Multi-phase Voltage Regulator Controller with Single Phase Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-phase control systems are limited to controlling only one phase at a time and become unbalanced when phases are de-energized, requiring multiple processing units and leading to system imbalances.
Innovation Solution
A multi-phase operation voltage regulator controller with a main control module and add-on lineman module, using electronically-controlled switches and processors to automatically or manually control tap changers across multiple phases, including automatic re-powering of de-energized phases to maintain system balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple processing units are used to control multiple phases, then control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single processing unit is designed to perform multiple functions by sequentially controlling different phases. The controller can operate in single-phase mode for normal operation and switch to multi-phase mode by activating additional lineman modules, eliminating the need for separate processing units for each phase while maintaining full control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into a main control module and optional add-on lineman modules. Each module can independently control a phase, but they all interface with a single processing unit. This segmentation allows the system to scale from single-phase to multi-phase control without proportionally increasing processing unit complexity
2Ease of manufacture
If a phase is de-energized and re-energized, then maintenance or failure recovery is enabled, but system balance is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors phase status and detects de-energized conditions before they cause problems. When a phase is re-energized, the controller proactively adjusts tap positions of other phases in advance to preemptively maintain balance, rather than waiting for imbalance to occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors voltage and phase status, providing real-time feedback to the processing unit. When a phase transition occurs (de-energized to re-energized), the feedback mechanism triggers automatic recalculation and adjustment of tap positions to restore system balance, ensuring stability is maintained through closed-loop control
3Device complexity
If single phase control is used, then device complexity is reduced, but multi-phase regulation capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed with dynamic reconfigurability, allowing it to switch between single-phase and multi-phase operation modes. The processing unit can dynamically allocate control resources to different phases based on system needs, and the lineman modules can be activated or deactivated to change the operational configuration without hardware changes
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-phase control system having multi-phase operation with single phase control includes a main control module, a lineman module, and an add-on lineman module. The main control module and the lineman module control, automatically or manually, the first phase and first phase tap changer of a multi-phase system. The add-on lineman module and the main control module control, automatically or manually, additional phases of the multi-phase system. In certain example embodiments, the multi-phase control system detects when a line voltage of an additional phase is de-energized and allows the tap changer of the additional phase to be powered by a line voltage of the first phase. In certain example embodiments, the tap changer of a de-energized phase is powered by an external power supply.