Power transfer system with reduced component ratings

• US 7,164,590 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp. (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Toshio, Li, Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US10/628,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20040095789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 363/34, 363/78, 363/84, 363/89, 363/127, 363/40, 363/95
• US Class Current: 363/40
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2201/15 Power factor Correction [PFC] circuit generating the DC link voltage for motor driving inverter motor power factor control H02P23/26
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 23/26 Power factor control [PFC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A power inverter control adjusts input power to track with output power to reduce energy handling requirements for an inverter DC bus. Input power to the power inverter circuit is measured and compared with a measurement of inverter output power. The comparison result is applied to a power factor correction circuit to adjust input power to track with output power, while obtaining a good power factor for the power inverter circuit. The energy requirements and ripple voltages or ripple currents on the DC bus are reduced, leading to a reduction in rating specifications for passive energy storage elements on the DC bus.

Claims

1. A power delivery system comprising:

an input power conditioning circuit for switching input power to obtain a desired power condition;

a DC bus coupled to the power conditioning circuit for transferring DC power supplied by the power conditioning circuit;

a power control circuit coupled to the power conditioning circuit for controlling input power drawn by the power conditioning circuit;

a first circuit for delivering an input signal indicative of input power to the power control circuit;

a second circuit coupled to the DC bus for delivering an output signal indicative of output power to the power control circuit; and

a power inverter coupled to the DC bus for providing a switched power output, wherein;

the power control circuit operable to control the power conditioning circuit such that input power tracks with output power, and the power output signal indicative of output power is obtained based on direct measurements of speed and torque of a motor coupled to the power inverter.

2. A controller for an electrical power delivery system which provides controlled power to a load, the power delivery system including a DC link having a rectification circuit for converting incoming AC power to DC power, a switched inverter for generating controlled AC power from the DC power, and an energy storage unit in the DC link coupling the rectification circuit and the inverter, the controller comprising:

an input power conditioning unit adapted for connection to an output of the rectification circuit;

a power control unit coupled to the power conditioning unit for controlling the power drawn by the power conditioning unit;

a first sensor unit operative to provide a signal indicative of the DC power drawn by the power conditioning unit by sensing a voltage and current at the output of the rectification circuit; and

a second sensor unit operative to provide a signal indicative of output AC power delivered to the load by sensing the DC link voltage and current;

wherein the power control unit is operable in response to the signals from the first and second sensor units to control the power conditioning unit to minimize the difference between the DC power drawn by the input power conditioning unit and the AC power delivered to the load,

whereby the capacity of the energy storage unit is minimized.

3. A power delivery system including the controller according to claim 2, further comprising:

a power output unit which is adapted to provide power to the load; and

a DC bus coupled to the power conditioning unit for transferring DC power supplied by the power conditioning unit to the power output unit.

4. The power delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the controller comprises an integrated circuit.

5. The power delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the second sensor unit comprises an estimator circuit coupled to the DC bus and operable to provide the signal indicative of output power based on measurements obtained from the DC bus.

6. A power delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the power output unit comprises a power inverter coupled to the DC bus for providing a switched power output to the load.

7. The power delivery system according to claim 6;

wherein;

the energy storage unit comprises a bus capacitor coupled to an input of the power inverter; and

the power rating of the bus capacitor is minimized relative to the power capacity of the system.

8. The power delivery system according to claim 6;

wherein;

the energy storage unit comprises an inductor which couples the DC bus to an input of the power inverter, wherein the power rating of the inductor is minimized relative to the power capacity of the system.

9. The power delivery system according to claim 6, wherein the signal provided by the second sensor unit is obtained based on direct measurements of speed and torque of a motor coupled to the power inverter.

10. The controller according to claim 2, wherein the power conditioning unit comprises a power factor correction circuit.

11. The controller according to claim 2, wherein the first sensor receives an input current signal indicative of input current provided to the power conditioning unit, and an input voltage signal indicative of voltage supplied to the power conditioning unit.

12. The controller according to claim 11, wherein the DC power signal provided by the first sensor is obtained through multiplication of signals representing the input current and the input voltage.

13. The controller according to claim 2, wherein the load to be driven is a motor, and the signal provided by the second sensor unit is obtained based on direct measurements of speed and torque of the motor.

14. The controller according to claim 3, wherein the power conditioning unit includes a power factor correction unit.

15. An integrated circuit comprising the controller according to claim 2.

16. A method for controlling power delivered to a load by a power delivery system including a DC link having a rectification circuit for converting incoming AC power to DC power, a switched inverter for generating controlled AC power from the DC power, and an energy storage unit in the DC link coupling the rectification circuit and the inverter, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining an indication of input power drawn by the power delivery system from a power source from measurement of the current and voltage at the rectification circuit by sensing a voltage and current at the output of the rectification circuit;

obtaining an indication of output power delivered to the load by sensing the DC link voltage and current;

controlling a power conversion unit coupled to the input power source to minimize the difference between the input power drawn from the source and the output power delivered to the load, based on the indications of the input and output power.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the output power indication is derived from measurements of at least one of a torque and velocity of a motor load.

18. A method for minimizing power rating for a passive component in a power delivery system comprising a rectification circuit coupled to an alternating current power source, a power conversion unit coupled to an output of the rectification circuit, an output of the power conversion unit coupled to a DC link to which the passive component is connected, further comprising a DC-AC inverter having an input connected to the DC link and an output providing output power, the method comprising:

obtaining an indication of input power drawn by the power delivery system from the alternating current power source by sensing a voltage and current at an output of the rectification circuit;

obtaining an indication of the output power supplied by the power delivery system by sensing the DC link voltage and current; and

controlling the power conversion unit to minimize the difference between the input power drawn from the power source and the output power based on the indications of the input and output power.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the output power indication is derived from measurements of at least one of a torque and velocity of a motor load.