Current Flow Controller with Shared Energy Storage for DC Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current DC electrical networks face challenges in efficiently regulating current flow across multiple transmission media due to variations in conductor impedance, leading to imbalanced current distribution and increased dissipation losses, which can result in thermal rating exceedance and require additional energy sources or sinks.
Innovation Solution
A current flow controller with multiple terminals and a current flow control unit, comprising switching elements connected to a shared energy storage device, allows for dynamic and selective regulation of current flow by injecting voltage drops into each transmission medium, enabling energy diversion between media to balance currents and minimize losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional energy sources or sinks are added to regulate current flow, then current regulation capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple energy sources and sinks into a single shared energy storage device that serves all current flow control sub-units. This consolidation reduces device complexity while maintaining the ability to regulate current flow across multiple DC power transmission media, as the shared storage device can supply or absorb energy for any subset of the media as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared energy storage device performs multiple functions: it acts as an energy source for some transmission media while simultaneously serving as an energy sink for others, and can dynamically switch roles based on real-time current flow requirements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated energy sources and sinks for each transmission medium.
2Ease of operation
If separate energy storage devices are used for each current flow control sub-unit, then independence and control precision are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple current flow control sub-units share a common energy storage device, reducing the total number of components while maintaining independent control capability through the switching elements in each sub-unit. The control precision is preserved because each sub-unit can independently switch connections to the shared storage device as needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more DC power transmission media are interconnected, then power transmission versatility is improved, but current imbalance and dissipation losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shared energy storage device acts as an intermediary that mediates energy distribution among multiple DC power transmission media. It absorbs excess energy from media with high current flow and supplies energy to media with low current flow, thereby balancing currents and reducing dissipation losses while maintaining the ability to interconnect multiple transmission media.
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
This solution provides efficient current flow regulation, reduces the need for additional energy sources and sinks, and maintains thermal ratings by dynamically balancing currents across DC power transmission media, thereby enhancing power transmission performance and reducing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the or each switching element of each current flow control sub-unit being connected to the same energy storage device to selectively provide a voltage source
Data Source
AI summary
A current flow controller (10) comprising: a plurality of terminals (12a, 12b, 14a, 14b) for connection, in use, to a plurality of DC power transmission medium (16,18) such that each DC power transmission medium (16,18) is connected to at least one of the plurality of terminals (12a, 12b, 14a, 14b); and a current flow control unit interconnecting the plurality of terminals (12a, 12b, 14a, 14b), the current flow control unit including a plurality of current flow control sub-units (20, 22, 23) each of which is, in use, connected to a respective DC power transmission medium (16, 18), each current flow control sub-unit (20, 22, 23) including at least one switching element (24, 28), the or each switching element (24, 28) of each current flow control sub-unit (20, 22, 23) being connected to the same energy storage device (26; 56) to selectively provide a voltage source, and a switching control unit (100) to control switching of each switching element (24, 28) of the current flow control unit to selectively inject a voltage drop (V1, V2), in use, into each DC power transmission medium (16,18) so as to simultaneously regulate current flow (I1, I2) in each DC power transmission medium (16, 18) and divert energy from at least one DC power transmission medium (16, 18) into at least one other DC power transmission medium (16, 18) via the current flow control unit.