Electrolyzer Power Supply Branches with Shared AC/AC Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power supply systems for multiple electrolyzers are complex and costly due to the need for individual supply systems for each electrolyzer, resulting from non-uniform aging and electric insulation issues, which increases the number of AC/DC power converters and control circuits required.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system with an AC/AC power converter, control circuit, and multiple supply branches, each with a branch transformer and rectifier, that connects in series to the AC/AC power converter to provide a unified power supply to multiple electrolyzers, reducing the number of individual power converters and control circuits needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each electrolyzer is supplied by a separate supply system with its own AC/DC power converter and control circuit, then each electrolyzer can be independently controlled to account for non-uniform aging, but the number of power converters and control circuits increases, leading to increased cost and system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple AC/DC power converters into a single AC/AC power converter that supplies multiple electrolyzers through series-connected supply branches. Each branch includes a transformer and rectifier, but the centralized AC/AC converter reduces the total number of power conversion devices from N (one per electrolyzer) to one, directly reducing system complexity while maintaining independent branch control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single AC/AC power converter serves multiple electrolyzers simultaneously through its multiple supply branches, making it a universal power supply device. This multi-functional design allows one converter to replace what would traditionally require N separate converters, reducing cost and complexity while maintaining the ability to independently control each branch.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the secondary side of the transformer includes multiple secondary circuits to reduce harmonics from gate turn off thyristors, then harmonic rejection is improved, but the transformer design and manufacturing become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an AC/AC power converter as an intermediary device between the grid and the electrolyzer supply branches. This intermediary handles the power conversion and harmonic management functions centrally, simplifying the transformer design in each branch while maintaining effective harmonic rejection through the controlled switching of the AC/AC converter.
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 simplifies the design and reduces costs by implementing a single AC/AC power converter and control circuit to supply multiple electrolyzers, while also providing galvanic isolation and the ability to shunt faulty branches to maintain power supply to other electrolyzers.
Implementation Method 1
an AC/AC power converter comprising input terminals connected to the main input terminals and output terminals
Implementation Method 2
at least one rectifier connected to the secondary circuit of the branch transformer, the rectifier comprising output terminals connected to the set of output terminals of the said supply branch to supply the output terminals of the said supply branch with a DC current
Implementation Method 3
each supply branch comprising a branch transformer including a primary circuit connected to the input terminals of the said supply branch and at least one secondary circuit
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method for and a power supply system for a plurality of electrolyzers that includes main input terminals to be connected to a grid, an AC/AC power converter, a control circuit, a plurality of supply branches, each having a branch transformer that includes a primary circuit connected to input terminals of each supply branch and at least one secondary circuit, and at least one rectifier connected to the secondary circuit of the branch transformer, the rectifier having output terminals connected to a set of output terminals of each supply branch to supply the output terminals of each supply branch with a DC current.