Coupled Inductor Single Winding for Parallel Inverters
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Solution Overview
Problem
In power electronics, coupled inductors used in parallel inverters suffer from imperfect coupling, leading to leakage magnetic flux and unbalanced load currents, which affects the efficiency, reliability, and cost of DC to AC power systems.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a coupled inductor with multiple windings formed by a single winding wire, connected between parallel inverters, and an output filter to achieve balanced load currents through magnetic flux sharing, utilizing a magnetic core with windings wound on both sides to minimize leakage inductance and enhance current sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional coupled inductors with separate windings are used, then the basic coupling function is achieved, but leakage magnetic flux occurs causing unbalanced load currents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the two separate windings into a single continuous winding that passes through both magnetic cores. This single winding structure eliminates the leakage inductance between separate windings while maintaining the coupling function, thereby reducing leakage magnetic flux and achieving balanced load currents between parallel inverters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite magnetic core structures with specific permeability characteristics. The magnetic cores are designed with optimized material properties to enhance magnetic coupling and minimize leakage flux, working in conjunction with the single winding structure to achieve balanced current distribution.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate windings are used in coupled inductors, then coupling function is provided, but manufacturing complexity and connection errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple winding functions into a single continuous winding that serves both magnetic cores. This eliminates the need for separate windings and their associated connections, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the risk of connection errors while maintaining the required coupling functionality.
3Productivity
If conventional coupled inductor structures are used, then basic power transfer is achieved, but load current sharing between parallel inverters remains unbalanced
Solution Approach 1:
The single continuous winding structure creates symmetric magnetic coupling paths through both cores, ensuring equal inductance values and balanced current distribution. This merging approach maintains efficient power transfer while achieving uniform current sharing between parallel inverters, improving both productivity and reliability.
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 balances load currents between parallel inverters, improving the efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of DC to AC power systems by reducing leakage inductance and ensuring even current distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The windings and the current flowing through the windings may generate a magnetic field, which is also known as magnetic flux. The magnetic flux provides a medium for storing, transferring or releasing electromagnetic energy.
Implementation Method 2
A coupled inductor may comprise two windings magnetically coupled to each other. The first winding generates a first magnetic force, which drives a first magnetic field or flux.
Implementation Method 3
The magnetic material of the magnetic core of a coupled inductor may be of a magnetic permeability greater than that of a surrounding medium (e.g., air). However, the coupling between two windings of the coupled inductor is not perfect. There may be a leakage path between the winding and the surrounding medium having a lower magnetic permeability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises a first inverter and a second inverter connected in parallel, a coupled inductor connected to outputs of the first inverter and the second inverter, wherein the coupled inductor comprises a plurality of windings formed by a single winding wire and an output filter coupled to an output of the coupled inductor.