Nonaligned Power Converter Arms Current Imbalance

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Solution Overview

Problem

High power rectifiers in electrolysis face significant current imbalance issues due to the need for multiple components in parallel, leading to inefficient dimensioning and increased bulk and transport challenges.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a non-aligned arms architecture in the same plane for high-power converters, which reduces current imbalance and allows for a more compact design by adjusting the spacing between arms, thereby minimizing the impact of magnetic fields and improving component distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If multiple components are connected in parallel to increase current output, then the current carrying capacity is improved, but current imbalance between components worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent outputVSAvoidcurrent balance
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating asymmetric spacing between adjacent arms, where the first spacing is deliberately different from the second spacing. This non-uniform local arrangement compensates for current imbalance in specific arms, allowing each arm to operate closer to its optimal current level while maintaining high total current output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If uniform spacing between arms is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but current imbalance worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespacing uniformityVSAvoidcurrent balance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry in the spacing between adjacent arms, where the first spacing between a first and second arm differs from the second spacing between the second and third arm. This asymmetric configuration is designed to balance current distribution across arms, improving reliability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through a systematic non-uniform pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Volume of moving object

If arm spacing is reduced for compact design, then device volume is improved, but magnetic field interference worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconverter volumeVSAvoidmagnetic field interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different spacing distances in different regions of the arm assembly. By varying the spacing between specific adjacent arms rather than using uniform spacing throughout, the design achieves compact overall volume while locally managing magnetic field interference through optimized distances in critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2962375B1Power converter comprising an architecture having nonaligned arms
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 GENERAL ELECTRIC TECH GMBH
  • EP2962375B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2962375B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2962375B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a power converter (3) comprising a positive converter bridge (P+) and a negative converter bridge (P-), the converter bridges being Graëtz bridges and assembled in parallel, each converter bridge comprising a first series of component arms connected to the phases of a first secondary of a transformer (2) and a second series of component arms connected to the phases of the second secondary of the transformer (2), characterized in that at least one series of component arms comprises arms (B1, B2, B3) that are arranged relative to one another such that they are nonaligned in a same plane.