Inverter Ground Reference Circuit for Voltage Transient Clipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stray inductances and capacitances in electric power systems for vehicles and industrial equipment lead to increased potential between batteries and ground, reducing the useful life, charging cycles, and charging capacity, and existing systems fail to effectively manage voltage transients during transient events or failure modes.
Innovation Solution
A power control system with an inverter and a snubber/clipper assembly that reduces impedance to the ground reference by using resistors and capacitors in series, and a controller that activates the snubber or clipper assemblies to dissipate voltage transients, directing excess voltage to the ground reference based on threshold detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resistors and capacitors are added to reduce impedance to ground reference, then voltage transient management improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ground reference leg with resistors and capacitors as intermediary components between the power source and ground. This leg acts as a mediator that provides a controlled impedance path for voltage transients, allowing the system to manage voltage spikes without directly modifying the power source or load circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground reference leg with resistors and capacitors is configured to provide beforehand cushioning by creating a controlled impedance path that absorbs and dissipates voltage transients before they can damage sensitive components. The capacitors store energy during transients while resistors dissipate excess energy, protecting the system in advance of potential damage.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the potential between batteries and ground reference is kept within safe limits, then battery useful life and charging capacity are preserved, but the ability to handle high voltage transients is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ground reference leg serves as an intermediary that decouples the battery system from direct ground reference during transients. By providing a controlled impedance path through resistors and capacitors, it allows voltage transients to be managed separately from the battery potential, protecting batteries while maintaining transient handling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the voltage management function by separating the battery potential control from the ground reference. The ground reference leg handles transient voltage management independently, allowing the battery system to maintain stable potential within safe limits while the ground reference leg absorbs voltage spikes through its resistive-capacitive network.
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 effectively reduces variances in voltage potential, preventing damage to power sources and improving the operational life and capacity of batteries by maintaining balanced potential differences and managing voltage transients.
Implementation Method 1
A first leg may conductively couple the positive and negative links. The first leg may include resistors disposed in series with each other and connected with a ground reference. A second leg may conductively couple the positive and negative links. The second leg may include capacitors disposed in series with each other and connected with the ground reference.
Implementation Method 2
Capacitors, inductive reactors, or the like, may be used to keep the positive potential conducted on the DC positive link the same magnitude as the negative potential conducted on the DC negative link.
Data Source
AI summary
A power control system may include a snubber assembly conductively coupled with power sources and loads between the power sources and loads. A clipper assembly is conductively coupled with the power sources and loads between the power sources and loads. A controller can activate the clipper assembly responsive to detection of a voltage transient conducted from the one or more power sources. The controller can activate the clipper assembly to dissipate at least part of the voltage transient and to direct a remainder of the voltage transient to a ground reference responsive to the voltage transient exceeding a designated threshold. The snubber assembly may dissipate at least part of the voltage transient and direct a remainder of the voltage transient to the ground reference responsive to the voltage transient not exceeding the designated threshold.