Arrangement and method for monitoring and controlling a plurality of series-connected capacitors

• US 7,671,569 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diehl Luftfahrt Electronik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Diehl Luftfahrt Electronik GmbH
• Inventors: Kolb, Tobias, Jordan, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Bao Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang; Jue
• Application Number:
  US11/437,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 320/166, 320/167
• US Class Current: 320/166
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/10 Multiple hybrid or EDL capacitors, e.g. arrays or modules housings, cases, encapsulations or mountings thereof H01G11/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/14 Arrangements or processes for adjusting or protecting hybrid or EDL capacitors emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for capacitors, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions H02H7/16; emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltages without disconnection H02H9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

A method for monitoring and controlling a plurality of series-connected capacitance, wherein at least during the discharge of the capacitances, there is determined a voltage of every capacitance, and in the instance of a drop-off of a voltage of one of the capacitances below a first threshold voltage of this capacitance, the capacitance is bridged over to at least the end of the discharge. Also provided are devices for determining every voltage of every capacitance, devices for symmetrizing voltages among the capacitances, and devices for the deactivation of at least one of the capacitances.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring and controlling a plurality of series-connected capacitances, comprising:

continuously determining a voltage of every capacitance at least during a discharge of said capacitances; and

comparing the voltage thus determined with a first threshold voltage, and, during discharge of said capacitances;

bridging over at least one said capacitance to the end of the discharge in an instance of a drop-off of the voltage of said at least one of the capacitances below the first threshold voltage;

wherein for effectuating a symmetrizing of the voltages of the capacitors, continuously determining a voltage of every capacitance at least during a charging of said capacitances;

comparing the voltages thus determined to a second threshold voltage; and

during charging of said capacitances,

connecting, in parallel with a capacitance having the highest voltage, a resistance R in an instance of a drop-off of the voltage of one of the capacitances below the second threshold voltage.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a switch implements the bridging over of said capacitances.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein in the instance of an exceeding of the voltage of one of the capacitances above a third threshold voltage, said capacitances have a resistance R connected in parallel therewith.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the second threshold voltage and/or the third threshold voltage are determined in dependence upon the voltages of all of said capacitances.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said threshold voltages are determined in dependence upon the sum of the voltages of all of said capacitances.