifier output is provided to the first controller over the data network.

8. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 1 further comprising a battery and a DC-to-AC inverter that are coupled to the twelve-pulse rectifier output to provide an uninterruptible power supply.

9. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 1:

wherein the first controller continues to control the first six-pulse rectifier upon failure of the second controller to thereby provide a first output current from the first six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output; and

wherein the second controller continues to control the second six-pulse rectifier upon failure of the first controller to thereby provide a second output current from the second six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output.

10. A twelve-pulse rectifier comprising:

a first six-pulse rectifier including a first six-pulse rectifier output;

a second six-pulse rectifier including a second six-pulse rectifier output, the first and second six-pulse rectifier outputs being coupled together to provide a twelve-pulse rectifier output;

a first controller that controls the first six-pulse rectifier; and

a second controller that is separate from the first controller and that controls the second six-pulse rectifier, wherein the first and second controllers do not operate in a master-slave relationship.

11. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 10 wherein the first controller controls the first six-pulse rectifier as a function of a first voltage at the first six-pulse rectifier output, a first current at the first six-pulse rectifier output and a second current at the second six-pulse rectifier output and wherein the second controller controls the second six-pulse rectifier as a function of a second voltage at the second six-pulse rectifier output, the second current at the second six-pulse rectifier output and the first current at the first six-pulse rectifier output.

12. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 10 wherein the first and second controllers have a common architecture.

13. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 11:

wherein the first controller comprises a first feedback loop that controls the first six-pulse rectifier as a function of the first voltage and independent of the second six-pulse rectifier output, and a second feedback loop that also controls the first six-pulse rectifier as a function of the second current at the second six-pulse rectifier output; and

wherein the second controller comprises a first feedback loop that controls the second six-pulse rectifier as a function of the second voltage and independent of the first six-pulse rectifier output, and a second feedback loop that also controls the second six-pulse rectifier as a function of current at the first six-pulse rectifier output.

14. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 10 further comprising a battery and a DC-to-AC inverter that are coupled to the twelve-pulse rectifier output to provide an uninterruptible power supply.

15. A twelve-pulse rectifier according to claim 10:

wherein the first controller continues to control the first six-pulse rectifier upon failure of the second controller to thereby provide a first output current from the first six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output; and

wherein the second controller continues to control the second six-pulse rectifier upon failure of the first controller to thereby provide a second output current from the second six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output.

16. A method of controlling a twelve-pulse rectifier including a first six-pulse rectifier that is controlled by a first controller and a second six-pulse rectifier that is controlled by a second controller, wherein the first and second six-pulse rectifiers are coupled together to provide a twelve-pulse rectifier output, the controlling method comprising:

controlling the first and second six-pulse rectifiers by the respective first and second controllers in a non-master-slave relationship when the first and second controllers are operational;

continuing controlling the first six-pulse rectifier by the first controller upon failure of the second controller to thereby provide a first output current from the first six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output; and

continuing controlling the second six-pulse rectifier by the second controller upon failure of the first controller to thereby provide a second output current from the second six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the controlling step comprises the steps of:

controlling the first six-pulse rectifier by the first controller as a function of a first voltage at an output of the first six-pulse rectifier, a first current at the output of the first six-pulse rectifier and a second current at an output of the second six-pulse rectifier output; and

controlling the second six-pulse rectifier by the second controller as a function of a second voltage at the output of the second six-pulse rectifier, the second current at the output of the second six-pulse rectifier and the first current at the output of the first six-pulse rectifier.

18. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of converting the twelve-pulse rectifier output into alternating current.

19. A method of controlling a twelve-pulse rectifier including a first six-pulse rectifier that is controlled by a first controller and a second six-pulse rectifier that is controlled by a second controller, wherein the first and second six-pulse rectifiers are coupled together to provide a twelve-pulse rectifier output, the controlling method comprising:

controlling the first and second six-pulse rectifiers by the respective first and second controllers in a non-master-slave relationship; and

exchanging data between the first and second controllers via a data network by transmitting signals from the first controller to the second controller and from the second controller to the first controller.

20. A method according to claim 19:

wherein the controlling step comprises the steps of controlling the first six-pulse rectifier by the first controller as a function of a first voltage at an output of the first six-pulse rectifier, a first current at the first six-pulse rectifier output and a second current at an output of the second six-pulse rectifier and controlling the second six-pulse rectifier by the second controller as a function of a second voltage at the output of the second six-pulse rectifier, the second current at the second six-pulse rectifier output and the first current at the output of the first six-pulse rectifier; and

wherein the exchanging step comprises the steps of providing first data representing the first current at the output of the first six-pulse rectifier to the second controller via the data network and providing second data representing the second current at the output of the second six-pulse rectifier to the first controller via the data network.

21. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of converting the twelve-pulse rectifier output into alternating current.

22. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

continuing to control the first six-pulse rectifier by the first controller upon failure of the second controller to thereby provide a first output current from the first six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output; and

continuing to control the second six-pulse rectifier by the second controller upon failure of the first controller to thereby provide a second output current from the second six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output.

