US 7,916,507 B2Granted

High voltage electron tube inverter with individual output phase current control

AssigneeAdvanced Fusion Systems LLC

InventorCurtis A. Birnbach

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Abstract

Disclosed is a high voltage inverter for converting DC power to AC power with one or more AC output phases. The inverter has for each AC output phase an AC input phase circuit comprising first and second cold cathode field emission controllable electron tubes of triode, tetrode or pentode structure. Each electron tube has a first input node for connection to a high voltage DC potential in excess of 20 KV and a second input node for connection to ground. First electron tube is serially connected between a first end of a primary winding and ground, and second electron tube is serially connected between a second end of the primary winding and ground. Control circuitry controls the electron tubes so that the first and second electron tubes alternatively conduct so as to alternately bring the first and then second end of the primary winding approximately to the potential of ground.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A high voltage inverter for converting DC input power to three or more AC output phases with individual current control of each output phase, comprising:

a) each AC output phase having an AC input phase circuit comprising:
i) first and second cold cathode field emission controllable electron tubes of triode, tetrode or pentode structure;
ii) a primary transformer winding having a first end, a second end, and a center tap;
iii) the center tap being connected to a DC potential in excess of 20 KV;
iv) the first electron tube being serially connected between the first end of the primary winding and the ground, and the second electron tube being serially connected between the second end of the primary winding and the ground;
and
v) the conduction state of each electron tube being controlled to convert from DC power at a potential in excess of 20 KV to AC power via said primary transformer winding;
the first and second electron tubes alternately conducting so as to alternately bring the first end of the primary winding approximately to the potential of the ground and then bring the second end of the primary winding approximately to the potential of the ground;
b) for each AC input phase primary winding, a respective secondary winding of an associated AC output phase coupled thereto;
each primary winding and associated secondary winding forming a multi-phase transformer;
c) means for adjusting the current in each individual phase, comprising:
i) means for determining voltage, current and phase angle in each AC output phase, and
ii) current-control means, responsive to said means for determining, for controlling the current level of each output phase in a continuously variable manner;
the current-control means including a third cold cathode field emission controllable electron tube serially connected between the first electron tube and the primary winding, and a fourth cold cathode field emission controllable electron tube serially connected between the second electron tube and the primary winding.

11 more elements

A high voltage DC to DC converter with output current control, comprising:

a) an AC input phase circuit comprising:
i) first and second cold cathode field emission controllable electron tubes of triode, tetrode or pentode structure;
ii) a primary transformer winding having a first end, a second end, and a center tap;
iii) the center tap being connected to a DC potential in excess of 20 KV;
iv) the first electron tube being serially connected between the first end of the primary winding and the ground, and the second electron tube being serially connected between the second end of the primary winding and the ground;
and
v) the conduction state of each electron tube being controlled to convert from DC power at a potential in excess of 20 KV to AC power via said primary transformer winding;
the first and second electron tubes alternately conducting so as to alternately bring the first end of the primary winding approximately to the potential of the ground and then bring the second end of the primary winding approximately to the potential of the ground;
b) an output AC phase including a secondary transformer winding coupled to the primary transformer winding;
c) an AC to DC rectifier for converting the output voltage from the secondary transformer winding to an output high DC voltage in excess of 50 KV;
d) means for regulating the output power of the DC to DC converter that is supplied to an HVDC transmission line to a degree of at least about 1 percent of an average power level;
the means for regulating comprising:
i) means for determining voltage and current in the output high voltage DC;
and
ii) current-control means, responsive to said means for determining, for controlling the power level of the output of the DC to DC converter in a continuously variable manner;
the current-control means including a third cold cathode field emission controllable electron tube serially connected between the first electron tube and the primary winding, and a fourth cold cathode field emission controllable electron tube serially connected between the second electron tube and the primary winding.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/359,198Filed 23 Jan 2009 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 Jan 2008
Published: US 2009/0190383 A130 Jul 2009
Granted: 29 Mar 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H02M 7/533
Using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal: using discharge tubes only
H01J 21/10
Having electrostatic control means only: with one or more immovable internal control electrodes, e.g. triode, pentode, octode
H02M 7/51
Using devices of a thyratron or thyristor type requiring extinguishing means: using discharge tubes only
H02M 7/53832
In a self-oscillating arrangement: in a push-pull arrangement