Regulating device for a DC voltage converter and method for regulating a DC voltage converter

Abstract

The present invention relates to an extended adjustment of a control variable for a DC voltage converter having a plurality of DC voltage converter modules (30-1, 30-2). To this end, in addition to the conventional adjustment for each DC voltage converter module, another correction variable (K-1, K-2) is obtained, which can be added to the control variable (R4-1, R4-2). The correction variable can take into account the individual characteristics of the DC voltage converter module, such as component tolerances or similar characteristics. To this end, correction values suitable for each DC voltage converter module can be obtained in advance and stored in a non-volatile memory. Using these pre-stored relationships, the control variables for each DC voltage converter module can be adjusted individually.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a regulating device for a DC voltage converter, in particular a DC voltage converter having a plurality of DC voltage converter modules, and a method for regulating a DC voltage converter. Background Art

[0002] Publication DE 10 2016 219 740 A1 discloses a DC voltage converter having a plurality of DC voltage converter modules connected in parallel. In this case, a common voltage regulator is provided for all DC voltage converter modules. In addition, a separate current regulator is provided for each DC voltage converter module.

[0003] A DC voltage converter is configured to convert an input DC voltage into an output DC voltage, wherein the voltage level of the input DC voltage can differ from the voltage level of the output DC voltage. The maximum output power of the DC voltage converter is limited by the size of the components used. To increase the output power, multiple DC voltage converter modules can be connected in parallel if necessary. To load the individual DC voltage converter modules as evenly as possible, the individual DC voltage converter modules can be treated equally, i.e., they can be controlled so that they each provide at least approximately the same output current.

[0004] The published patent application DE 10 2019 213 071 A1 describes a possible method for treating a plurality of DC voltage converter modules in a DC voltage arrangement equally. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention discloses a regulating device for a DC voltage converter and a method for regulating a DC voltage converter according to the invention. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the remainder of this disclosure.

[0006] Accordingly, a regulating device for a DC voltage converter having a plurality of DC voltage converter modules is provided. The regulating device includes a regulating mechanism and a compensating mechanism. The regulating mechanism is designed to provide a separate regulating variable for each DC voltage converter module. The separate regulating variable for each DC voltage converter module is determined using a target variable for the output voltage, a current value for the output voltage, a current value for the input voltage, and a current value for the corresponding current in the DC voltage converter module. The compensating mechanism is designed to provide a compensating variable for each DC voltage converter module. The compensating variable for each DC voltage converter module is determined using the separate regulating variable for the respective DC voltage converter module and a previously stored correction value. The respective DC voltage converter modules can be controlled using a combination of the respective separate regulating variable and the corresponding compensating variable.

[0007] Furthermore, a method for regulating a DC voltage converter, in particular a DC voltage converter having a plurality of DC voltage converter modules, is provided. The method includes a step of providing individual manipulated variables. Using a target variable for the output voltage, a current value for the output voltage, a current value for the input voltage, and a current value of the corresponding current in the corresponding DC voltage converter module, individual manipulated variables are determined for each DC voltage converter module. Furthermore, the method includes a step of providing a compensation variable. The compensation variable is determined using the individual manipulated variables for the corresponding DC voltage converter module and a previously stored correction value. In particular, a separate compensation variable can be determined for each DC voltage converter module. Finally, the method includes a step of controlling the DC voltage converter module using a combination of the respective individual manipulated variables for the respective DC voltage converter module and the corresponding compensation variable.

[0008] The advantages of the present invention are based on the recognition that, in a DC voltage converter arrangement having a plurality of DC voltage converter modules connected in parallel, the current and thus the power output by the individual DC voltage converter modules can differ even when the same control is performed due to component tolerances, aging effects, etc. This allows the individual DC voltage converter modules to be loaded to varying degrees.

