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US 8,576,594 B2Granted
Soft starter for phase-shifting autotransformer AC-DC power converter
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsFrank Z. Feng, Barry John Parker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An AC-DC power converter has a phase-shifting autotransformer based rectifiers and DC capacitors. Soft start of the AC-DC power converter is achieved by designing the autotransformer to operate at a low peak flux density at a point of AC voltage step application (initial turn on). The addition of a controlled impedance segregates capacitor charging from the initial magnetizing process of the autotransformer.
Claims13
An AC-DC converter comprising:
- a phase-shifting autotransformer and rectifier module having an AC power input and a DC power output;
- a capacitor connected across said DC power output;
- and
- a controlled impedance component interrupting said DC power output, such that an autotransformer magnetization current is segregated from a capacitor charge current.
1 more element
A method for operating an autotransformer-based AC-DC converter, comprising the steps of:
- controlling a controlled impedance component to be in an off mode thereby establishing an initial magnetization period having a magnetizing inrush current;
- controlling said controlled impedance component in a high impedance mode thereby establishing a capacitor charging period having a capacitor charging inrush current;
- and
- controlling said controlled impedance component to be in an on mode, thereby establishing a steady state operation mode.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.