DC converter

• US 7,851,949 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Biester, Klaus, Kunow, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton; Gary L
• Application Number:
  US12/244,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20090021076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 363/65, 363/71, 323/271, 323/272, 307/44, 307/45, 307/54, 307/57, 307/58, 307/61, 307/63, 307/144
• US Class Current: 307/144
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0074 Plural converter units whose inputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/285 Single converters with a plurality of output stages connected in parallel parallel operation of a plurality of converters in dc distribution networks H02J1/10

Abstract

A DC converter is connected to a DC source on its input side. On the output side, the DC delivers a converted DC voltage to at least one electric consumer via a cable connection. To improve such a DC converter in that it has a comparatively simple structural design and is able to reliably convert high DC voltages even in the case of high power, and in such a way that the reliability of the converter is increased and cooling systems entailing high costs can be dispensed with, the DC converter comprises a plurality of DC converter components, each of said DC components being, on the input side, serially connected to the DC source and, on the output side connected in parallel to the cable connection so as to provide the converted DC voltage for the electric consumer.

Claims

1. A system for supplying power to an electrical device, the system comprising:

a plurality of DC/DC converters, wherein inputs of the DC/DC converters are serially connected to a high DC voltage from a remote DC source and wherein outputs of the DC/DC converters are connected in parallel to provide a lower DC voltage to the electrical device,

wherein an input side of each DC/DC converter comprises a Zener diode to build up power on the input side of each DC/DC converter before the DC/DC power converters operate to provide the lower DC voltage to the electrical device,

wherein said Zener diodes are spaced for cooling during said build up of power without an active cooling mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the high DC voltage is received via an electrical conductor that is at least one kilometer in length.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller coupled to each of the DC/DC converters, wherein the controller is operable to regulate one or more functions of each DC/DC converter.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the controller is further coupled to the remote electrical consumer, wherein the controller is operable to regulate one or more functions of the remote electrical consumer.

5. The system of claim 3 further comprising a data coupling device coupled to the electrical conductor and the controller, wherein the data coupling device is operable to decouple data from the electrical conductor and provide the data to the controller while power is supplied to the electrical device.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the data coupling device is operable to couple data from the controller to the electrical conductor while power is supplied to the electrical conductor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the data decoupled from the electrical conductor is used to control the electrical device.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the data coupled to the electrical conductor is used to monitor the electrical device.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the data coupled to the electrical device is used to monitor the DC/DC converters.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the controller is operable to detect failure of a DC/DC converter and cause functioning DC/DC converters to compensate for the failed DC/DC converter.

11. The system of claim 3 wherein the controller independently controls an output power of each DC/DC converter.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein each DC/DC converter comprises a switching mechanism that permits the output power of each DC/DC converter to be controlled using a pulse width modulated signal.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical device is an actuator.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor is a coaxial cable.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical device is located below ground.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical device is located under water.

17. A system comprising:

a plurality of redundant DC voltage converters each having an input serially connected to a high DC voltage and each having an output to operate an fluid line valve,

wherein an input side of each redundant DC converter includes a Zener diode to build up power on the input side of each DC voltage converter before the DC power converters operate to provide power to the fluid line valve.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the length of the conductor is at least one kilometer.

18. A DC converter connectable to a remote DC source, the DC converter delivering a converted voltage to at least one motor-operated fluid line valve via a cable connection, wherein the DC converter comprises:

a plurality of redundant DC converter components, each of said DC converter components being, on an input side, serially connectable to the remote DC source and, on an output side, connected in parallel to the cable connection so as to provide the converted DC voltage for the motor-operated fluid line valve,

each redundant DC converter component having on the input side thereof a power dissipation path and a power conversion path,

the power dissipation paths each comprising a Zener diode and being configured to build up power on the input side of each redundant DC converter component before the power conversion paths operate to provide the converted DC voltage to the motor-operated fluid line valve.

20. A power delivery system, comprising:

a plurality of redundant DC/DC power converters coupled in serial, each redundant DC/DC power converter being configured to receive a DC voltage from a DC source and to provide a converted DC output voltage,

wherein converted DC output voltages provided by the redundant DC/DC power converters are combined in parallel,

wherein converted DC output voltages provided by the redundant DC/DC power converters are selectively increased to compensate for failed redundant DC/DC power converters, and

wherein a Zener diode is provided on an input side of each redundant DC/DC power converter to build up power on the input side of each redundant DC/DC power converter before the redundant DC/DC power converters operate to provide the converted DC output voltages.

21. The power delivery system of claim 20 wherein the redundant DC/DC power converters are positioned underwater and selectively provide the converted DC output voltages to operate an actuator that controls fluid flow.