[0009] Furthermore, it is also possible for a DC converter device having multiple DC converter modules to be able to activate or deactivate the individual DC converter modules individually during operation. When switching a DC converter module on or off, the control of the individual DC converter modules must be adjusted so that all DC converter modules are loaded as evenly as possible. When switching individual DC converter modules on or off, a brief increase in current may occur in one or more of the modules, which can severely stress the corresponding DC converter module or even damage it.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention is conceived to take this knowledge into account and to provide an expanded regulation for a DC voltage converter device having multiple DC voltage converter modules, wherein uniform current output of each DC voltage converter module can be quickly achieved in a simple manner. To this end, it is provided that, in addition to the existing regulation for each DC voltage converter module, an additional regulation variable is generated and this additional regulation variable is added to the normal regulation variable. Here, the additional regulation variable can take into account the individual characteristics of each DC voltage converter module, such as individual component tolerances or similar characteristics. In this way, it is possible to control each DC voltage converter module for multiple DC voltage converter modules connected in parallel with slightly deviating component characteristics, wherein each DC voltage converter module provides the same output power and thus the same output current. In particular, different loads and excessive current increases in one of the DC voltage converter modules can be reliably prevented.

[0011] In order to obtain additional manipulated variables for compensating for the individual component properties of the individual DC voltage converter modules, the compensation values required for this can be obtained in advance and stored. In this way, the required compensation values are directly available for adjusting the manipulated variables.

[0012] In this way, the individual DC voltage converter modules can be controlled by combining their normal individual control variables with their respective corresponding compensation variables. The compensation variables take into account previously acquired individual characteristics of the individual DC voltage converter modules. The compensation values used to determine the corresponding compensation variables can be previously acquired during the operation of the DC voltage converter device, and the individual DC voltage converter modules are treated equally, that is, they are controlled during operation so that all DC voltage converter modules provide the same output current. In particular, the individual compensation variables for each DC voltage converter module can be acquired based on the control variables provided by the regulation. In addition, of course, other arbitrary parameters, such as temperature, input or output voltage, etc., can also be taken into account.

[0013] In particular, the relationship between the compensation value of the DC voltage converter module and the corresponding input voltage can be determined and stored for each DC voltage converter module. For example, corresponding compensation values can be determined for a plurality of different input voltages. Furthermore, it is also generally possible to determine a mathematical relationship between the compensation value and the input voltage or to determine the compensation value using calculation methods, such as interpolation, using two or more sampling points.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the regulating mechanism includes a pilot control device and a voltage regulator. In addition, the regulating mechanism can include a separate current regulator for each DC voltage converter module. The pilot control device is designed to provide a first regulating variable using a current value for the input voltage. The voltage regulator is designed to provide a second regulating variable using a target value for the output voltage and a current value of the output voltage of the DC voltage converter. Each current regulator is designed to provide a third regulating variable using the current in the corresponding DC voltage converter module. In addition, the regulating mechanism can be designed to combine the first regulating variable, the second regulating variable, and the third regulating variable of the corresponding DC voltage converter module into a separate regulating variable for each DC voltage converter module. In this way, highly reliable and simultaneously effective regulation can be achieved for a DC voltage converter device having multiple DC voltage converter modules.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the compensation mechanism is designed to determine the compensation variable using individual controlled variables for the corresponding DC voltage converter module. Furthermore, the compensation mechanism also takes into account the current value of the input voltage and / or the current value of the temperature in the DC voltage converter module to determine the compensation variable. In particular, individual compensation values for the respective individual controlled variables, the input voltage value, and the temperature value can be stored in advance and taken into account to determine the compensation variable. Furthermore, other parameters or framework conditions of the DC voltage converter device can also be taken into account to determine the combined variable, if necessary. Individual compensation values can also be stored in advance for these other parameters, if necessary.

[0016] According to one embodiment, a previously stored correction value specifies an adjustment of the manipulated variable that depends on the input voltage of the DC voltage converter. For example, separate correction values can be stored and provided for a plurality of different values of the input voltage. Furthermore, the correction value can also be calculated, for example, by means of calculations, such as interpolation, from two or more sampling points with corresponding values of the input voltage. Furthermore, any other arbitrary methods, such as calculation methods, are also possible for obtaining the correction value.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the regulating device is designed to acquire a correction value for determining a compensation variable of the DC voltage converter module. The acquired correction value can be stored in a correction value memory together with the corresponding value of the input voltage. The acquisition and storage of the correction value can be performed in advance, for example, during initialization or parameterization of the DC voltage converter.

