Multi-Phase Converter Control for Common Mode Voltage Minimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
High power electrical multi-phase converters face challenges in generating output voltages that match reference voltages due to varying supply voltages, leading to inefficiencies and inability to produce voltages as high as required, especially when reference voltages exceed available potential zones.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling electrical multi-phase converters involves determining potential zones for each phase branch based on supply voltages, shifting reference voltages if they exceed these zones to minimize common mode voltage, and adjusting switching states to maintain output voltages within these zones, ensuring optimal utilization of available input voltages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If reference voltage is increased to meet high power output requirements, then output voltage capability is improved, but the ability to generate the reference voltage is lost when supply voltages are low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the common mode voltage reference based on the actual supply voltages of converter cells. By making the common mode voltage adaptive rather than fixed, the system can accommodate varying supply conditions while maintaining reliable output voltage generation within available potential zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of common mode voltage to optimize system performance. By adjusting the common mode voltage level according to available supply voltages, the system expands the usable potential zone and improves both output voltage capability and generation reliability under varying supply conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If available supply voltages are utilized to their maximum, then output voltage range is improved, but common mode voltage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric adjustment of phase voltages relative to a shifted common mode reference. By allowing different phases to operate at different offsets from the common mode voltage, the system can utilize the full available supply voltage range while controlling common mode voltage through selective phase adjustment rather than uniform elevation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the voltage control into individual phase branches, each with its own potential zone determination. This allows independent optimization of each phase's voltage utilization while collectively managing the common mode voltage level, enabling better control over the trade-off between voltage range and common mode generation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If converter cells are individually switched to optimize power distribution, then power efficiency is improved, but supply voltage varies over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the actual supply voltages of converter cells and using this information to adjust the common mode voltage reference and determine potential zones. This closed-loop approach allows the system to maintain power efficiency through individual cell switching while compensating for supply voltage variations to保持稳定 output performance.
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
An electrical multi-phase converter (20) comprises at least two phase branches (22) for providing at least two output voltages, wherein each phase branch (22) comprises at least one converter cell (10) supplied with a supply voltage (US_mn), and the at least two phase branches (22) are adapted for converting the supply voltages (US_mn) into the at least two output voltages. A method for controlling the electrical multi-phase converter (20) comprises: determining at least two supply voltages (US_mn) for the at least two converter cells (10) of the at least two phase branches (22); determining a potential zone (26) for each phase branch (22) based on the at least one supply voltage (US_mn) of the at least one converter cell (10) of the phase branch (22), the potential zone (26) bounding a possible actual phase voltage producible by the phase branch (22); receiving a reference voltage (Ur_m) for each phase branch (22); and, if the reference voltage (Ur_m) for a phase branch (22) is not within the potential zone (26) of the phase branch (22), setting the reference voltage (Ur_m) to a bound of the potential zone (26) and shifting reference voltages of other phase branches (22), wherein the reference voltages are set and shifted such that a minimal common mode voltage between the output voltages of the multi-phase converter (20) is generated.