Line Loss Compensating Power Supply with Resistance-Based Voltage Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems face challenges in effectively compensating for voltage drops across conductors, leading to inefficiencies and the need for load-related components that occupy valuable space and require modifications, especially when powering remote loads.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system with a control circuit that sets DC output voltage at multiple values, senses corresponding currents, determines conductor resistance, and adjusts the voltage to compensate for drops, allowing for efficient regulation of DC load voltage without relying on load-related components or specific conductor characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensing device is positioned at the load for measuring load voltage and providing feedback to the power supply, then the power supply can compensate for voltage drop, but the system requires load-related components that occupy valuable space and require modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the voltage sensing function from the load side and relocates it to the power supply output side. By measuring the output voltage at the power supply and using the determined conductor resistance to calculate the required compensation, the system eliminates the need for sensing devices at the load, reducing space requirements and modifications at the load location while maintaining voltage regulation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement approach by using the power supply's own output voltage measurement combined with conductor resistance characteristics to infer load conditions. This intermediary method allows the power supply to regulate voltage without direct feedback from the load, avoiding the need for load-side sensing components
2Reliability
If load-related components are used for voltage regulation, then voltage drop compensation is achieved, but valuable space is occupied and modifications are required at the load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the voltage sensing and regulation components from the load location and consolidates them at the power supply. By extracting the sensing function to the power supply output and using computational methods to determine conductor resistance and required compensation, the system achieves voltage regulation without occupying space at the load location
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply performs self-regulation by measuring its own output voltage, determining conductor resistance through multiple measurement points, and automatically adjusting its output to compensate for voltage drops. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external load-side components that would occupy space
3Measurement precision
If the power supply uses multiple DC output voltage values to determine conductor resistance, then accurate voltage drop compensation is achieved, but the control circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic measurement sequences where the power supply systematically varies its output voltage through multiple discrete values and measures corresponding currents at each level. This periodic multi-point measurement approach enables accurate determination of conductor resistance through linear regression analysis, achieving precision without requiring complex real-time measurement circuits
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit uses feedback from multiple voltage-current measurement pairs to calculate conductor resistance and continuously adjusts the output voltage to compensate for voltage drops. The feedback mechanism processes the relationship between output voltage and current measurements to determine optimal compensation, achieving accurate regulation through systematic data collection and analysis
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
This approach enables efficient voltage regulation at loads, reducing the need for load-related components and allowing power supply systems to operate effectively over various conductors, including remote loads, while maintaining power consumption stability and minimizing space and modification requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The control circuit is configured to set a DC output voltage of the power circuit at a plurality of different values to cause the DC load voltage at the load to change, sense an output current of the power circuit corresponding to each different value of the DC output voltage
Implementation Method 2
determine an electrical resistance of the conductor based on the different DC output voltage values and their corresponding DC output current values
Implementation Method 3
a power circuit for providing DC power to a load via a conductor
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical power supply includes a power circuit for providing power to a load via a conductor, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to set an output voltage of the power circuit at different values to cause the load voltage at the load to change, sense an output current of the power circuit corresponding to each different value of the output voltage, determine an electrical resistance of the conductor based on the different output voltage values and their corresponding output current values, and set the output voltage of the power circuit at a defined value based on the determined resistance to compensate for a voltage drop of the conductor when the power circuit provides power to the load and to regulate the load voltage at the load at a desired value. Other example power supplies, control circuits and/or methods of regulating load voltages are also disclosed.