[0018] Furthermore, correction values can also be acquired and stored during the operation of the DC voltage converter. In particular, additional correction values can be acquired and stored. Furthermore, existing correction values can be overwritten by newly acquired correction values, if necessary. This makes it possible, for example, to take into account aging effects and the like.

[0019] According to one specific embodiment, the correction value is determined and stored if the DC converter modules are actively controlled in an identical manner, that is, if they are actively regulated such that the same currents occur in the individual DC converter modules and thus they each provide the same output power.

[0020] According to one specific embodiment, the correction value is stored in a non-volatile correction value memory.

[0021] The above-described embodiments and improvements can be combined with one another as desired. Further embodiments, improvements, and implementations of the present invention also include combinations of features not explicitly mentioned above or below with respect to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In particular, those skilled in the art will also consider individual aspects as improvements or supplements to the corresponding basic form of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Further features and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a basic circuit diagram of a DC voltage converter having a regulating device according to one embodiment;

[0024] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a compensation mechanism for a DC voltage converter according to one embodiment; and

[0025] Figure 3 A flow chart is shown as an example of a method for regulating a DC / DC converter according to one specific embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a DC voltage converter 1 having a plurality of DC voltage converter modules 30-i is shown. The two DC voltage converter modules 30-1 and 30-2 shown here serve merely as an example for a simple explanation of the basic principle of the invention. Of course, the DC voltage converter 1 can also have more than two DC voltage converter modules 30-i.

[0027] Each DC voltage converter module 30-i is fed by a common input DC voltage. Furthermore, the outputs of the individual DC voltage converter modules 30-i can be interconnected so that each DC voltage converter module 30-i also provides the same output voltage. To regulate the output voltage and output current, each DC voltage converter module 30-i is controlled using a separate manipulated variable R5-i. For example, this can involve pulse width modulation, where the duty cycle of the manipulated variable R5-i is adjusted accordingly.

[0028] To regulate the individual DC voltage converter modules 30 - i , individual manipulated variables R4 - i can be generated for each DC voltage converter module 30 - i The generation of individual manipulated variables R4 - i in the regulating device 10 will be explained in more detail below.

[0029] In addition, a compensation variable Ki is generated for each DC voltage converter module 30 - i.

[0030] Each DC voltage converter module 30 - i is controlled by means of a combination of a corresponding individual manipulated variable R4 - i and a corresponding compensation variable Ki. For this purpose, the individual manipulated variable R4 - i and the corresponding compensation variable Ki can be combined in an adder, for example, and the combination of the individual manipulated variable R4 - i and the compensation variable Ki can be made available at the corresponding DC voltage converter module 30 - i.

[0031] The compensation variable Ki is determined in particular using the corresponding individual manipulated variables R4-i. Furthermore, the temperature T, in particular the temperature in the DC converter module 30-i, and / or the value of the input voltage U can also be included in the determination of the compensation variable Ki. The determination of the compensation variable Ki will be explained in more detail below.

