Power supply apparatus with selective rectifier harmonic input current suppression and methods of operation thereof

• US 6,295,216 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abstrac Products, Inc., Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Powerware Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Hong, Faria, Des, Grudzinski, Piotr, Akbari, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L.
• Application Number:
  US09/543,814
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 363/39, 363/80, 363/44, 363/46, 363/89, 363/97, 363/126, 363/131, 323/205, 323/207, 307/105, 307/43-46, 307/64, 307/66
• US Class Current: 363/44
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/12 Arrangements for reducing harmonics from ac input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4225 using a non-isolated boost converter
• 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 power supply apparatus includes an AC input port and a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC input voltage at the AC input port. The apparatus further includes a selective harmonic current inducing circuit, coupled to the rectifier circuit output, that induces a harmonic component in a current delivered to a load from the rectifier circuit output. The selective harmonic current inducing circuit may control a phase and a magnitude of the induced harmonic current component in order to achieve selective suppression of a harmonic input current at the AC input port. The power supply apparatus may further include a filter circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that selectively suppresses a first harmonic current at the AC input port. The selective harmonic current inducing circuit may control the phase and magnitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a second harmonic current at the AC input port is suppressed. For example, for a three-phase passive rectifier circuit, the filter circuit may suppress a fifth harmonic input current, and the selective harmonic current inducing circuit may control the phase and magnitude of an induced sixth harmonic current component such that a seventh harmonic input current at the AC input port is suppressed. Related methods are also discussed.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus, comprising:

an AC input port;

a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC input voltage at the AC input port; and

a selective harmonic current inducting circuit, coupled to the rectifier circuit output, that induces a harmonic component in a current delivered to a load from the rectifier circuit output to suppress a harmonic current at the AC input port without requiring a current bypass between the AC input port and the rectifier circuit output.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing circuit controls a phase and a magnitude of the induced harmonic current component.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing circuit controls the phase and magnitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a selected harmonic current at the AC input port is suppressed.

4. A power supply apparatus, comprising:

an AC input port;

a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC input voltage at the AC input port;

a selective harmonic current inducting circuit, coupled to the rectifier circuit output, that induces a harmonic component in a current delivered to a load from the rectifier circuit output; and

a filter circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that selectively suppresses a first harmonic current at the AC input port, and wherein the selective harmonic current inducing circuit controls the phase and magnitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a second harmonic current at the AC input port is suppressed.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a three-phase passive rectifier circuit.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing circuit induces a harmonic current component in the current delivered to the load having frequency that is six times a fundamental frequency of the AC input voltage.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing circuit controls the phase and amplitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a harmonic current at the AC input port having a frequency seven times the fundamental frequency is suppressed.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a fifth harmonic filter that selectively suppresses a harmonic current at the AC input port having a frequency five times the fundamental frequency.

9. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing circuit comprises a current control circuit that controls the current delivered to the load responsive to a current reference signal.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing circuit further comprises a current reference signal generating circuit that generates the current reference signal.

11. A power supply apparatus, comprising:

an AC input port;

a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC input voltage at the AC input port; and

a selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit, coupled to the rectifier output, that regulates a DC component of a current delivered to a load coupled to the rectifier circuit output and selectively induces a harmonic component in the current delivered to the load to suppress a harmonic current at the AC input port without requiring a current bypass between the AC input port and the rectifier circuit output.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit controls a phase and a magnitude of the induced harmonic current component.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit controls the phase and magnitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a selected harmonic current at the AC input port is suppressed.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit comprises a current control circuit that controls the current delivered to the load responsive to a current reference signal.

15. A power supply apparatus, comprising:

an AC input port;

a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC input voltage at the AC input port;

a selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit, coupled to the rectifier output, that regulates a DC component of a current delivered to a load coupled to the rectifier circuit output and selectively induces a harmonic component in the current delivered to the load; and

a filter circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that selectively suppresses a first harmonic current at the AC input port, and wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit controls the phase and magnitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a second harmonic current at the AC input port is suppressed.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit comprises a voltage regulator or a battery charger.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a load coupled to the rectifier circuit output, and wherein the load comprises at least one of an inverter and a battery.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit controls the phase and magnitude of the induced harmonic current component such that the first harmonic current is increased.

19. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a three-phase passive rectifier circuit.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit induces a harmonic circuit induces a harmonic current component in the current delivered to the load having a frequency that is six times fundamental frequency of the AC input voltage.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit controls the phase and amplitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a harmonic current at the AC input port having a frequency seven times the fundamental frequency is suppressed.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a filter that selectively suppresses a harmonic current at the AC input port having a frequency five times the fundamental frequency.

23. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit controls at least one of the phase and the magnitude of the induced harmonic current responsive to a control signal.

24. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit synchronizes the induced harmonic current component to the AC input voltage.

25. A power supply apparatus, comprising:

an AC input port;

a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC input voltage at the AC input port; and

a selective harmonic inducing current delivered to a load coupled to the rectifier circuit output and selectively induces a harmonic component in the current delivered to the load, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit comprises a current control circuit that controls the current delivered to the load responsive to a current reference signal, and wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit further comprises;

a first current reference signal generating circuit that generates a first current reference signal that commands a DC current component for the current delivered to the load;

a second current reference signal generating circuit that generates a second current reference signal that commands a harmonic current component for the current delivered to the load; and

a combining circuit that combines the first and second reference current signals to generate a third current reference signal; and

wherein the current control circuit is responsive to the third reference current signal.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the second current reference signal generating circuit comprises:

a reference signal generating circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that generates a reference signal that is synchronized to the AC input voltage; and

a phase and magnitude control circuit that generates the second current reference signal from the reference signal.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the reference signal generator comprises:

a phase locked loop, coupled to the AC input port, that generates a first reference signal that is phase locked to the AC input voltage;

a frequency multiplier that generates a second reference signal from the first reference signal;

a phase shifter circuit that produces a third reference signal from the second reference signal, the third reference signal phase shifted with respect to the second reference signal; and

a variable gain circuit that produces the current reference signal from the third reference signal such that the magnitude of the current reference signal varies responsive to a control signal applied to the variable gain circuit.

28. A power supply apparatus, comprising:

an AC input port;

a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC input voltage at the AC input port;

a filter circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that suppresses a first harmonic current at the AC input port; and

a selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit, coupled to the rectifier output, that regulates a DC component of a current delivered to a load coupled to the rectifier circuit output and that selectively induces a harmonic component in the current delivered to the load to thereby suppress a second harmonic current at the AC input port.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit controls a phase and a magnitude of the induced harmonic current component.

30. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a three-phase passive rectifier circuit.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit induces a harmonic current component in the current delivered to the load having a frequency that is six times a fundamental frequency of the AC input voltage.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the selective harmonic inducing current regulator circuit controls the phase and amplitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a harmonic current at the AC input port having a frequency seven times the fundamental frequency is suppressed.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the filter circuit suppresses a harmonic current at the AC input port having a frequency five times the fundamental frequency.

34. An uninterruptible power supply apparatus, comprising:

an AC input port;

a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a rectified DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC input voltage at the AC input port;

a selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit, coupled to the rectifier output, that regulates the rectified DC voltage to produce a regulated DC voltage, that regulates a DC component of a current delivered by the rectifier circuit and that selectively induces a harmonic component in the delivered current; and

an inverter circuit, coupled to the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit, that produces an AC output voltage from the regulated DC voltage;

wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit suppresses a harmonic input current at the AC input port without requiring a current bypass between the AC input port and the rectifier circuit output.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit controls a phase and a magnitude of the induced harmonic current component.

36. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit comprises a current control circuit that controls the current delivered by the rectifier circuit responsive to a current reference signal.

37. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit controls at least one of the phase and the magnitude of the induced harmonic current responsive to a control signal.

38. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit controls the phase and magnitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a selected harmonic current at the AC input port is suppressed.

39. An uninterruptible power supply apparatus, comprising:

an AC input port;

a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a rectified DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output form an AC input voltage at the AC input port;

a selective harmonic current inducting voltage regulator circuit, coupled to the rectifier output, that regulates the rectified DC voltage to produce a regulated DC voltage, that regulates a DC component of a current delivered by the rectifier circuit and that selectively induces a harmonic component in the delivered current;

an inverter circuit, coupled to the to selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit, that produces an AC output voltage from the regulated DC voltage; and

a filter circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that selectively suppresses a first harmonic current at the AC input port, and wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit controls the phase and magnitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a second harmonic current at the AC input port is suppressed.

40. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a three-phase passive rectifier circuit.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit induces a harmonic current component having a frequency that is six times a fundamental frequency of the AC input voltage.

42. An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit controls the phase and amplitude of the induced harmonic current component such that a harmonic current at the AC input port having a frequency seven times the fundamental frequency is suppressed.

43. An apparatus according to claim 42, further comprising a filter that selectively suppresses a harmonic current at the AC input port having a frequency five times the fundamental frequency.

