Power supply control device
By defining multiple discrete random power-on timings in the power supply control device, the power supply instability caused by rapid changes in electrical loads in traditional electrical systems is solved, and more effective stability of current consumption is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380057377.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-07-29
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-02
AI Technical Summary
In traditional electrical systems, rapid changes in electrical loads lead to problems with cables, connectors, electrical harmonics, protection devices, measurement devices, signal devices, etc., especially in systems with high-power equipment, where the power supply system is unstable.
A power control device is designed, including an input terminal, an output terminal and a control module, which defines a plurality of discrete power-on timings within a time period, preferably randomly in time to control the power supply of electrical energy to the electrical load.
Through randomized power-on timing, the large current peak in the multi-device system is minimized, the effective stability of current consumption is improved, and the probability of unstable upstream power supply is reduced.
Smart Images
Figure CN119923776A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a power supply control device for controlling when power is supplied to an electrical load. Background Art
[0002] In a conventional system including multiple electrical devices such as electric heaters or other electrical devices that respond relatively slowly to electrical energy, the electrical load changes with various factors such as temperature changes or changes in system demand. Such changes can cause large power fluctuations on the upstream side of the distribution network, causing difficulties in power supply and protection. For example, rapidly changing loads (which may go from no load to full load in a very short time) can cause problems with cables, connectors, electrical harmonics, protection devices, measurement devices, signaling devices, etc.
[0003] These problems are exacerbated in traditional systems with a large number of high-power devices, because the instantaneous demands of the devices can cause instability in the power supply system. Summary of the invention
[0004] It is an object of preferred embodiments of the present invention to address the above-identified disadvantages and / or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
[0005] One aspect of the present invention provides a power control device for an electrical load, the power control device comprising: an input end for receiving electrical energy; an output end for providing electrical energy from the input end to the electrical load; and a control module for controlling the supply of electrical energy from the output end to the electrical load, the control module being configured to define a plurality of discrete power-on timings within a time period, during which electrical energy is provided from the output end to power the electrical load.
[0006] The plurality of power-on timings defined by the control module are preferably random in time.
[0007] In an alternative embodiment, the power control device can be part of a system that includes multiple electrical loads, each of which is connected to its own power control device, and multiple power-on timings of the power control device can be synchronized with the power-on timings of one or more other power control devices in the system. In this alternative embodiment, the power control devices in the system can be configured to limit the total number of power-on timings of the power control devices in the system at any given time. For example, only one electrical load in the system can be powered at any given time. Alternatively, at any given time, at most 80% of the multiple electrical loads, or at most 70% of the multiple electrical loads, or at most 60% of the multiple electrical loads, or at most 50% of the multiple electrical loads can be powered.
[0008] The input end of the power control device can receive power from an alternating current (AC) power source or a direct current (DC) power source.
[0009] Preferably, the power control module is selectively configurable to define a time period including one or more timings of the plurality of power-on timings. When the power control device is connected to an AC power source, the control module can be configured to divide the power received at the input into a discrete number of half AC cycles or full AC cycles within the time period, and one or more timings of the plurality of power-on timings preferably correspond to a subset of the discrete number of half AC cycles or full AC cycles.
[0010] Preferably, the control module is configured to divide the time period into a plurality of segments, and one or more timings of the plurality of power-on timings correspond to a subset of the plurality of segments. For example, the control module may divide the time period into approximately 128 discrete segments. Each discrete segment may be approximately 10 ms.
[0011] The time period can be selectively configured to be at least one of less than 1 second, 1 second, less than 5 seconds, 5 seconds, less than 10 seconds, 10 seconds, or greater than 10 seconds. Preferably, the time period is at most about 4 seconds, at most about 3 seconds, or at most about 2 seconds. Further preferably, the time period is about 1.5 seconds.
[0012] A plurality of power-on timings can be selectively adjusted relative to the time period. The power-on timing can be selectively adjusted to a maximum of 100% of the time period. For example, a plurality of power-on timings can be selectively adjusted to any one of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% relative to the time period.
