Three-Phase AC to DC Converter Phase Detection PWM Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Three-phase AC to DC converters in existing technologies have low followability with voltage changes, leading to harmonic leakage current and noise, and require costly current sensors with through-type configurations, especially when applied to air-conditioning apparatuses with inverter loads.

Innovation Solution

A three-phase AC to DC converter design featuring a three-phase full-bridge circuit with serially-connected switching devices, reverse blocking diodes, a reactor, smoothing capacitor, power supply phase detection, and pulse width modulation (PWM) control based on power supply phase and output voltage to reduce harmonic leakage current and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current sensors are used to detect phase currents for controlling switching devices, then the converter can operate with basic control capability, but the followability with voltage changes is low and the system is susceptible to sensor characteristics such as frequency response and temperature drift

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol stabilityVSAvoidvoltage followability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces current sensors with a current sensorless control mechanism that uses voltage detection and mathematical modeling to determine switching device states. The control circuit detects voltage across switching devices and uses this information to control operation without physical current sensors, thereby eliminating sensor-related limitations while maintaining control reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If through-type current sensors are used to measure current, then current detection is possible, but the mounting cost and sensor cost increase due to the need to insert the current path through the sensor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent detection capabilityVSAvoidmounting complexity and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the current detection function from physical current sensors and implements it through voltage measurement and control circuit processing. By removing the current sensor component entirely and using voltage detection across switching devices combined with control signal analysis, the system achieves current detection capability without the mounting complexity and cost of through-type current sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If basic rectifier circuits are used without PWM control, then the circuit structure is simple, but harmonic leakage current and noise generation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit structure simplicityVSAvoidharmonic leakage current and noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic PWM control of switching devices based on detected voltage conditions and control signals. This dynamic switching control allows the circuit to maintain simple structure while actively managing current flow to reduce harmonic leakage and noise, transitioning from static rectifier operation to dynamic controlled operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit uses feedback from detected voltage across switching devices to adjust switching timing and duration. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain simple circuit structure while actively compensating for harmonic leakage current and noise through real-time control adjustments based on actual operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces harmonic leakage current and noise levels while simplifying the sensor configuration and improving followability with voltage changes, making it suitable for air-conditioning apparatuses with inverter loads.

Implementation Method 1

a reactor that connects a connection point between the two serially-connected switching devices of each phase to a corresponding phase of the three-phase AC power supply

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a smoothing capacitor connected between the DC buses at an output side of the three-phase full-bridge circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 3

a three-phase rectifier bridge circuit that is connected to the three-phase AC power supply and that includes rectifying devices which are connected in a bridge configuration between two DC buses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiode Rectification: Diode

Data Source

PatentEP2629410B1Three-phase ac/DC converting apparatus and air handling unit using three-phase ac/DC converting apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP2629410B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2629410B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2629410B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

To provide a three-phase AC to DC converter capable of reducing harmonic leakage current and the noise level, and an air-conditioning apparatus using the three-phase AC to DC converter. A three-phase AC to DC converter includes a three-phase AC power supply, a three-phase rectifier bridge circuit that is connected to the three-phase AC power supply and includes rectifying devices which are connected in a bridge configuration, a three-phase full-bridge circuit that includes two serially-connected switching devices for each of three phases, the two serially-connected switching devices being connected at an output side of the three-phase rectifier bridge circuit, and includes reverse blocking diodes which are connected in parallel to the respective switching devices, a reactor that connects the three-phase full-bridge circuit to the three-phase AC power supply, a smoothing capacitor connected to an output side of the three-phase full-bridge circuit, DC voltage detection means that detects an output voltage, power supply phase detection means that detects a power supply phase of the three-phase AC power supply, and pulse width modulation means that outputs PWM signals which control the switching devices. The pulse width modulation means outputs the PWM signals on the basis of the power supply phase and the output voltage.