44. An apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising an auxiliary power source coupled to the inverter.

45. An uninterruptible power supply apparatus, comprising:

an AC input port;

a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a rectified DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output form an AC input voltage at a AC input port;

a selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit, coupled to the rectifier output, that regulates the rectified DC voltage to produce a regulated DC voltage, that regulated a DC component of a current delivered by the rectifier circuit and that selectively induces a harmonic component in the delivered current; and

an inverter circuit, coupled to the to selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit, that produces an AC output voltage from the regulated C voltage;

wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit controls a phase and a magnitude of the induced harmonic current component;

wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit comprises a current control circuit that controls the current delivered by the rectifier circuit responsive to a current reference signal; and

wherein the selective harmonic current inducing voltage regulator circuit further comprises;

a first current reference signal generating circuit that generates a first current reference signal that commands a DC current component for the current delivered by the rectifier circuit;

a second current reference signal generating circuit that generates a second current reference signal that commands a harmonic current component for the current delivered by the rectifier circuit; and

a combining circuit that combines the first and second reference current signals to generate a third current reference signal; and

wherein the current control circuit is responsive to the third reference current signal.

46. An apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the second current reference signal generating circuit comprises:

a reference signal generating circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that generates a reference signal that is synchronized to the AC input voltage; and

a phase and magnitude control circuit that generates the second current reference signal from the reference signal.

47. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the reference signal generator comprises:

a phase locked loop, coupled to the AC input port, that generates a first reference signal that is phase locked to the AC input voltage;

a frequency multiplier that generates a second reference signal from the first reference signal;

a phase shifter circuit that produces a third reference signal from the second reference signal, the third reference signal phase shifted with respect to the second reference signal; and

a variable gain circuit that produces the current reference signal from the third reference signal such that the magnitude of the current reference signal varies responsive to a control signal applied to the variable gain circuit.

48. A method of operating a rectifier circuit that produces a DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC voltage applied to an input of the rectifier circuit, the method comprising:

selectively inducing a harmonic component in a current delivered to a load from the rectifier circuit output to suppress a selected harmonic input current at the input of the rectifier without requiring a current bypass between a source of the AC voltage applied to the input of the rectifier circuit and the rectifier circuit output.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein selectively inducing a harmonic component comprises controlling at least one of the magnitude and phase of the induced harmonic component.

50. A method of operating a rectifier circuit that produces a DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC voltage applied to an input of the rectifier circuit, the method comprising:

selectively inducing a harmonic component in a current delivered to a load from the rectifier circuit output to suppress a selected harmonic input current at the input of the rectifier; and

filtering a first harmonic current at the rectifier circuit input, wherein selectively inducing a harmonic component comprises the step of controlling at lease one of th magnitude and phase of the induced harmonic component to suppress a second harmonic current at the rectifier circuit input.

51. A method according to claim 50, wherein selectively inducing a harmonic component comprises the step of regulating a DC component of the current delivered to the load.

52. A method according to claim 50, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a three-phase passive rectifier circuit, and wherein selectively inducing a harmonic component comprises the step of inducing a harmonic current having a frequency that is six times a fundamental frequency of the AC input voltage.

53. A method according to claim 52, wherein selectively inducing a harmonic component comprises controlling the magnitude and phase of the induced sixth harmonic current such that a seventh harmonic input current at the rectifier circuit input is suppressed.

54. A method according to claim 53, further comprising filtering a fifth harmonic input current having a frequency five time the fundamental frequency at the rectifier circuit input.

55. A power supply apparatus, comprising:

an AC input port;

a rectifier circuit, coupled to the AC input port, that produces a DC voltage at a rectifier circuit output from an AC input voltage at the AC input port; and

a selective harmonic current inducing circuit, coupled to the rectifier circuit output, that induces a sixth order harmonic component in a current delivered to a load from the rectifier circuit output such that a harmonic current at the AC input port is suppressed.

56. An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the selective harmonic current inducting circuit induces the sixth order harmonic component such that a seventh or higher order harmonic current at the AC input port is suppressed.

57. An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the selective harmonic current inducting circuit controls the phase and amplitude of the induced sixth order harmonic current such that the harmonic current at the AC input port is suppressed.

58. An apparatus according to claim 55, further comprising a fifth order harmonic filter coupled to the AC input port that selectively suppresses a fifth order harmonic current at the AC input port.

59. An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the selective harmonic current inducting circuit comprises a selective harmonic inducting current regulator circuit that induces the sixth order harmonic component of the current delivered to the load and the regulates a DC component of the current delivered to the load.

60. An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a three-phase rectifier circuit.

61. An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a passive three-phase circuit.