Earthing switch having dynamic braking resistors
AssigneeGE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
InventorZane Taylor Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An earthing switch circuit is provided and is connected to a direct current (DC) link including a positive terminal and a negative terminal having capacitance or energy storage capability. The earthing switch circuit includes a dynamic braking circuit having a single or plurality of dynamic braking (DB) switches, and at least one dynamic braking (DB) resistor disposed between the plurality of DB switches, and an earthing switch connected between the DB circuit and ground. The at least one DB resistor dissipates energy thermally when performing a dynamic braking operation and simultaneously decreases in-rush current for the earthing switch circuit upon closure of the earthing switch.
Claims12
An earthing switch circuit connected to a direct current (DC) link comprised of a positive terminal and a negative terminal having capacitance or energy storage capability, the earthing switch circuit comprising:
- a dynamic braking circuit including a plurality of dynamic braking (DB) switches connected in parallel, and a plurality of dynamic braking (DB) resistors connected together in series and disposed between the plurality of DB switches;
- and
- an earthing switch connected between the DB circuit and ground, wherein the plurality of DB resistors are connected to the earthing switch and configured to:
- (i) dissipate energy thermally when performing a dynamic braking operation and simultaneously (ii) decrease in-rush current for the earthing switch circuit upon closure of the earthing switch
- wherein the plurality of DB switches are connected at one end thereof to an end of the capacitance and the positive terminal or the negative terminal, and the other end of each DB switch of the plurality of DB switches is connected between the plurality of DB resistors and a respective pole of the earthing switch, and opposite ends of the plurality of DB resistors are connected to the positive terminal or the negative terminal and the capacitance.
A method comprising:
- providing an earthing switch circuit in a direct current (DC) link connected between a capacitance and DC rails comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal, connecting a dynamic braking (DB) circuit including a plurality of dynamic braking (DB) switches connected in parallel and a plurality of dynamic braking (DB) resistors connected together in series and disposed between the plurality of DB switches;
- and
- connecting an earthing switch between the DB circuit and ground wherein the plurality of DB resistors are connected to the earthing switch;
- connecting one end of the plurality of DB switches to an end of the capacitance and the positive terminal or the negative terminal, and the other end of each DB switch of the plurality of DB switches between the plurality of DB resistors and a respective pole of the earthing switch, and connecting opposite ends of the plurality of DB resistors to the positive terminal or the negative terminal and the capacitance;
- and
- dissipating via the plurality of DB resistors, energy thermally when performing a dynamic braking operation and simultaneously decreasing, via the at least one DB resistor, in-rush current for the earthing switch circuit upon closure of the earthing switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.