Generator Ripple Blending for Transient-Resilient Voltage Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Polyphase generators are susceptible to transient conditions, causing distortion in PWM control signals and leading to false voltage compensation and unnecessary complications in fault detection and protection circuits.

Innovation Solution

A transient condition resilient ripple blender system that filters positive and negative rectified ripple signals and combines them to produce a differential ripple signal, which is used to regulate the generator output, thereby negating the effects of transient conditions on control signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the generator output is regulated using feedback signals based on the generator output, then the generator output can be controlled, but transient conditions cause distortion in the PWM control signal leading to false voltage compensation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage regulation accuracyVSAvoidcontrol signal stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback signal is segmented into two separate rectified ripple signals (positive and negative) that are processed independently. By separating the feedback path into distinct channels, the system can identify and eliminate transient-induced distortion in the PWM control signal, preventing false voltage compensation while maintaining accurate voltage regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A ripple blender circuit is introduced as an intermediary component between the feedback signal and the voltage regulator. This mediator processes the rectified ripple signals to generate a blended feedback signal that is free from transient-induced distortion, thereby protecting the control system from false voltage compensation while preserving accurate voltage regulation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If transient condition protection is added to the generator control system, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransient condition resilienceVSAvoidcontrol circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transient protection functionality is merged into the existing feedback signal path by blending the positive and negative rectified ripple signals in a ripple blender circuit. This integrated approach provides transient condition protection without requiring separate protection circuits, thereby improving reliability while minimizing increases in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage regulator is designed to perform multiple functions: normal voltage regulation and transient condition protection. By making the regulator universal, the system achieves transient resilience without adding dedicated protection circuitry, thus improving reliability while keeping device complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If the PWM control signal is used to regulate generator output, then voltage regulation is achieved, but transient conditions cause unnecessary complications in fault detection and protection circuits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage regulation precisionVSAvoidfault detection circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ripple blender acts as an intermediary that cleans the feedback signal before it reaches the voltage regulator and fault detection circuits. By eliminating transient-induced distortion in the PWM control signal at this intermediate stage, the system maintains precise voltage regulation while preventing unnecessary complications in fault detection and protection circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful transient-induced distortion is extracted and removed from the feedback signal path through the ripple blender circuit. By taking out the distorted components from the PWM control signal, the system achieves precise voltage regulation without propagating distortion to fault detection circuits, thereby reducing their complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The system maintains stable regulated output by generating PWM control signals that are unaffected by transient conditions, reducing distortion and complications in fault detection and protection circuits.

Implementation Method 1

providing a positive rectified ripple signal and a negative rectified ripple signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRectification: Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3853993B1Generator control using transient condition resilient ripple blender
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 SAFRAN POWER USA LLC
  • EP3853993B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3853993B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3853993B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described is a system that includes a polyphase generator and a polyphase bridge rectifier electrically coupled to an output of the polyphase generator. The polyphase bridge rectifier may output a positive rectified ripple signal and a negative rectified ripple signal, and the positive rectified ripple signal and the negative rectified ripple signal may be summed to produce a total ripple signal. Further, the system may include a generator regulation feedback control loop that regulates the output of the polyphase generator with a field control signal. In an embodiment, the field control signal is based on summing the total ripple signal and a reference voltage.