High-Frequency UPS Voltage Regulation With Lower Loss and Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems with low-frequency automatic voltage regulation (AVR) circuits suffer from high cost, large size, heavy weight, and inefficiencies due to high iron and copper losses under different load conditions.
Innovation Solution
A UPS system incorporating a bidirectional AC-DC converter, resonant converter, and high-frequency automatic voltage regulation circuit, utilizing a transformer with fewer components and operating at higher frequencies to reduce losses and improve efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a low-frequency automatic voltage regulation circuit is used, then voltage regulation can be achieved, but the system suffers from high cost, large size, and heavy weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating frequency parameter from low-frequency (50-60 Hz) to high-frequency operation. This parameter change enables the use of smaller magnetic cores and fewer components while achieving the same voltage regulation function, thereby reducing weight and size without sacrificing voltage regulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from the traditional low-frequency AVR circuit architecture. By using a high-frequency switching architecture with a resonant converter and bidirectional AC-DC converter, the system achieves voltage regulation with significantly fewer components, reducing both cost and weight
2Reliability
If a low-frequency automatic voltage regulation circuit is used, then voltage regulation can be achieved, but the system incurs high iron loss under light load and high copper loss under heavy load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating frequency from low-frequency to high-frequency operation. This parameter change fundamentally reduces iron losses in the magnetic core due to the improved efficiency of high-frequency magnetic materials and reduced core size. The resonant converter architecture also minimizes copper losses through optimized current waveforms and reduced RMS current
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional low-frequency electromagnetic AVR mechanism with a high-frequency resonant switching mechanism. This substitution uses controlled switching devices (MOSFETs/IGBTs) and resonant tanks to achieve voltage regulation with significantly reduced energy losses compared to the mechanical/electromagnetic approach
3Reliability
If a low-frequency automatic voltage regulation circuit is used, then voltage regulation can be achieved, but the system requires a large amount of components resulting in high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into integrated circuit modules. The bidirectional AC-DC converter and resonant converter are combined in a unified architecture that performs both power conversion and voltage regulation. The transformer with multiple windings (first, second, and third windings) integrates multiple functions in a single component, reducing the total number of discrete parts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs universal circuit blocks that perform multiple functions. The resonant converter can operate in both charging and discharging modes, and the bidirectional AC-DC converter handles both power factor correction and voltage regulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function
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 achieves reduced component count, weight, and losses, leading to lower costs and improved efficiency by using a high-frequency architecture that minimizes iron and copper losses across varying load conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The transformer includes a magnetic core, a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding. The first winding, the second winding, and the third winding are wound on the magnetic core.
Implementation Method 2
The resonant converter is coupled to the bidirectional AC-DC converter, and is configured to be coupled to the battery. The resonant converter includes a transformer.
Data Source
AI summary
An uninterruptible power supply system includes a bidirectional AC-DC converter, a resonant converter, an automatic voltage regulation circuit and a control unit. When an AC input voltage is out of a predetermined voltage range and within a voltage regulation range, the automatic voltage regulation circuit, the resonant converter and the bidirectional AC-DC converter generate an AC supplementary voltage at an output terminal based on the AC input voltage and generate an AC output voltage based on the AC input voltage and the AC supplementary voltage, so that the AC output voltage is within the predetermined voltage range. When the AC input voltage is out of the voltage regulation range, the resonant converter and the bidirectional AC-DC converter generate the AC output voltage at the output terminal based on discharge voltage of a battery, so that the AC output voltage is within the predetermined range.