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US 9,071,051 B2Granted
Overvoltage protection unit with AC input current sensors
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorJohn Duward Sagona
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An overvoltage protection unit includes a power circuit module and a controller module. The power circuit module receives power from a power source on an AC input and includes a rectifier that converts voltage on the AC input into a DC Link output voltage, and an AC input current sensor that senses a current on the AC input. The controller module provides an output to terminate power from the power source based upon the DC Link output voltage and a sensed current from the AC input current sensor.
Claims15
An overvoltage protection unit comprising:
- a power circuit module that receives power from a power source on an AC input, the power circuit module comprising:
- a rectifier that converts voltage on the AC input into a DC Link output voltage;
- an AC input current sensor that senses a current on the AC input;
- and a switch;
- a controller module that provides an output to terminate power from the power source based upon the DC Link output voltage and a sensed current from the AC input current sensor, wherein the controller module detects a first fault external to the overvoltage protection unit based upon the DC Link output voltage and detects a second fault internal to the overvoltage protection unit based upon the AC input current sensor;
- and wherein the switch is enabled to provide a low impedance path between the DC Link output voltage and a return path to circulate current through the rectifier until the power from the power source is terminated.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- a generator that produces three-phase AC power for a load;
- an overvoltage protection unit that monitors the three-phase AC power on three AC inputs, the overvoltage protection unit comprising:
- a power circuit module comprising a rectifier that converts AC voltage on the three AC inputs into a DC Link voltage, a switch and three current sensors that sense a current on each of the three AC inputs;
- and
- a controller module that terminates power from the generator based upon the DC Link voltage and sensed current from the three current sensors, wherein the controller detects a first fault external to the overvoltage protection unit based upon the DC Link voltage and detects a second fault internal to the overvoltage protection unit based upon the three current sensors;
- and wherein the switch is enabled to provide a low impedance path between the DC Link voltage and a return path if the DC Link voltage is greater than a first threshold value to circulate current through the switch and the rectifier until the three-phase AC power from the generator is terminated.
3 more elements
A method of overvoltage protection, the method comprising:
- providing AC power from a generator to an overvoltage protection unit on an AC input;
- monitoring current on the AC input using a current sensor;
- converting the AC input into a DC Link output using a rectifier;
- monitoring the DC Link output using a voltage sense device;
- detecting a first fault external to the overvoltage protection unit if a monitored voltage from the voltage sense device is greater than a first threshold value;
- detecting a second fault internal to the overvoltage protection unit if a monitored current from the current sensor is greater than a second threshold value;
- terminating power from the generator if the first fault or the second fault are detected;
- enabling a switch between the DC Link output and a return path if the monitored voltage from the voltage sense device is greater than the first threshold value;
- and circulating power through the switch and the rectifier until the power from the generator is terminated.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.