Uninterruptible power supply

• US 6,628,012 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Piller Group GmbH (Langley Holdings PLC)
• Original Assignee: Piller Group GmbH (Langley Holdings PLC)
• Inventors: Reuter, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L
• Application Number:
  US09/766,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20010009338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64, 307/43, 307/80, 307/82, 307/78, 307/68
• US Class Current: 307/68
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/066 characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines H02J9/08 takes precedence

Abstract

An uninterruptible power supply system (UPS) includes a coupling choke (5) being operably arranged between an electrical load (2) and an external source of power (4). A generator (8) is operably connected to the coupling choke (5) on the side of the electrical load (2), and it is designed and arranged to be active during normal conditions and during trouble conditions. Trouble conditions are to be understood as conditions when the external source of power (4) fails. A converter (9) is operably connected to the coupling choke (5). A substitute storage device for electrical energy is operably connected to the coupling choke (5) on the side of the electrical load (2) by the converter (9). A fast-opening switch (6) is operably connected the coupling choke (5) on the side of the source of power (4), and it is designed and arranged to open in case of occurring trouble conditions. A first unit (12) is designed and arranged to sense an output voltage being supplied to the electrical load (2) and to produce a measuring signal (25). A second unit (27) is designed and arranged to control the output voltage, to use the measuring signal (25) as an input signal, to deliver a control signal (26) as an output signal to the converter (9) and to control the output voltage to attain a desired shape over time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for uninterruptedly supplying power as alternating current to an electrical load being supplied with power by an external power source during normal conditions, comprising:

a coupling choke being operably arranged between the electrical load and the external source of power;

a generator with a single winding being operably connected to said coupling choke on the side of the electrical load and being designed and arranged to be active during normal conditions and during trouble conditions in case the external source of power fails;

an IGBT converter being directly connected to said coupling choke;

a substitute storage device for electrical energy being operably connected to said coupling choke on the side of the electrical load by said converter;

a fast-opening switch being operably connected said coupling choke on the side of the source of power and being designed and arranged to open in case of occurring trouble conditions;

a first unit being designed and arranged to sense an output voltage being supplied to the electrical load and to produce a measuring signal;

a second unit being designed and arranged to control the output voltage, to use the measuring signal as an input signal, to deliver a control signal as an output signal to said converter and to control the output voltage to a desired shape over time; and

said first and second units being designed to operate both during normal and trouble conditions to improve the quality of the power supply to the electrical load also during normal conditions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desired shape over time of the output voltage has the shape of a sinus function.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a combustion engine being designed and arranged to drive said generator during trouble conditions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an overrunning clutch operably connecting said combustion engine to said generator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a combustion engine being designed and arranged to drive said generator during trouble conditions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an overrunning clutch operably connecting said combustion engine to said generator.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said substitute storage device includes at least one power source supplying direct current.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said power source supplying direct current includes a super conductive magnetic energy storage device (SMES).

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said power source supplying direct current includes a super capacity.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said power source supplying direct current includes a battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said power source supplying direct current includes a fuel cell.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said substitute storage device includes at least one power source supplying alternating current.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, said power source supplying alternating current includes a generator and a rotating centrifugal mass.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transformer being operably arranged between said converter and the electrical load.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coupling choke is also partly arranged between said generator and said converter, on the on hand, and the load, on the other hand.

16. An uninterruptible power supply system, comprising:

a coupling choke being operably arranged between an external source of power and an electrical load to be supplied with power by the external source of power during normal conditions;

a generator with a single winding being operably connected to said coupling choke on the side of the electrical load and being designed and arranged to be active during normal conditions and during trouble conditions in case the external source of power fails;

an IGBT converter being directly connected to said coupling choke;

a substitute storage device for electrical energy being operably connected to said coupling choke on the side of the electrical load by said converter;

a fast-opening switch being operably connected said coupling choke on the side of the source of power and being designed and arranged to open in case of occurring trouble conditions;

a first unit being designed and arranged to sense an output voltage being supplied to the electrical load and to produce a measuring signal;

a second unit being designed and arranged to control the output voltage, to use the measuring signal as an input signal, to deliver a control signal as a output signal to said converter and to control the output voltage to a desired shape over time; and

said first and second units being designed to operate both during normal and trouble conditions to improve the quality of the power supply to the electrical load also during normal conditions.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the desired shape over time of the output voltage has the shape of a sinus function.

18. An uninterruptible power supply system, comprising:

a coupling choke being operably arranged between an external source of power and an electrical load to be supplied with power by the external source of power during normal conditions;

a generator with a single winding being operably connected to said coupling choke and being designed and arranged to be active during normal conditions and during trouble conditions in case the external source of power fails;

an IGBT converter being directly connected to said coupling choke;

a substitute storage device for electrical energy being operably connected to said coupling choke by said converter;

a switch being operably connected said coupling choke and being designed and arranged to open quickly in case of occurring trouble conditions;

a first unit being designed and arranged to sense an output voltage being supplied to the electrical load and to produce a measuring signal;

a second unit being designed and arranged to control the output voltage, to use the measuring signal as an input signal, to send a control signal as an output signal to said converter and to control the output voltage to attain a desired shape over time; and

said first and second units being designed to operate both during normal and trouble conditions to improve the quality of the power supply to the electrical load also during normal conditions.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the desired shape over time of the output voltage has the shape of a sinus function.