Power Supply Circuit Ground Switching for Short Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems face issues where a short in the voltage detector's wire leads to short-circuit currents from either the auxiliary or main power sources, rendering them unusable, as they cannot safely energize the second main power source circuit without risking further power transmission failures.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system with a first and second main power source circuit, a ground circuit connected to the second main power source, and processors that manage wire connections to determine abnormalities by disconnecting specific wires and connecting others to a reference potential, allowing safe energization of the second main power source even if a short has occurred, thereby preventing short-circuit currents and maintaining power transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the voltage detector is connected to the auxiliary power source to detect voltage, then the abnormality in the power source switching control apparatus can be determined, but a short-circuit current flows from the auxiliary power source to the location of the short when a short occurs in the wire, rendering the auxiliary power source unusable
Solution Approach 1:
A ground circuit is introduced as an intermediary component between the auxiliary power source and the voltage detector. The ground circuit includes a switching element that controls the connection between the auxiliary power source and ground, allowing the voltage detector to safely measure voltage without exposing the auxiliary power source to short-circuit currents. The switching element acts as a mediator that enables measurement while preventing harmful current flow.
2Measurement precision
If the voltage detector is connected to the load to detect voltage, then the abnormality in the power source switching control apparatus can be determined, but a short-circuit current flows from the normally-used power source to the location of the short when a short occurs in the wire, rendering the normally-used power source unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The ground circuit serves as an intermediary that safely interfaces the voltage detector with the main power source circuit. By controlling the switching element, the system enables voltage detection while preventing the voltage detector from creating a short-circuit path that would affect the main power source's availability.
3Reliability
If the second main power source circuit is energized to determine abnormalities, then the system can identify faults in the backup circuit, but short-circuit currents may occur if a short has occurred in the circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The ground circuit is activated before energizing the second main power source circuit for fault detection. The switching element is controlled to establish a safe ground connection in advance, preventing short-circuit currents from occurring when the circuit is energized for abnormality determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground circuit acts as an intermediary safety mechanism that controls the energization process of the second main power source circuit. By managing the connection to ground through the switching element, the system enables fault detection while preventing harmful short-circuit currents.
Data Source
AI summary
An abnormality determining section disconnects both a positive wire and a negative wire between a load module and a second ground circuit, connects one of a positive wire or a negative wire between a main power source apparatus and the second ground circuit, and determines whether there is an abnormality in a second main power source circuit based on an amount of power supplied to the second ground circuit in a state where one of the positive wire or the negative wire of the second main power source circuit is connected to a reference potential by the second ground circuit.