[0032] To determine the individual manipulated variables R4-i in the regulating mechanism 10, for example, a common pilot control device 11, a common voltage regulator, and individual current regulators 13-i for each DC voltage converter module 30-i can be provided. The pilot control device can, for example, determine the first manipulated variable R1 using the value for the input voltage and, if necessary, other parameters. The voltage regulator 12 can, for example, compare the value for the output voltage of the DC voltage converter module 30-i with a predetermined target value for the output voltage and, using this comparison, generate the second manipulated variable R2. For example, the first manipulated variable R1 and the second manipulated variable R2 can be combined in an adder 14. Furthermore, the current regulators 13-i associated with the respective DC voltage converter modules 30-i each generate third manipulated variables R3-i using the current in the respective DC voltage converter modules 30-i. These third manipulated variables R3-i can be combined with the combination of the first manipulated variable R1 and the second manipulated variable R2. For example, an adder 15-i can be provided for this purpose. The combination of the first manipulated variable R1, the second manipulated variable R2, and the third manipulated variable R3-i for each DC voltage converter module 30-i thus produces individual manipulated variables R4-i. These individual manipulated variables can be combined with the corresponding compensation variables Ki, as described above, to control the respective DC voltage converter module 30-i. In this way, another compensation variable Ki can be superimposed on the individual manipulated variable R4-i. This allows, for example, individual component tolerances in each DC voltage converter module 30-i to be taken into account.

[0033] Figure 2A schematic diagram of a principle circuit diagram of a compensation mechanism 20 for a DC voltage converter 1 according to one embodiment is shown. For example, the previously described individual manipulated variables R4-i, input voltage U, and temperature T of the DC voltage converter module 30-i can be provided to the compensation mechanism 20. For example, the provided values can be filtered. For example, a first individual manipulated variable R4-1 can be filtered using a first filter 211, and a second individual manipulated variable R4-2 can be filtered using a second filter 212. Similarly, the input voltage U can be filtered using a filter 220, and the temperature T can be filtered using another filter 230.

[0034] In a further step, the difference between the individual manipulated variables R4-i can be formed using differential elements 241 and 242. The difference can then be limited to a negative value. In a further step, a correction variable is obtained from the filtered values of the individual manipulated variables or, if necessary, the limited difference, using previously stored correction values from the correction value memory 250. If necessary, the correction variable for each DC voltage converter module 30-i can also be further adjusted using correction variables for input voltage U and temperature T. Finally, the correction variable can be limited to a maximum value in limiting units 261, 262. For example, a maximum correction of -2% or, if necessary, -5% can be set. The correction variable Ki generated in this way is then combined with the individual manipulated variables R4-i and supplied to the corresponding DC voltage converter module 30-i.

[0035] Furthermore, it is possible to signal at the input 280 that the DC voltage converter modules 30-i are currently being actively treated equally, i.e., that they provide the same output current or output power. If this equal treatment is signaled at the input 280, the correction mechanism can acquire the values applied in this state, such as manipulated variables, voltages, and temperatures, and store them in the correction value memory 250. In particular, the acquired values can be detected and stored together with the respective corresponding input voltages on the DC voltage converter modules 30-i. The correction value memory 250 can be a non-volatile memory, in particular. In this way, it can be ensured that the acquired correction values remain in the memory even after the DC voltage converters are switched off.

[0036] Figure 3A schematic diagram of a flow chart of a method for regulating a DC voltage converter 1 having a plurality of DC voltage converter modules 30-i is shown. The method described below can, in particular, perform any of the steps described above in connection with the function of the DC voltage converter 1. The DC voltage converter 1 described above can also correspondingly perform all of the steps described below in connection with the method.

[0037] In step S1, an individual manipulated variable R4-i is provided for each DC voltage converter module 30-i. In particular, the individual manipulated variables R4-i can be determined and provided using a target variable for the output voltage, a measured value for the output voltage, a measured value for the input voltage, and a measured value for the corresponding current of the DC voltage converter module 30-i.

[0038] In step S2, the compensation variable Ki is provided. In particular, the compensation variable is determined and provided using the individual manipulated variable R4-i and previously stored correction values for the respective DC voltage converter module 30-i. Subsequently, in step S3, the DC voltage converter module 30-i is controlled using the combination of the respective individual manipulated variable R4-i and the corresponding compensation variable Ki.

[0039] In particular, the compensation variable Ki can be determined using the individual manipulated variables R4-i, the value U for the input voltage of the DC voltage converter module, and the temperature T of the DC voltage converter module. For each input variable, in particular, a correction value previously stored in a non-volatile memory can be used. The correction value in this case represents, in particular, the relationship between the correction value and the corresponding input voltage.

