Voltage surge and overvoltage protection with current surge protection
AssigneeGeorgia Tech Research Corporation
InventorDeepakraj Malhar Divan
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Abstract
Disclosed are various embodiments of voltage protectors that include a first voltage clamping device configured to clamp a voltage of an input power applied to an electrical load, and a second voltage clamping device configured to clamp the voltage applied to the electrical load. A series inductance separates the first and second voltage clamping devices. Also, a switching element is employed to selectively establish a direct coupling of the input power to the electrical load, where a circuit is employed to control the operation of the switching element.
Claims51
A combination voltage surge, overvoltage, and inrush current protection system, comprising:
- at least one first voltage clamping device configured to clamp a voltage of an input power voltage applied to an electrical load to a predetermined first voltage clamping level;
- at least one second voltage clamping device configured to clamp the voltage applied to the electrical load to a predetermined second voltage clamping level;
- a series inductance coupled between the first and second voltage clamping devices;
- a current surge detection circuit for detecting the occurrence of a voltage sag condition on the input power voltage;
- a voltage detection circuit for detecting the occurrence of an overvoltage condition;
- an impedance component coupled between the inductance and the electrical load;
- a selective actuatable switch coupled to the series inductance for disconnecting power from the electrical load and for reconnecting power to the electrical load through the impedance component and via a direct coupling of the input power to the electrical load;
- and
- a switch control circuit that controls the operation of the switch, the switch control circuit responsive to detection of a voltage sag condition to connect the impedance between the input power voltage and the electrical load to limit the inrush current upon termination of the voltage sag condition and responsive to an overvoltage condition to disconnect the input power voltage from the electrical load.
A method for providing a combination of voltage surge, overvoltage, and inrush current protection to an electrical load, comprising the steps of:
- applying an input power voltage to an electrical load;
- distributing a dissipation of an overvoltage experienced in the power voltage among a first parallel clamping device and a second parallel clamping device by separating the first and second parallel clamping devices with a series inductance;
- establishing a direct coupling of the input power voltage to the electrical load unless a magnitude and a duration of the overvoltage are greater than at least one predefined voltage-time threshold;
- disconnecting the direct coupling of the input power voltage to the electrical load in response to detection of an overvoltage condition greater than said at least one predefined voltage-time threshold;
- and
- connecting the input power voltage to the electrical load through an impedance component to reduce a current inrush in response to detection of a voltage sag condition.
A system for conditioning an input power voltage applied to an electrical load, comprising:
- means for distributing a dissipation of an overvoltage experienced in the input power voltage among a first parallel clamping device and a second parallel clamping device;
- means for establishing a direct coupling of the input power voltage to the electrical load unless a magnitude and a duration of the overvoltage are greater than at least one predefined voltage-time threshold;
- and
- means for connecting the input power voltage to the electrical load through an impedance to reduce a current inrush in response to detection of a voltage sag condition.
A combination overvoltage and inrush current protection system for an electrical load, comprising:
- a first selectably actuatable switch employed to establish a direct connection from an input power voltage to the electrical load;
- a second selectively actuatable switch in parallel with the first switch for connecting an impedance component between the input power voltage and the electrical load;
- a voltage detection circuit for detecting the voltage of the input power voltage;
- a current surge detection circuit for detecting the occurrence of a voltage sag in the input power voltage that can result in a potentially damaging current surge;
- and
- a switch control circuit responsive to the voltage detection circuit and the current surge detection circuit to control actuation of the first switch and the second switch so as to connect the impedance component between the input power voltage and the electrical load to limit inrush current in response to detection of a voltage sag condition and to disconnect the direct connection from the input power voltage to the electrical load in response to detection of an overvoltage condition.
A method for providing a combination of overvoltage protection and inrush current protection to an electrical load, comprising the steps of:
- providing a disconnectable direct connection from an input power voltage to the electrical load;
- detecting the voltage of an input power voltage;
- detecting the occurrence of a voltage sag condition in the input power voltage that can result in a potentially damaging current surge;
- in response to detecting of a voltage sag condition on the input power voltage, connecting an impedance between the input power voltage and the electrical load to limit inrush current upon termination of the voltage sag condition;
- and
- in response to detection of an overvoltage condition, disconnecting the direct connection of the input power voltage to the electrical load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.