Power electronic tap changer module for transformer

• US 10,861,642 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2019
• Issued: 12/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Energy Limited
• Original Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Aloszko, Pawel, Grecki, Filip, Jez, Radoslaw, Obrebski, Krzysztof, Czopek, Marcin, Ostrogorska, Magdalena
• Primary Examiner(s): Gblende, Jeffrey A
• Application Number:
  US16/397,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20190259530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/20 semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/67 to the maximum power available from a generator, e.g. from solar cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 7/12 Overvoltage protection resistors series resistors structurally associated with spark gaps H01T1/16
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 29/04 having provision for tap-changing without interrupting the load current
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0005 Tap change devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/055 for tapped transformers or tap-changing means thereof

Abstract

The subject of the application is a power electronic tap changer module for transformer using power electronic elements connected to sections of a primary winding of the transformer. The power electronic tap changer module is equipped with valves having a pair of a thyristor or transistors connected with a controller and the valves are connected in series with the fuses, respectively. The module is equipped with an additional oversized tap line having an oversized valve rated for short circuit current, which valve is connected with an overvoltage triggering circuit. The oversized valve is equipped with a pair of thyristor or transistors connected with a thermally protected voltage suppressing device.

Claims

1. A power electronic tap changer module for a transformer, connected to a section of a primary winding of the transformer through tap lines, where each of the tap lines is equipped with one or more first valves;

each first valve has a pair of thyristors or transistors connected with a controller through a triggering circuit and a control signal receiver connected in parallel;

the pair of thyristors or transistors is connected in antiparallel to each other and in parallel with a transient voltage suppressor device for overvoltage or open circuit protection in response to a short circuit or overcurrent condition, wherein the one or more first valves of the tap lines are each connected in series with a respective fuse;

the power electronic tap changer module being further equipped with an additional tap line having a second valve for overvoltage or open circuit protection in response to triggering of the respective fuses in response to the short circuit or overcurrent condition, which second valve is equipped with an overvoltage triggering circuit;

the second valve is equipped with a second pair of thyristors or transistors connected in antiparallel to each other and is connected in parallel with a voltage suppressing device that disconnects in response to overheating.

2. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 1, wherein the overvoltage triggering circuit has a metal oxide varistor device or transient voltage suppressor diodes and a pair of diodes with reverse polarity.

3. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 1, wherein the voltage suppressing device of the second valve is a thermally protected metal oxide varistor device or transient voltage suppressor diodes.

4. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 1, wherein the second valve is connected directly to the primary winding.

5. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 1, wherein the first valves and the second valve are connected directly to a voltage source.

6. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 1, wherein the first valves and the second valve are connected through the primary windings to a voltage source.

7. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 1, wherein the second valve is rated for short-circuit current whereas the first valves are rated for nominal current.

8. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 1, wherein the transient voltage suppressor device of each of the first valves is thermally protected.

9. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 2, wherein the transient voltage suppressor device of each of the first valves is a thermally protected metal oxide varistor device or transient voltage suppressor diodes.

10. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 2, wherein the second valve is connected directly to the primary winding.

11. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 3, wherein the second valve is connected directly to the primary winding.

12. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 4, wherein the second valve is connected directly to the primary winding.

13. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 9, wherein the second valve is connected directly to the primary winding.

14. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 2, wherein the first valves and the second valve are connected directly to a voltage source.

15. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 3, wherein the first valves and the second valve are connected directly to a voltage source.

16. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 4, wherein the first valves and the second valve are connected directly to a voltage source.

17. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 5, wherein the first valves and the second valve are connected directly to a voltage source.

18. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 2, wherein the first valves and the second valve are connected through the primary windings to a voltage source.

19. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 3, wherein the first valves and the second valve are connected through the primary windings to a voltage source.

20. The power electronic tap changer module according to claim 4, wherein the first valves and the second valve are connected through the primary windings to a voltage source.