23. A method of controlling a twelve-pulse rectifier including a first six-pulse rectifier and a second six-pulse rectifier, wherein the first and second six-pulse rectifiers are coupled together to provide a twelve-pulse rectifier output, the controlling method comprising:

controlling the respective first and second six-pulse rectifiers by respective first and second controllers that are separate from one another and that operate in a non-master-slave relationship.

24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

continuing to control the first six-pulse rectifier by the first controller upon failure of the second controller to thereby provide a first output current from the first six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output; and

continuing to control the second six-pulse rectifier by the second controller upon failure of the first controller to thereby provide a second output current from the second six-pulse rectifier at the twelve-pulse rectifier output.

25. A method according to claim 23 wherein the controlling step comprises the steps of:

controlling the first six-pulse rectifier by the first controller as a function of a first voltage at an output of the first six-pulse rectifier, a first current at the output of the first six-pulse rectifier and a second current at an output of the second six-pulse rectifier; and

controlling the second six-pulse rectifier by the second controller as a function of a second voltage at the output of the second six-pulse rectifier, the second current at the output of the second six-pulse rectifier and a first current at the output of the first six-pulse rectifier.

26. A method according to claim 23 further comprising the step of converting the twelve-pulse rectifier output into alternating current.

27. A rectifier system comprising:

a first rectifier including a first rectifier output;

a second rectifier including a second rectifier output, the first and second rectifier outputs being coupled together to provide a rectifier system output;

a first controller that controls the first rectifier;

a second controller that controls the second rectifier; and

a data network that couples the first controller and the second controller to transmit signals from the first controller to the second controller and from the second controller to the first controller.

28. A rectifier system according to claim 27 wherein the first controller controls the first rectifier as a function of a first voltage at the first rectifier output, a first current at the first rectifier output and a second current at the second rectifier output and wherein the second controller controls the second rectifier as a function of a second voltage at the second rectifier, output the second current at the second rectifier output and the first current at the first rectifier output.

29. A rectifier system according to claim 28 wherein the first controller receives second data representing the second current at the second rectifier output via the data network and wherein the second controller receives first data representing the first current at the first rectifier output via the data network.

30. A rectifier system according to claim 27 wherein the first and second controllers have a common architecture and are not arranged in a master-slave relationship.

31. A rectifier system according to claim 28:

wherein the first controller comprises a first feedback loop that controls the first rectifier as a function of the first voltage and independent of the second rectifier output, and a second feedback loop that also controls the first rectifier as a function of the second current at the second rectifier output; and

wherein the second controller comprises a first feedback loop that controls the second rectifier as a function of the second voltage and independent of the first rectifier output, and a second feedback loop that also controls the second rectifier as a function of current at the first rectifier output.

32. A rectifier system according to claim 27 wherein the data network is a Controller Area Network (CAN).

33. A rectifier system according to claim 27 wherein the data network couples the first controller and the second controller such that first data representing current at the first rectifier output is provided to the second controller over the data network and second data representing current at the second rectifier output is provided to the first controller over the data network.

34. A rectifier system according to claim 27 further comprising a battery and a DC-to-AC inverter that are coupled to the rectifier output to provide an uninterruptible power supply.

35. A rectifier system according to claim 27:

wherein the first controller continues to control the first rectifier upon failure of the second controller to thereby provide a first output current from the first rectifier at the rectifier output; and

wherein the second controller continues to control the second rectifier upon failure of the first controller to thereby provide a second output current from the second rectifier at the rectifier output.

36. A rectifier system comprising:

a first rectifier including a first rectifier output;

a second rectifier including a second rectifier output, the first and second rectifier outputs being coupled together to provide a rectifier system output;

a first controller that controls the first rectifier; and

a second controller that is separate from the first controller and that controls the second rectifier, wherein the first and second controllers do not operate in a master-slave relationship.

37. A rectifier system according to claim 36 wherein the first controller controls the first rectifier as a function of a first voltage at the first rectifier output, a first current at the first rectifier output and a second current at the second rectifier output and wherein the second controller controls the second rectifier as a function of a second voltage at the second rectifier output, the second current at the second rectifier output and the first current at the first rectifier output.

38. A rectifier system according to claim 36 wherein the first and second controllers have a common architecture.

39. A rectifier system according to claim 37:

wherein the first controller comprises a first feedback loop that controls the first rectifier as a function of the first voltage and independent of the second rectifier output, and a second feedback loop that also controls the first rectifier as a function of the second current at the second rectifier output; and

wherein the second controller comprises a first feedback loop that controls the second rectifier as a function of the second voltage and independent of the first rectifier output, and a second feedback loop that also controls the second rectifier as a function of current at the first rectifier output.

40. A rectifier system according to claim 36 further comprising a battery and a DC-to-AC inverter that are coupled to the rectifier output to provide an uninterruptible power supply.

41. A rectifier system according to claim 36:

wherein the first controller continues to control the first rectifier upon failure of the second controller to thereby provide a first output current from the first rectifier at the rectifier system output; and

wherein the second controller continues to control the second rectifier upon failure of the first controller to thereby provide a second output current from the second rectifier at the rectifier system output.