Power Supply System Converter Deactivation Voltage Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power supply systems deactivate units during light-load conditions, leading to instability and voltage drops when load suddenly changes, particularly affecting information processing systems like servers.

Innovation Solution

A power supply system with a converter unit, power storage device, driving stop, and driving start sections, where the power storage device assists in maintaining stable voltage by activating inactive converters when the load factor reaches 50% of the rated load, reducing power conversion losses and ensuring stable voltage supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If one or more converters are deactivated during light-load conditions, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but voltage stability deteriorates when load suddenly changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower conversion lossVSAvoidvoltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power storage device is charged in advance during light-load conditions when converters are deactivated. When load suddenly increases, the pre-charged power storage device immediately discharges to supplement power, preventing voltage drops and ensuring smooth transition when converters are reactivated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The power storage device acts as an intermediary between the converter unit and the load. It buffers power fluctuations by charging during low demand and discharging during high demand, mediating the transition when converters are deactivated or reactivated to maintain voltage stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If one or more converters are deactivated during light-load conditions, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but response speed to load changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower conversion lossVSAvoidconverter activation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The power storage device is charged in advance during light-load conditions. When load suddenly increases, it immediately discharges to provide power until converters are fully reactivated, bridging the response time gap and ensuring no power shortage occurs during the activation transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The power storage device automatically charges during light-load conditions and automatically discharges when load increases, providing self-service power regulation without requiring complex control systems to manage the transition between deactivated and activated states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of energy

If the load factor of operating converters is increased during light-load conditions, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but the ability to handle sudden load increases deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower conversion lossVSAvoidload handling capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The power storage device accumulates energy in advance during light-load conditions when converters operate at high load factors. When sudden load increases occur, the pre-charged power storage device immediately supplements power, enabling the system to handle peak demands even though converters were operating at high capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The power storage device serves as a buffer between the high-load operating converters and the load. It absorbs power during low demand and releases it during high demand, mediating the mismatch between converter capacity utilization and actual load requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3447892B1Power supply system
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 MURATA MFG CO LTD
  • EP3447892B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3447892B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3447892B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A power supply system (100) includes a converter unit (12), a battery module (14) connected in parallel to the converter unit (12) and configured to supply power to a load (13), and a monitoring and controlling device (15) configured to deactivate one or more of converter sections (12A, 12B, 12C) and to start driving the inactive converter section(s) (12A, 12B, 12C) in accordance with a light or heavy state of the load (13). When the output voltage of the battery module (14) becomes higher than the output voltage of the converter unit (12) when one or more of the converter sections (12A, 12B, 12C) are inactive, the output voltage of the battery module (14) is supplied to the load (13). The monitoring and controlling device (15) starts driving the inactive converter section(s) (12A, 12B, 12C) by the time the output voltage of the battery module (14) exceeds the output voltage of the converter unit (12).