[0013] Another aspect of the present invention provides an electrical load comprising the power control device according to the aforementioned aspect.
[0014] Yet another aspect of the present invention provides an electrical load, comprising: an electrical component powered by electrical energy, the electrical component being used to provide an output response; and a control module for controlling the electrical component, the control module being configured to define a plurality of discrete power-on timings within a time period, during which the electrical component is powered to provide an output response.
[0015] Preferably, the plurality of power-on timings defined by the control module are random in time.
[0016] The features of the control module of the electric load according to this aspect of the invention are similar to those of the control module of the power supply control device of the above aspect.
[0017] The electrical load is preferably an electrical load with a relatively slow response speed, for example, the electrical load is a resistance heater.
[0018] Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a system comprising a plurality of electrical loads, each of which has the power supply control device of the above aspect or is an electrical load of any of the above aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which include:
[0020] Figure 1 A system diagram showing a power supply control device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0021] Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2C The load responses for a conventional system and for a system with a power supply control device including 1, 10, and 64 electrical loads, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Reference Figure 1 , the power control device 100 for an electrical load according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an input terminal 120 for receiving electrical energy from a power source; an output terminal 140 for providing electrical energy from the input terminal to the electrical load; and a control module 160 for controlling the supply of electrical energy from the output terminal to the electrical load. The power control device further comprises an input module 180 for receiving one or more inputs to adjust the operation of the control module 160. The input comprises an input defining the timing of supplying power to the electrical load, which may be up to 100% of the time period.
[0023] The power control device 100 is used in a system including a plurality of electrical loads, each of which is connected to a respective power control device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The power control device 100 is suitable for electrical loads that respond slowly to the supplied electrical energy relative to the electrical energy control frequency. For example, the electrical load is a resistive heater. Such electrical loads require a period of time to reach a desired operating state. For example, in the case of an electric heater, the electric heater requires a period of time to heat to a desired temperature level.
[0024] The input terminal 120 is configured to receive power from a power source. For example, the power source may be a mains power grid or an independent power source. The input terminal of the power control device may receive power from an alternating current (AC) power source, or receive power from a direct current (DC) power source.
[0025] The output terminal 140 is connected to an electrical load to be powered from the input terminal 120. For example, the output terminal has an electrical port to which the electrical load can be connected.
[0026] The control module 160 is configured to define a plurality of discrete power-on timings within a time period, during which electrical energy is provided from the output terminal 140 of the power control device 100 to power the electrical load. In the case where the electrical energy is AC electrical energy, each discrete power-on timing corresponds to a full AC cycle or a half AC cycle in the electrical signal received at the input terminal 140. In a preferred embodiment, the time period may be composed of 128 discrete timings, each of which may be configured as a power-on timing and is approximately 10 ms. Electrical energy is only provided to the electrical load during the power-on timing. For example, in the case of a resistive heater, providing electrical energy thereto will increase the operating temperature of the heating element, or maintain the operating temperature of the heating element when the heating element has reached the desired operating temperature. At times outside the power-on timing, the supply of electrical energy to the electrical load is stopped. Due to the slow response speed of the electrical load, the electrical load will continue to provide some output for a period of time after the supply of electrical energy to the electrical load is stopped.
[0027] In the case where the electric energy is DC electric energy, the control module is configured to divide the time period into a plurality of segments, and one or more of the plurality of power-on timings corresponds to a subset of the plurality of segments. For example, the control module may divide the time period into approximately 128 discrete segments, each of which is approximately 10 ms.