[0040] In summary, the present invention relates to an expanded adjustment of a control variable for a DC voltage converter having a plurality of DC voltage converter modules. To this end, in addition to the conventional adjustment of each DC voltage converter module, another correction variable is obtained, which can be added to the control variable. The correction variable can particularly take into account the individual characteristics of the DC voltage converter module, such as component tolerances or similar characteristics. To this end, correction values suitable for each DC voltage converter module can be obtained in advance and stored in a non-volatile memory. Using these pre-stored relationships, the control variables for each DC voltage converter module can be adjusted individually.

Claims

1. A regulating device for a DC voltage converter (1) having a plurality of DC voltage converter modules (30-i) connected in parallel, comprising: A regulating device (10) is designed to provide an individual regulating variable (R4-i) for each DC voltage converter module (30-i) using a target variable for the output voltage, a measured value for the output voltage, a measured value for the input voltage (U) and a measured value of the corresponding current in the DC voltage converter module (30-i); A compensation device (20) is designed to provide a compensation variable (Ki) for each DC voltage converter module (30-i) using an individual control variable (R4-i) for the corresponding DC voltage converter module (30-i) and a previously stored correction value, Each DC voltage converter module (30-i) is controlled using a corresponding individual manipulated variable (R4-i) and a corresponding compensation variable (Ki), characterized in that The regulating device (10) comprises a pilot control device (11), a voltage regulator (12) and, for each DC voltage converter module (30-i), an individual current regulator (13-i), and The pilot control device (11) is designed to provide a first manipulated variable (R1) using the measured value for the input voltage (U). The voltage regulator (12) is designed to provide a second manipulated variable (R2) using a target value for the output voltage and a measured value of the output voltage of the DC voltage converter. The individual current regulators (13-i) are designed to provide a third manipulated variable (R3-i) respectively using the current in the respective DC voltage converter module, and The regulating device (10) is designed to combine a first regulating variable (R1), a second regulating variable (R2), and a third regulating variable (R3-i) of the corresponding DC voltage converter module (30-i) into an individual regulating variable (R4-i) for the DC voltage converter module (30-i).

2. A regulating device according to claim 1, wherein the compensation mechanism (20) is designed to obtain the compensation value (Ki) by using the individual regulating variables (R4-i) for the corresponding DC voltage converter module (30-i), the measured value for the input voltage (U) and the measured value for the temperature (T) of the DC voltage converter module (30-i).

3. The regulating device according to claim 1, wherein the compensation mechanism (20) is designed to calculate the compensation amount using a plurality of stored correction values.

4. A regulating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the compensation mechanism (20) is designed to obtain a correction value (Ki) for determining the compensation amount of the DC voltage converter module (30-i) and store the obtained correction value together with the corresponding input voltage (U) in a correction value memory (250).

5. The regulating device according to claim 4, wherein the compensation mechanism (20) is designed to determine and store the correction value when the DC voltage converter modules (30-i) provide the same output current or output power.

6. The regulating device according to claim 4, wherein the correction value memory (250) comprises a non-volatile memory.

7. A method for regulating a DC-DC converter (1) having a plurality of DC-DC converter modules (30-i) and a regulating device according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: Providing (S1) individual manipulated variables (R4-i) using a target variable for the output voltage, a measured value for the output voltage, a measured value for the input voltage (U) and a measured value of the corresponding current in the DC voltage converter module (30-i); Providing (S2) a compensation variable (Ki) using individual control variables (R4-i) for the corresponding DC voltage converter module (30-i) and previously stored correction values; and The DC voltage converter modules (30-i) are controlled (S3) using a combination of respective individual manipulated variables (R4-i) and corresponding compensation variables (Ki).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein providing the compensation variable (Ki) comprises obtaining the compensation variable (Ki) using individual control variables (R4-i), the value of the input voltage (U) for the DC voltage converter module (30-i) and the temperature (T) of the DC voltage converter module (30-i).

Images