Apparatuses and methods for DC voltage control
AssigneeGE Vernova Infrastructure Technology LLC
InventorsLi Zou, Carl Barker, Amit Kumar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a method for synchronising DC voltage performed by a converter controller. The method includes receiving an indication that a synchronisation process, in which a first DC voltage controlled by the converter controller is synchronised with a second DC voltage at a DC grid, is to be initiated; in response to receiving the indication, gradually adjusting the first DC voltage up and/or down; and while gradually adjusting the first DC voltage up and/or down, determining that the synchronisation process has been successful based on a detected DC current or rate of change of DC current being greater than a predefined threshold.
Claims10
A method for synchronising a first DC voltage to a second DC voltage of a DC grid, performed by a converter controller, in a system having a switching apparatus between an AC-DC converter, controlled by the converter controller to output the first DC voltage, and the DC grid, the method comprising:
- receiving an indication to initiate a synchronisation process, in which the first DC voltage controlled by the converter controller is to be matched with the second DC voltage;
- in response to receiving the indication, gradually adjusting the first DC voltage up and/or down within a known normal operating range of the DC grid;
- while gradually adjusting the first DC voltage up and/or down, determining that the synchronisation process has been successful based on a detected DC current or rate of change of DC current flowing between the AC-DC converter and the DC grid being greater than a predefined threshold, wherein the converter controller is not communicably coupled to the switching apparatus;
- and
- in response to detecting the DC current or rate of change of DC current is greater than the predefined threshold, controlling the AC-DC converter to revert to a mode of operation in which the DC current is zero until further instruction to exchange power with the DC grid is received by the converter controller.
A system, comprising:
- a converter controller that is configured to:
- receive an indication to initiate a synchronisation process, in which a first DC voltage of an AC-DC converter is to be matched with a second DC voltage at a DC grid;
- in response to the indication, gradually adjust the first DC voltage up and/or down within a known normal operating range of the DC grid;
- while gradually adjusting the first DC voltage up and/or down, determine that the synchronisation process has been successful based on a detected DC current or rate of change of DC current flowing between the AC-DC converter and the DC grid being greater than a predefined threshold;
- in response to detecting the DC current or rate of change of DC current is greater than the predefined threshold, controlling the AC-DC converter to revert to a mode of operation in which the DC current is zero until further instruction to exchange power with the DC grid is received by the converter controller;
- and
- a switching controller configured to:
- receive a second indication to initiate the synchronisation process;
- in response to receiving the second indication, monitoring a gradual adjustment of the first DC voltage by the converter controller;
- compare the first DC voltage as it is gradually adjusted with the second DC voltage;
- during the gradual adjustment of the first DC voltage, determine that the first DC voltage is matched with the second DC voltage based on the comparison;
- and
- in response to the determination that the first DC voltage is matched with the second DC voltage, electrically connect the AC-DC converter to the DC grid using a switching apparatus, wherein the converter controller is not communicably coupled to the switching controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.