[0028] The control module 160 of the power control device is configured to randomly adjust the power-on timing over time. In this regard, the control module 160 has a randomization module 162, a control circuit 164 for receiving a signal from the randomization module 162, and converting the signal into a control signal for driving a semiconductor device 166, which can be configured to allow or stop power from the input terminal 120 to the output terminal 140. The randomization module 162 generates the on and off timing of the semiconductor device 164 within a time period. The semiconductor device 164 is composed of one or more switches, which are used to control the power supply from the input module 120 to the output module 140. For example, the semiconductor device 164 can be composed of triacs, insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs), or any other switches. In this embodiment, the power-on timing configured by the control module of the power control device 100 in the system is independent of the power-on timing configured by the control modules of other power control devices in the system.
[0029] According to reference Figure 1In the described embodiment, the randomization module 162 is included in the power control device. In other examples, the randomization module may be located outside the power control device. In these other examples, the randomization module may be connected to the control circuit of the control module of the power control device by a wired or wireless connection. For example, the power control device may have a communication module for facilitating communication with an external randomization module. The external randomization module may communicate with a power control device, or communicate with multiple power control devices in the system. For example, the external randomization module may have or implement multiple channels, each channel may be assigned to a respective power control device, and the randomization module is configured to generate a randomization control signal for each channel. The randomization control signals on the multiple channels are independent of each other. The user can configure the number of channels of the randomization module according to the number of electrical loads to be controlled in the system.
[0030] The input module 180 provides input to the control module 160 to selectively configure the power control module 160 to define a time period during which one or more power-on timings occur and a duty cycle, where the duty cycle is the amount of time that the semiconductor is on during the configured time period. The control module 160 is further configured to divide the power received at the input into a discrete number of half AC or full AC cycles during the time period, and one or more of the plurality of power-on timings corresponds to a subset of the discrete number of half cycles or full cycles. For example, the input module 180 may be configured to set the time period to about 1.5 seconds. Such short time periods are preferred because they provide responsiveness while providing a sufficiently long time so that the probabilistic method implemented by the control module 160 is useful. In other examples, the input module 180 may be configured to set the time period to less than 1 second, 1 second, less than 5 seconds, 5 seconds, less than 10 seconds, 10 seconds, or greater than 10 seconds. Preferably, the time period is at most about 4 seconds, at most about 3 seconds, or at most about 2 seconds.
[0031] The input module 180 further provides input to the control module 160 to set the power-on timing ratio or percentage relative to the time period. The power-on timing can be selectively adjusted to a maximum of 100% of the time period. For example, multiple power-on timings can be selected to be any one of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% relative to the time period.
[0032] Since the power-on timing of the power control devices in the system is independent and random, the probability of all or a large number of electrical loads being powered at the same time, causing an unstable upstream power supply, is low. As the number of electrical loads with power control devices in the system increases, the probability of an unstable upstream power supply decreases. By randomly selecting the time periods when devices draw power, large current peaks in a multi-device system can be minimized and the effective stability of current consumption can be improved to a certain extent. This is because random noise can tend to zero / cancel.
[0033] Figures 2A to 2B The load response of 1, 10 and 64 loads is shown over time, each operating at 50% power. The period on the x-axis in these graphs is approximately 1 second, or 100 half cycles of a 50Hz low voltage distribution network.
[0034] Figure 2A The load response 220a in a conventional system with one electrical load and the load response 220b of the power supply control device 100 in a system with one electrical load according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention are shown, wherein the control module randomizes the timing of powering on the electrical load. In both cases, the electrical load is powered 50% of the time. Since the power supply is powering one electrical load at any given time in both cases 220a and 220b, the upstream power supply does not differ much.
[0035] Figure 2B Shown is a load response 240a in a conventional system having 10 electrical loads, and a load response 240b in a system having 10 electrical loads, each having a power control device 100, wherein the control module provides random and independent power-on timings during which power is supplied to each electrical load. In both cases, the electrical loads are powered on 50% of the time. According to the response 240a of the conventional system, power is supplied to all 10 electrical loads for the first 50 half cycles, and then power is stopped for the last 50 half cycles. In contrast, according to the response 240a of the system having a power control device according to the present invention, power is supplied to the electrical loads at different times during the time period shown. In this example response 240b, at most 8 devices are powered on at any given time - i.e., 80% of the devices are powered on.
