Controlled three-phase rectifier with current comparison between rectifier segments
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsIrving A. Gibbs, Bruce R. Quayle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A parallel array of a plurality of controlled rectifier bridges for converting multi-phase AC current to DC. Each bridge includes a plurality of rectifier segments. One segment for each polarity of each phase of current. A sensor monitors the current and temperature at each rectifier. The sensor outputs for corresponding segments among the bridges are compared and the timing of the conduction of the rectifiers are controlled to maintain the current and temperatures among the corresponding segments in balance.
Claims19
A parallel array of a plurality of bridges for converting AC to DC, each bridge comprising a same plurality of segments including:
- an element in each segment responsive to a control signal to control current conduction within the segment;
- a current sensor for monitoring the current conducted by each segment;
- a first comparator, having input from the current sensor, for comparing the current conducted by corresponding segments on the plurality of bridges;
- and
- a bridge control circuit, having input from the first comparator, for adjusting the current conduction of one of the elements in the corresponding segments when said first comparator identifies a first predetermined relationship between the current in the corresponding segments, in a manner that will bring the segments into a second predetermined relationship.
A method of controlling the balance of parallel array of a plurality of controlled rectifier (CR) bridges used for converting AC to DC, wherein each bridge comprises a same plurality of CR segments including the steps of:
- monitoring the current in each CR segment;
- comparing the currents conducted by corresponding segments on the plurality of bridges;
- and
- altering the conduction of at least one CR in a corresponding segment that the comparison shows a first predetermined balance of current relationship to the current in the other corresponding segments in a manner that will bring the corresponding segments into a second predetermined balance of current relationship.
A controlled rectifier bridge for converting AC to DC having a plurality of rectifier segments comprising:
- at least one segment for each polarity for each phase of current rectified by the bridge;
- a current sensor for monitoring the current in each phase;
- a first comparator for comparing the current conducted in at least two segments;
- and
- a bridge control circuit, having input from the first comparator for adjusting the current conduction in the segments compared to maintain the current in each of the compared segments in a predetermined balance of current relationship.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.