Voltage Converter Ground Current Detection for Short-Circuit Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage converters lack a simplified and efficient method for detecting short circuits between ground and high voltage points, as well as ground and low voltage points, often requiring separate current measuring devices for each detection.
Innovation Solution
A voltage converter with a single ground current measuring device that detects short circuits by monitoring ground current, combined with redundant voltage measurements, and switches to a safe mode to isolate networks upon detection, using safety switches and control systems to manage cell states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate current measuring devices are used for detecting short circuits on high voltage side and low voltage side, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the detection of short circuits on both high voltage side and low voltage side into a single ground current measuring device. The device measures ground current flowing between the ground point and electrical ground, and the protection system uses this single measurement to detect short circuits on both sides, thereby reducing the number of measuring devices while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The ground current measuring device performs multiple functions: it detects short circuits on the high voltage side, detects short circuits on the low voltage side, and provides measurement data for the protection system to determine safe mode operation. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate measuring devices for each detection task
2Device complexity
If a single ground current measuring device is used to detect both high voltage and low voltage short circuits, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The ground current serves as an intermediary measurement that indirectly indicates short circuit conditions on both high voltage and low voltage sides. The protection system uses comparison devices to compare the ground current measurement with predefined thresholds, enabling precise detection of short circuits without requiring direct measurements on each voltage side
Solution Approach 2:
The protection system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the ground current measurement and comparing it with thresholds. When the ground current exceeds predefined thresholds, the system detects a short circuit condition and responds by placing the voltage converter in safe mode, creating a closed-loop detection and response mechanism that maintains measurement precision
Data Source
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AI summary
This voltage converter (106) comprises: - a grounding point (PM) intended to be connected to an electrical ground (M); - a high-voltage point (PHT) intended to have a high voltage (HT) relative to the electrical ground (M); - a low-voltage point (PBT) intended to have a low voltage (BT) relative to the electrical ground (M); - at least one voltage conversion cell (1081, 1082, 1083) connected to the grounding (PM), high-voltage (PHT) and low-voltage (PBT) points in order to perform a conversion between the high voltage (HT) and the low voltage (BT); and - a protection system (118) designed to detect a short circuit between the grounding (PM) and high-voltage (PHT) points and/or between the grounding (PM) and low-voltage (PBT) points. It further comprises a device (110) for measuring a ground current (IM) flowing between this grounding point (PM) and the electrical ground (M), and the protection system (118) is designed to detect the short-circuit based on the measured ground current (MIM).