[0036] Figure 2CA load response 260a in a conventional system with 64 electrical loads is shown, as is a load response 240b in a system with 64 electrical loads, each with a power control device 100, wherein the control module provides random and independent power-on timings during which power is supplied to each electrical load. In both cases, the electrical loads are powered on 50% of the time. According to the response 260a of the conventional system, power is supplied to all 64 electrical loads for the first 50 half cycles, and then power is removed for the last 50 half cycles. In the conventional system, the high power demand for the first 50 cycles followed by no power demand for the last 50 cycles is a rapid change that can result in an unstable upstream power supply. In contrast, according to the response 260a of the system with the power control device according to the present invention, power is supplied to the electrical loads at different times during the time period shown. In this example response 240b, at most about 40 devices are powered on at any given time - i.e., 62.5% of the electrical devices are powered on at any given time.
[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the control module of the power control module is synchronized with other power control devices in the system so that at any given time, the number of electrical loads powered in the system is limited to a number that does not cause instability in the upstream power supply. For example, at any given time, only one electrical load may be powered in the system. Alternatively, at any given time, up to two, up to three, or up to five electrical loads may be powered. Alternatively, at any given time, up to 80% of the plurality of electrical loads may be powered, or up to 70% of the plurality of electrical loads may be powered, or up to 60% of the plurality of electrical loads may be powered, or up to 50% of the plurality of electrical loads may be powered.
[0038] The power control device 100 is removably connected to the electrical load. In an alternative embodiment, the power control device is characterized by being integrated with the electrical load. For example, the electrical load includes: an electrical component powered by electrical energy, the electrical component is used to provide an output; and a control module for controlling the electrical component, the control module is configured to define a plurality of power-on timings during which the electrical component is powered. The plurality of power-on timings defined by the control module are preferably random in time. Alternatively, the control module of the electrical load can be synchronized with the control modules of other electrical loads in the system.
[0039] The various embodiments of the present invention described above are presented by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made to the form and details of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention should not be limited to any of the exemplary embodiments described above.
Claims
1. A power supply control device for an electrical load, the power supply control device comprising: an input terminal for receiving electrical energy; an output terminal for providing electrical energy from the input terminal to the electrical load; as well as A control module for controlling the supply of the electric energy from the output terminal to the electric load, wherein the control module is configured to define a plurality of discrete power-on timings within a time period, during which the electric energy is supplied from the output terminal to power the electric load.
2. The power supply control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of power-on timings are random in time. 3 . The power control device according to claim 1 , wherein the power control module is selectively configurable to define the time period.
4. The power control device according to claim 3, wherein the control module is configured to divide the electrical energy received at the input end into a discrete number of half AC cycles or full AC cycles within the time period, and one or more of the multiple power-on timings corresponds to a subset of the discrete number of half cycles or full cycles. 5 . The power control device according to claim 3 , wherein the control module is configured to divide the time period into a plurality of segments, and one or more timings among the plurality of power-on timings correspond to a subset of the plurality of segments. 6 . The power control device according to claim 3 , wherein the time period is selectively configured to be at most about 4 seconds, at most about 3 seconds, at most about 2 seconds, or at most about 1.5 seconds.
7. The power supply control device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the plurality of energization timings are selectively adjusted with respect to the time period.
8. The power control device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of power-on timings are selectively at most 100% of the time period, for example, any one of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% of the time period.
9. An electrical load comprising the power control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. An electrical load, comprising: an electrical component powered by the electrical energy, the electrical component being operable to provide an output response; and A control module for controlling the electrical component, the control module being configured to define a plurality of discrete power-on timings within a time period during which the electrical component is powered to provide the output response. The electrical load according to claim 10 , wherein a plurality of the power-on timings are random in time.
12. The electrical load according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the electrical load is a resistive heater.