Dual-PLL Active Converter Control for VSD Line Dropout Sync

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Solution Overview

Problem

Variable speed drives (VSDs) with active converters generate high common mode voltage, leading to premature bearing failures and harmonic distortion, and struggle with maintaining synchronous operation during power outages and resynchronization.

Innovation Solution

A VSD system with a converter stage, DC link, and inverter stage, incorporating phase angle tracking using two Phase-Locked-Loops (PLLs) and an integral bypass Active Converter configuration, along with a liquid- or refrigerant-cooled inductor, to reduce common mode and differential mode voltage stress and improve power factor correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If active converter technology is used to provide power factor correction and reduced input current harmonics, then power factor and harmonic distortion are improved, but common mode voltage increases causing bearing fluting and premature bearing failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower factor correctionVSAvoidcommon mode voltage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A common mode choke is introduced as an intermediary component in the active converter circuit to suppress common mode voltage. The choke acts as a mediator that blocks common mode currents while allowing differential mode power transmission, thereby reducing bearing fluting and premature bearing failures while maintaining power factor correction benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies operating parameters of the active converter including switching frequencies, pulse width modulation duty cycles, and filter component values to optimize the balance between power factor correction performance and common mode voltage generation. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves improved power factor while minimizing harmful common mode effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the VSD is required to ride-through an extended loss of input line-to-line voltage and resynchronize, then reliability during power outages is improved, but the ability to retain d-q reference frame angle and quickly lock back onto mains becomes compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveride-through capabilityVSAvoidphase angle knowledge
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously tracking and storing phase angle information in memory even before power outages occur. During normal operation, the Phase-Locked-Loop continuously updates the reference frame angle, and this information is preserved in non-volatile memory or held in capacitors, enabling the system to quickly resume synchronous operation without losing phase angle knowledge when power is restored

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A feedback mechanism using Phase-Locked-Loop circuitry continuously monitors the input mains voltage phase angle and adjusts the d-q reference frame accordingly. This feedback system ensures that even during extended power outages, the system maintains accurate phase angle tracking capability and can quickly resynchronize when power is restored, preventing loss of synchronization information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If a filter with high cutoff frequency and small integrating capacitor is used in the Phase-Locked-Loop, then response speed is improved, but filtering effectiveness may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephase angle tracking speedVSAvoidfiltering effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic filter design where the Phase-Locked-Loop filter characteristics are adaptively adjusted based on operating conditions. The filter cutoff frequency and integrating capacitor values are optimized to provide fast response during normal operation while maintaining adequate filtering effectiveness. The system dynamically balances between speed and filtering by adjusting loop bandwidth and filter parameters according to the specific operational state

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2106633B1System and method to extend synchronous operation of an active converter in a variable speed drive
Publication Date: 2010.08.18 JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY CO
  • EP2106633B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2106633B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2106633B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for synchronous operation of variable speed drives having active converters include extending the synchronous operation of an active converter to the AC mains voltage during complete line dropout. A phase angle control circuit includes a squaring amplifier, a first phase-lock loop circuit associated and a second phase-lock loop circuit. The squaring amplifier receives the AC power source and outputs a rectangular output signal to a pair of phase lock loop (PLL) circuits. The first PLL circuit with a first lag-lead filter is configured with a high cutoff frequency to provide the converter stage with a phase angle parameter; and the second phase-lock loop circuit including a second lag-lead filter configured to have a low cutoff frequency to provide the lag-lead filter the capability of storing the phase angle of the mains voltage during mains interruption.