DC Power Distribution Ring Bus Fault Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing DC power distribution systems face challenges in maintaining reliable power supply due to faults, which often result in loss of power and underutilization of available capacity, as they typically disconnect the entire power source when a fault occurs, preventing other sources from compensating for the lost power.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a DC power distribution system with a ring bus architecture and bi-directional power converters that isolate faults, allowing other power sources to continue supplying power and utilizing batteries to supplement loads during faults, thereby maintaining power availability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple DC power sources are used to improve availability, then power reliability is improved, but stranded capacity from some DC power sources cannot be utilized to feed loads coupled to different DC power sources
Solution Approach 1:
A DC/DC converter is introduced as an intermediary device between the DC power source and the DC bus. This converter enables bidirectional power flow, allowing the DC power source to supply power to the DC bus when available and to receive power from the DC bus when the source is unavailable or has stranded capacity. This resolves the contradiction by enabling utilization of power capacity across multiple sources while maintaining system reliability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If power is disconnected from the load when a fault occurs, then equipment and people are protected, but critical loads that cannot tolerate losses of power are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power distribution into modular components with independent protection. When a fault occurs on one DC bus, only the affected segment is isolated while other segments continue operating. The DC/DC converter enables power to be routed from unaffected power sources to critical loads on the affected bus, providing localized protection without system-wide shutdown.
3Reliability
If DC power distribution systems are designed for multiple DC power sources, then availability problem is overcome, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The DC/DC converter is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple operating modes: it can operate as a rectifier converting AC to DC, as a DC/DC converter transferring power between DC buses, and as a bidirectional power flow device. This universal design simplifies the overall system architecture by using a single versatile component type rather than requiring different specialized components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A direct current (DC) power distribution system is provided. The system includes a plurality of DC power sources, a ring bus, and a plurality of power converters. Each DC power source of the plurality of DC power sources is coupled to the ring bus by a respective power converter of the plurality of power converters.