Bypass Circuit for Power Modules with Safe Voltage Units
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power systems face inefficiencies and safety concerns due to the need for bypassing power sources or devices, particularly when dealing with faulty or unsafe conditions such as over-heating or over-voltage, where traditional bypass circuits incur significant losses.
Innovation Solution
A power system with a series string of power sources connected across a power device, incorporating safe voltage units with sensors and safety switches that monitor parameters and adjust voltage levels to ensure safety, and a method that includes connecting safe voltage units across power sources to detect signals and activate safety switches to bypass non-functioning units, reducing voltage to safe levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bypass circuits are used to bypass faulty power sources, then system reliability is improved, but significant energy losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary bypass circuit configuration with controllable switches that mediates between the faulty power source and the load. This intermediary structure allows selective bypassing of only the faulty portion while maintaining connection to healthy power sources, thereby reducing energy losses compared to traditional bypass circuits that would bypass entire power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass circuit is segmented into multiple controllable sections, each associated with specific power sources. This segmentation allows independent control of bypass operations for different power sources, enabling the system to bypass only the faulty segments while maintaining efficient power transmission through healthy segments, thus reducing overall energy losses.
2Power
If power devices operate under high voltage conditions, then power output is increased, but safety risks increase due to over-voltage conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through monitoring circuits that continuously detect voltage levels and system conditions. When over-voltage conditions are detected, the feedback signal triggers automatic bypass operations or protective actions, allowing the system to operate at high power levels while maintaining safety through real-time monitoring and automatic response.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass circuits and protective devices are pre-configured and ready to activate before dangerous over-voltage conditions develop. The system performs preliminary safety preparations by having bypass paths ready and monitoring systems active, enabling rapid response to prevent safety incidents while allowing high power operation during normal conditions.
3Productivity
If power devices operate at high power levels, then productivity is improved, but heat generation increases causing over-heating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thermal monitoring and cooling intermediary systems that mediate between high power operation and heat management. These intermediary cooling systems and thermal management circuits allow the power devices to operate at high productivity levels while actively managing heat dissipation to prevent over-heating conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E
AI summary
A method for a power system having a string of a plurality of power sources connected across a power device includes connecting a plurality of safe voltage units having safety switches connected respectively across each of the power sources. The method includes sensing a plurality of parameters of the power sources, and monitoring for a signal transmitted from the power device. Each of the safety switches is activated to be OFF responsive to detecting the signal within a predetermined time period. Upon not detecting the signal from the power device within the predetermined time period, a safe mode of operation of the power system is entered in which the voltages of each of the power sources is reduced to a voltage level less than a predetermined voltage level by turning the safety switches ON.