DC Bus Voltage Control Droop Rate Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In systems for interchanging power among consumers via a DC power line, there is a need for stable transition of voltage control when power supply is shifted between DC to DC converters, as existing methods can lead to unstable voltage control and inefficiencies due to voltage drops and mode transitions.

Innovation Solution

A power control apparatus and method that includes a DC to DC converter connected by a DC bus line, a communication unit, and a control unit that manages control modes and droop rates, allowing for stable voltage control by setting the droop rate to a predetermined value other than 0% during mode shifts, ensuring seamless power interchange and voltage regulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the control mode is shifted directly from voltage control mode to current control mode or stop mode with droop rate set to 0%, then the mode transition is simple and fast, but voltage instability and control right transfer issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemode transition speedVSAvoidvoltage control stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit sets the droop rate to a predetermined value other than 0% before shifting from voltage control mode to current control mode or stop mode. This preliminary action prepares the system for stable mode transition by pre-configuring the droop compensation mechanism, ensuring that voltage control stability is maintained during the transition process while enabling relatively fast mode switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the droop rate is set to a predetermined value other than 0% during mode transition, then voltage control stability is improved, but the control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage control stabilityVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit dynamically adjusts the droop rate based on the operational mode. During voltage control mode, the droop rate can be 0% for optimal voltage regulation. During mode transitions or in current control mode, the droop rate is set to a predetermined value other than 0% to ensure stability. This dynamic adjustment approach maintains voltage control stability while minimizing control complexity by using simple droop rate values rather than complex control algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3605769B1Power control device, power control method, and computer program
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3605769B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3605769B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3605769B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A power control apparatus capable of stable transition of a set voltage is provided. A power control apparatus includes a DC to DC converter connected to a DC bus line, a communication unit that communicates with another power control apparatus, and a control unit that controls power interchange with the other power control apparatus through the DC bus line, in which the control unit controls at least a control mode and a droop rate, the control mode includes a first mode for controlling a voltage of the DC bus line, a second mode for controlling a current flowing through the DC bus line, and a third mode for stopping the power interchange, and when the control mode is shifted from the first mode to the second mode or the third mode, the control unit controls the droop rate to be set to a predetermined value other than 0%.