Distributed Control Board for Fast Power Converter Fault Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized control systems for power converters become increasingly complex and slow as the number of submodules increases, necessitating rapid signal processing and command delivery that is challenging with existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A distributed control system with a control board connected to power modules and controller boards, featuring a processing unit, communication interface, identification, and encryption circuits, which decentralizes control commands and data delivery, allowing local management of power modules and rapid response to faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a centralized control system is used to control all submodules, then the control structure is simple and centralized, but the system complexity increases and processing speed decreases as the number of submodules increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized control system is segmented into distributed control boards, with each control board independently managing a specific subset of submodules. This segmentation reduces the processing burden on any single controller and enables parallel operation, thereby improving signal processing speed while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control architecture transitions from a single-dimensional centralized structure to a multi-dimensional distributed structure where control boards are organized in hierarchical layers. This dimensional transformation allows for scalable system design where control functions are distributed across multiple levels, improving both speed and complexity management.
2Power
If the number of submodules is increased to handle larger power conversion requirements, then the power conversion capacity is improved, but the complexity of the centralized control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into multiple independent control boards, each managing a specific group of submodules. This allows the power conversion capacity to be scaled by adding more submodules to existing control boards or by adding new control boards, without proportionally increasing the complexity of any single control unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The control boards are designed with universal functionality to manage multiple submodules using the same control logic and processing architecture. This multi-functionality allows the system to handle increased power conversion capacity while reusing the same control components, thereby preventing complexity from increasing linearly with capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If more submodules are controlled through a central controller, then the power converter capacity is increased, but the processing burden and response time of the central controller deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control function is segmented across multiple distributed control boards, each handling a specific portion of the total submodule population. This segmentation enables parallel processing of control signals, significantly reducing the time required to deliver control commands to all submodules compared to a sequential centralized approach.
Solution Approach 2:
Each control board is equipped with autonomous processing capabilities to independently generate and execute control commands for its assigned submodules without requiring continuous centralized coordination. This self-service capability reduces the overall control signal delivery time by eliminating bottlenecks in the centralized command chain.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a control board for a distributed control system for power converter to be connected to a power module and to be connected to a controller board. The control board includes a processing unit (to command the power module from references received from the controller board, a set of voltage measurements delivered by the power module and data received from the power module, and to deliver data to the controller board.