Smart Resistor-Less Pre-Charge Circuit For Power Converter

• US 20150229203A1
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rhombus Energy Solutions, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rhombus Energy Solutions, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Esmaili, Gholamreza, Gottlieb, Joseph, Clark, Kevin Michael, Hassani, Farhad
• Application Number:
  US14/178,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20150229203A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/001 limiting speed of change of electric quantities, e.g. soft switching on or off progressive control of electronic switches for eliminating interferences H03K17/16
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/062 Avoiding or suppressing excessive transient voltages or currents
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/125 Avoiding or suppressing excessive transient voltages or currents

Abstract

A resistor-less device for limiting inrush current in power system startup, for a DC-link capacitor. A DC-link capacitor is coupled to an output of an AC power source rectifying circuit, providing a DC-bus voltage. A current direction sensitive, controllable electrical switch comprising a reverse based diode in parallel with a controllable forward based diode, is in series connection with the DC-link capacitor. A diode controller is coupled to the controllable forward based diode, controlling a conducting state of the forward based diode. A system measurement signal is input to the diode controller and a diode controller module having decision logic, uses the system measurement signal to turn “on” the conducting (or non-conducting) state of the controllable forward based diode, at a predetermined time and duration, wherein inrush current on a system startup is limited.

Claims

1. A resistor-less device for limiting inrush current in power system startup, for a DC-link capacitor, comprising:

a DC-link capacitor configurable to be coupled to an output of an AC power source rectifying circuit, to provide a DC-bus voltage;

a current direction sensitive, controllable electrical switch comprising a reverse based diode in parallel with a controllable forward based diode, in series connection with the DC-link capacitor;

a diode controller, coupled to the controllable forward based diode, controlling a conducting state of the forward based diode;

a system measurement signal input to the diode controller; and

a diode controller module having decision logic, using the system measurement signal, to turn on the conducting state of the controllable forward based diode, at a predetermined time and duration,

wherein inrush current on a system startup is limited.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an AC power source.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the AC power source is a single phase power source.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the rectifying circuit is an inverter bridge.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the controllable forward based diode is a thyristor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the system measurement signal includes at least one of an AC power source voltage measurement and a system line current measurement.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is remotely connected to the controllable forward based diode.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the decision logic is remote from the controller.

9. A resistor-less method for limiting inrush current in power system startup, for a DC-link capacitor, comprising:

connecting a DC-link capacitor configurable to an output of an AC power source rectifying circuit, to provide a DC-bus voltage;

connecting a current direction sensitive, controllable electrical switch comprising a reverse based diode in parallel with a controllable forward based diode, in series with the DC-link capacitor;

connecting a diode controller to the controllable forward based diode, to control a conducting state of the forward based diode;

connecting a system measurement signal input to the diode controller; and

operating decision logic, using the system measurement signal, to turn on via the controller the conducting state of the controllable forward based diode, at a predetermined time and duration,

wherein inrush current on a system startup is limited.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the AC power source is a single phase power source.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the rectifying circuit is an inverter bridge.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the controllable forward based diode is a thyristor.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the system measurement signal includes at least one of an AC power source voltage measurement and a system line current measurement.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the controller is remotely connected to the controllable forward based diode.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the decision logic is remote from the controller.