Integrity testing of isolation means in an uninterruptible power supply

• US 7,453,169 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Grundmann, Steffen, Gremaud, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry; Michael J
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUTLAND WALLIS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/274,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20060108875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66, 307/64, 307/150, 307/151, 324/537
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/1227 of components, parts or materials G01R31/1209, G01R31/1218, G01R31/18 take precedence; circuits therefor G01R31/14; testing vessels of electrodes G01R31/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

An uninterruptible power supply wherein an isolation device is automatically tested during normal operation to ensure that it is capable of effectively isolating the input from an auxiliary power supply during emergency operation. The uninterruptible power supply includes an input for coupling to a main power supply, an output for connection to an electrical load, an auxiliary power supply and a selective isolation device configured to isolate the auxiliary power supply from the input during emergency operation. First components establish a reverse polarity across the isolation device for a test period during normal operation, and second components monitor a voltage proportional to the input voltage to the isolation device and output an error signal if the monitored voltage remains or rises above a first reference value during the test period.

Claims

1. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a supply input adapted to be connected to a main power supply;

an output adapted to be connected to an electrical load;

a rechargeable energy storage unit adapted to be charged from said supply input;

a selective isolation means connected between said supply input and said rechargeable energy storage unit for isolating said rechargeable energy storage unit from said supply input during an emergency operation;

a first means for establishing a reverse polarity across said isolation means for a test period during normal operation; and

a second means for monitoring a voltage representative of an input voltage to said isolation means and outputting an error signal if the monitored voltage remains at or rises above a reference value during the test period wherein said first means includes a resistor and a transistor connected in series between an input to said isolation means and an electrical ground.

2. The uninterruptible power supply according to claim 1 including a choke connected between said supply input and an input to said isolation means.

7. The uninterruptible power supply according to claim 1 including a comparator comparing a voltage at an output of said uninterruptible power supply with a further reference value and outputting a test commence signal if the output voltage is greater than the further reference value.

8. The uninterruptible power supply according to claim 2 including a comparator comparing a voltage at an output of said uninterruptible power supply with a further reference value and outputting a test commence signal if the output voltage is greater than the further reference value.

3. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a supply input adapted to be connected to a main power supply;

an output adapted to be connected to an electrical load;

a rechargeable energy storage unit adapted to be charged from said supply input;

a selective isolation means connected between said supply input and said rechargeable energy storage unit for isolating said rechargeable energy storage unit from said supply input during an emergency operation;

a first means for establishing a reverse polarity across said isolation means for a test period during normal operation; and

a second means for monitoring a voltage representative of an input voltage to said isolation means and outputting an error signal if the monitored voltage remains at or rises above a reference value during the test period; and

a resistor connected in series between an input to said isolation means and an electrical ground, and wherein said first means includes a test switch connected between a main power supply and said isolation means.

9. The uninterruptible power supply according to claim 3 including a comparator comparing a voltage at an output of said uninterruptible power supply with a further reference value and outputting a test commence signal if the output voltage is greater than the further reference value.

4. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a supply input adapted to be connected to a main power supply;

an output adapted to be connected to an electrical load;

a rechargeable energy storage unit adapted to be charged from Said supply input;

a selective isolation means connected between said supply input and said rechargeable energy storage unit for isolating said rechargeable energy storage unit from said supply input during an emergency operation;

a first means for establishing a reverse polarity across said isolation means for a test period during normal operation; and

a second means for monitoring a voltage representative of an input voltage to said isolation means and outputting an error signal if the monitored voltage remains at or rises above a reference value during the test period; and

a transformer having a primary winding connected between an output of said isolation means and an input of said rechargeable energy storage unit, and wherein said first means includes a secondary winding of said transformer, a resistor and a transistor connected in series between said input of said rechargeable energy storage unit and an electrical ground.

10. The uninterruptible power supply according to claim 4 including a comparator comparing a voltage at an output of said uninterruptible power supply with a further reference value and outputting a test commence signal if the output voltage is greater than the further reference value.

5. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a supply input adapted to be connected to a main power supply;

an output adapted to be connected to an electrical load;

a rechargeable energy storage unit adapted to be charged from Said supply input;

a selective isolation means connected between said supply input and said rechargeable energy storage unit for isolating said rechargeable energy storage unit from said supply input during an emergency operation;

a first means for establishing a reverse polarity across said isolation means for a test period during normal operation; and

a second means for monitoring a voltage representative of an input voltage to said isolation means and outputting an error signal if the monitored voltage remains at or rises above a reference value during the test period, wherein said second means includes a comparator connected to an input to the isolation means for comparing the input voltage to said isolation means with the reference value and a controller monitoring an output signal from said comparator.

11. The uninterruptible power supply according to claim 5 including a comparator comparing a voltage at an output of said uninterruptible power supply with a further reference value and outputting a test commence signal if the output voltage is greater than the further reference value.

6. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a supply input adapted to be connected to a main power supply;

an output adapted to be connected to an electrical load;

a rechargeable energy storage unit adapted to be charged from Said supply input;

a selective isolation means connected between said supply input and said rechargeable energy storage unit for isolating said rechargeable energy storage unit from said supply input during an emergency operation;

a first means for establishing a reverse polarity across said isolation means for a test period during normal operation; and

a second means for monitoring a voltage representative of an input voltage to said isolation means and outputting an error signal if the monitored voltage remains at or rises above a reference value during the test period, wherein said second means includes a first resistor network connected between an input to said isolation means and an electrical ground to generate a voltage proportional to the input voltage, a second resistor network connected between an output of said isolation means and the electrical ground to provide the reference value which is proportional to a voltage at an output of said isolation means, and a controller comparing the voltage proportional to the input voltage with the reference value.

12. The uninterruptible power supply according to claim 6 including a comparator comparing a voltage at an output of said uninterruptible power supply with a further reference value and outputting a test commence signal if the output voltage is greater than the further reference value.