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US 8,179,705 B2Granted
Apparatus and method of optimizing power system efficiency using a power loss model
AssigneePower-One, Inc.
InventorAlain Chapuis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power subsystem is actively optimized to improve total subsystem efficiency in a way that is responsive to changes in load requirements, power supply variations, and subsystem temperature variations. Detailed, multidimensional power loss models are developed for constituent devices which are then combined into a power subsystem containing a controller and circuity for measuring device operating parameters such as input and output voltage, output current, and temperature. Operating parameters are continually monitored, and set points are correspondingly changed based on the detailed power loss models to achieve maximum overall efficiency for the instantaneous operating state of the system.
Claims28
A power subsystem comprising:
- a cooling system;
- a primary power converter;
- at least one secondary power converter operatively connected to the primary power converter;
- wherein the power subsystem is configured to measure:
- at least one cooling operating parameter of the cooling system;
- at least one primary operating parameter of the primary power converter;
- and
- at least one secondary operating parameter of the at least one secondary power converter;
- and
- a controller connected to the primary power converter, and to the at least one secondary converter, wherein the controller comprises:
- a memory unit configured to store a cooling power-loss model associated with the cooling system, a primary power-loss model associated with the primary power converter, and at least one secondary power-loss model associated with the at least one secondary power converter;
- a communications unit configured to receive the at least one cooling operating parameter, the at least one primary operating parameter and the at least one secondary operating parameter measured by the power subsystem and to send at least one control command to at least one of the cooling system, the primary power converter and the at least one secondary power converter;
- and
- a processor unit configured to:
- calculate a goal function from the cooling power-loss model, the primary power-loss model, the at least one secondary power-loss model, the at least one cooling operating parameter, the at least one primary operating parameter and the at least one secondary operating parameter;
- calculate a change of state of at least one of the cooling system, the primary power converter and the at least one secondary power converter such that the goal function is minimized;
- and
- generate the at least one control command based on the change of state;
- wherein the cooling system, the primary power converter and the at least one secondary power converter are configured to change their operating set points based on control commands received from the communications unit.
16 more elements
A power subsystem comprising:
- a cooling system, comprising at least one of a fan and a heat pump;
- a primary power converter, comprising at least one of a DC/DC converter and an AC/DC converter;
- at least one secondary power converter, comprising at least one of a switching converter, a buck converter, a boost converter, and a linear regulator, operatively connected to the primary power converter;
- wherein the power subsystem is configured to measure:
- cooling parameters comprising at least one of a cooling voltage, a cooling voltage, and a cooling temperature of the cooling system;
- primary parameters comprising at least one of a primary input voltage, a primary output voltage, a primary output current, and a primary temperature of the primary power converter;
- and
- secondary parameters comprising at least one of a secondary input voltage, a secondary output voltage, a secondary output current, and a secondary temperature of the at least one secondary power converter;
- and
- a controller connected to the cooling system, the primary power converter, and to the at least one secondary converter, wherein the controller comprises:
- a memory unit configured to store a cooling power-loss model associated with the cooling system, a primary power-loss model associated with the primary power converter, and at least one secondary power-loss model associated with the at least one secondary power converter;
- a communications unit configured to receive measurements of the cooling parameters, the primary parameters and the secondary parameters and to send at least one control command to at least one of the cooling system, the primary power converter and the at least one secondary power converter;
- and
- a processor unit configured to:
- calculate a goal function from the cooling power-loss model, the primary power-loss model, the at least one secondary power-loss model, the cooling parameters, the primary parameters, and the secondary parameters, wherein the goal function comprises a weighted sum of power losses associated with corresponding ones of the cooling system, the primary power converter and the at least one secondary power converter;
- and
- calculate a change of state of at least one of the cooling system, the primary power converter and the at least one secondary power converter such that the goal function is minimized;
- and
- generate the at least one control command based on the change of state;
- wherein the cooling system, the primary power converter and the at least one secondary power converter are configured to change their operating set points based on control commands received from the communications unit.
17 more elements
A method for dynamically optimizing efficiency of a power subsystem containing a cooling system and a plurality of power devices comprises:
- creating power-loss models of the cooling system and each of the plurality of power devices;
- measuring operating parameters of the cooling system and each of the plurality of power devices;
- calculating the power loss of the cooling system and each of the plurality of power devices from the measured operating parameters and the power-loss models for the cooling system and each of the plurality of power devices;
- calculating a goal function by forming a weighted sum of the power losses calculated for the cooling system and each of the plurality of power devices;
- calculating a change of state of the operating parameters of the cooling system and ones of the plurality of power devices such that the goal function is minimized;
- providing at least one control command to at least one of the cooling system and the plurality of power devices;
- and
- repeating the measuring, calculating, and providing commanding steps on a periodic basis;
- wherein the at least one control command is based on the change of state, and the cooling system and the plurality of power devices are configured to change their operating set points based on received control commands.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.