Method and device for determining a direct current and resistance welding device

• US 8,912,786 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fronius International GmbH (G&K Privatstiftung)
• Original Assignee: Fronius International GmbH (G&K Privatstiftung)
• Inventors: Badegruber, Thomas, Ennsbrunner, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICKINSON, DUSTIN R
• Application Number:
  US12/998,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20110260711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 324/76.75, 324/119, 324/126, 324/127
• US Class Current: 324/127
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/257 the measured parameter being an electrical current
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/181 using coils without a magnetic core, e.g. Rogowski coils
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/40 Structural association with built-in electric component, e.g. fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/085 Welding transformers

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for determining a direct current (i(t)) flowing in a conductor (7) and having an amplitude greater than 500 A, which direct current (i(t)) is composed of a number of time-dependent partial currents (i_i(t)) flowing in individual conductors (8) with switching elements. To create a drift-free measured value, it is provided that at least one Rogowski coil (10) is arranged around at least one of the individual conductors (8) for the induction of a partial voltage (u_i(t)) through the at least one partial current (i_i(t)), wherein the individual conductor (8) is formed by a path of a rectifier (6) on a secondary side of a transformer (5) with central tapping, the at least one integrator (11) is designed for integration of the at least one partial voltage (u_i(t)), and the at least one integrator (11) is connected to an evaluation unit (12) for determining the direct current (i(t)).

Claims

1. A method for determining a direct current flowing in a conductor during a process harnessing the direct current, the direct current having an amplitude greater than 500 A and being composed of a number of time-dependent partial currents flowing in first and second individual conductors having first and second switching elements, respectively, wherein at least one induced partial voltage is created by the partial current flowing in the first individual conductor by arranging at least one Rogowski coil around the first individual conductor, wherein each of the first and second individual conductors is formed by a respective path of a rectifier on a secondary side of a transformer with central tapping, and the induced partial voltage is integrated in at least one integrator and the direct current is determined with an evaluation unit connected to the at least one integrator, wherein during the process the partial current flowing in the first individual conductor is measured and becomes zero temporarily while partial current flows simultaneously in the second individual conductor, and wherein the at least one integrator is connected to the at least one Rogowski coil and is reset when the partial current in the first individual conductor is zero.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a differential voltage is induced in the at least one Rogowski coil and is formed by a current difference formed by at least two partial currents oriented opposed.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one integrator is reset when the switching element in the first individual conductor is opened.

4. A device for determining a direct current flowing in a conductor during a process harnessing the direct current, the direct current having an amplitude greater than 500 A and being composed of a number of time-dependent partial currents flowing in first and second individual conductors having first and second switching elements, respectively, the device comprising at least one integrator and at least one Rogowski coil arranged around at least the first individual conductor for the induction of a partial voltage by the partial current in the first individual conductor, wherein each of the first and second individual conductors is formed by a respective path of a rectifier on a secondary side of transformer with central tapping, wherein the at least one integrator is designed for integration of the partial voltage, wherein the at least one integrator is connected to an evaluation unit for determining of the direct current, wherein during the process the partial current flowing in the first individual conductor is measured and becomes zero temporarily while partial current flows simultaneously in the second individual conductor, and wherein the at least one integrator is connected to the at least one Rogowski coil and is configured to be reset when the partial current in the first individual conductor is zero.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first and second individual conductors run equally opposed and the at least one Rogowski coil comprises one Rogowski coil arranged around the first and second individual conductors, and wherein the one Rogowski coil is connected to the at least one integrator for taking a mean value free differential voltage of a current difference of the partial currents from the first and second individual conductors.

6. The device according to claim 4, further comprising a second Rogowski coil arranged around the second individual conductor for the induction of a partial voltage via the partial current in the second individual conductor, and

further comprising a second integrator for integration of the partial voltage from the second Rogowski coil, the second integrator being connected to the evaluation unit, and

wherein the second integrator is periodically reset during the flowing of direct current, when the partial current flowing in the second individual conductor is ≦

zero.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one integrator is respectively connected to the switching element of the first individual conductor so that the at least one integrator can be reset, when the switching element of the first individual conductor is opened.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein the switching elements are formed by diodes.

9. The device according to claim 4, further comprising a second Rogowski coil arranged around the second individual conductor for the induction of a partial voltage via the partial current in the second individual conductor,

wherein the at least one integrator comprises a first integrator, and

wherein the at least one first Rogowski coil and the second Rogowski coil are each connected to the first integrator.

10. The device according to claim 4, wherein each the at least one Rogowski coil is provided with a shielding plate.

11. The device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one integrator is connected to a memory.

12. A device for resistance welding having two electrodes which are movable relative to one another and connected to a power source for providing a direct current having an amplitude greater than 500 A for welding, wherein the power source comprises at least one transformer and one rectifier having switching elements for delivering time-dependent partial currents flowing in first and second individual conductors, and having an apparatus for determining the direct current flowing in the first and second individual conductors during a welding process, the apparatus comprising at least one integrator and at least one Rogowski coil arranged around at least the first individual conductor for the induction of a partial voltage through the partial current in the first individual conductor, wherein each of the first and second individual conductors is formed by a respective path of the rectifier on the secondary side of a transformer with central tapping, wherein the at least one integrator is designed for the integration of the at least one partial voltage, wherein the at least one integrator is connected to an evaluation unit for determining the direct current, wherein during the process the partial current flowing in the first individual conductor is measured and becomes zero temporarily while partial current flows simultaneously in the second individual conductor, and wherein the at least one integrator is connected to the at least one Rogowski coil and is configured to be reset when the partial current in the first individual conductor is zero.

13. A device for determining a direct current flowing in a conductor and having an amplitude greater than 500 A, which direct current is composed of a number of time-dependent partial currents flowing in individual conductors having switching elements, the device comprising at least one integrator and at least two Rogowski coils arranged around at least two equally opposed individual conductors for the induction of a partial voltage by the at least one partial current, wherein each of the individual conductors is formed by a path of a rectifier on a secondary side of transformer with central tapping, wherein the at least one integrator is designed for integration of the at least one partial voltage, wherein the at least one integrator is connected to an evaluation unit for determining of the direct current, and wherein the at least two Rogowski coils are connected to each other and to the at least one integrator for taking a mean value free sum voltage from the partial voltages induced in the at least two Rogowski coils.

14. A method for determining a direct current and having an amplitude greater than 500 A, the direct current being composed of a number of time-dependent partial currents flowing in at least two individual conductors having respective switching elements, wherein at least two partial voltages are induced by the partial currents flowing in the at least two individual conductors by arranging a respective Rogowski coil around each of the at least two individual conductors, wherein each of the at least two individual conductors is formed by a path of a rectifier on a secondary side of transformer with central tapping, wherein the induced partial voltage is integrated in at least one integrator and the direct current is determined with an evaluation unit connected to the at least one integrator, wherein the two Rogowski coils are wired equally opposed, wherein a mean free sum voltage is formed of the at least two partial voltages induced in the two Rogowski coils wired equally opposed, and wherein the mean free sum voltage is integrated in the at least one integrator.