Reactive power balancing current limited power supply for driving floating DC loads

• US 9,192,001 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ambiance Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ambiance Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Stepps, Dale B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant
• Application Number:
  US13/902,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20140268941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/17, 363/41, 363/44, 363/45, 363/53, 363/65, 363/89.126, 315/158, 315/159, 315/185.R, 315/193, 315/209.R, 315/224, 315/225
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4266 using passive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/05 Capacitor coupled rectifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A capacitance based reactive power balancing current limited power supply (RPBCLPS) for driving floating DC loads utilizes capacitive reactance to limit current being supplied to a load, rather than inductance. A capacitor transfers charge from an AC current input to a DC load. A fuse electrically protects the capacitor from high frequency current harmonics. A diode clamp electrically protects the capacitor from voltage spikes. A rectifier converts the AC current input into DC current for driving the DC load. The reactive power balancing current limited power supply can be incorporated as a key component into reactive power balancing electrical power distribution systems. Such systems can comprise a grid configuration structured to distribute the AC electrical power from a utility source to a plurality of DC loads. Further, the DC loads can be cooperatively located to provide functional distributed capacitance throughout a substantial portion of the grid.

Claims

1. A capacitance based reactive power balancing current limited power supply (RPBCLPS) circuit, said circuit comprising:

an AC current input;

a fuse disposed in electrical communication with said input and structured to electrically protect a capacitor from high frequency current harmonics and over voltage spikes;

said capacitor disposed in electrical communication with said fuse and said AC current input, and structured to transfer charge from said AC current input to a local floating DC load;

a diode clamp disposed in electrical communication with said fuse, said AC current input, and said capacitor, and structured to electrically protect said capacitor from over voltage spikes; and

a rectifier disposed in electrical communication with said diode clamp, said capacitor, said fuse, and said AC current input, and structured to rectify said AC current input into DC current for driving said DC load;

wherein said fuse, capacitor, diode clamp, and rectifier are collectively disposed and structured to introduce a current phase shift opposite an inductive phase shift associated with said local floating DC load, such that said current phase shift improves a reactive power balance of at least a local premises associated with said DC load,

wherein said RPBCLPS circuit includes no inductance circuitry between said AC current input and said rectifier.

2. A circuit as recited in claim 1 structured to convert a rising voltage into real power used in the load, thereby facilitating dampening of resonances present in associated systems where capacitance and inductance are present.

3. A circuit as recited in claim 1 structured to remove higher frequency harmonics from associated mains, thereby improving power quality.

4. A circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said rectifier is further structured to facilitate switching of a mains frequency.

5. A circuit as recited in claim 1 structured to deliver limited current to the load regardless of where on a sine-wave AC current input a voltage is turned on, thereby avoiding excess start-up current surges.

6. A circuit as recited in claim 1 configured to power at least one LED, wherein said local floating DC load comprises said at least one LED.

7. A circuit as recited in claim 6 further configured to automatically adapt to said at least one LED load, wherein said at least one LED is rated for peak currents operating under a corresponding maximum AC voltage.

8. A circuit as recited in claim 6 further comprising a solid state relay disposed in interconnecting relation between said at least one LED and a shorting switch, thereby permitting switch control of said at least one LED by way of shorting said LED.

9. A circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said capacitor is structured to absorb EMI in the frequency bands from 150KHz to 30MHz.

10. A circuit as recited in claim 9 wherein said capacitor comprises a polypropylene power film construction.

11. A circuit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a variable AC voltage input structured to permit adjustment of said DC current driving said load.

12. A circuit as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one current limiting feature.

13. A circuit as recited in claim 12 wherein said at least one current limiting feature comprises a solid state current limit comprising an integrated circuit configuration.

14. A circuit as recited in claim 12 wherein said at least one current limiting feature comprises a transistor based solid state current limit.

15. A circuit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a relay switch structured to facilitate remote shutdown of said load.

16. A circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said rectifier comprises a bridge structure.

17. A circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said rectifier comprises at least one LED oppositely disposed to said DC load, said oppositely disposed LED structured to at least partially rectify said AC current input into said DC current for driving said DC load.

18. A circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said circuit is rated for 10 watts at 60Hz and capable of delivering 67 Watts at 400Hz.

19. A reactive power balancing electrical power distribution system, comprising:

a utility source of AC electrical power;

a power distribution grid structured to distribute the AC electrical power provided by said utility source;

a plurality of DC loads distributed in connection with said power distribution grid and structured to receive the electrical power for driving said DC loads; and

a plurality of capacitance based reactive power balancing current limited power supplies structured to power said DC loads, wherein each of said power supplies comprises;

an AC current input;

a capacitor disposed in electrical communication with said AC current input, and structured to transfer charge from said AC current input to one of said DC loads;

a fuse disposed in electrical communication with said input and said AC current input, and structured to electrically protect said capacitor from at least high frequency current harmonics;

a diode clamp disposed in electrical communication with said fuse, said AC current input, and said capacitor, and structured to electrically protect said capacitor from over voltage spikes; and

a rectifier disposed in electrical communication with said diode clamp, said capacitor, said fuse, and said AC current input, and structured to rectify said AC current input into DC current for driving said one DC load;

wherein said fuse, capacitor, diode clamp, and rectifier are collectively disposed and structured to improve a reactive power balance of at least a local premises associated with said one DC load,

wherein said system includes no inductance circuitry between said AC current input and said rectifier.

20. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein individual ones of said plurality of DC loads are cooperatively located to provide functional distributed capacitance throughout a substantial portion of said power distribution grid.

21. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein at least some of said plurality of DC loads comprise LED lights.

22. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising at least one shorting switch control of said LED lights.

23. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein said LED lights are street lights.

24. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein at least some of said plurality of DC loads comprise battery charging stations.

25. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein said battery charging stations comprise golf cart charging stations, at least some of said golf cart charging stations being disposed in the vicinity of a golf course.

26. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein said battery charging stations comprise backup battery chargers for emergency lighting systems.

27. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein at least some of said plurality of DC loads comprise DC motors.