Power Supply Overcurrent Alarm for Selective Load Shedding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional overcurrent protection methods in power supply devices often lead to unnecessary power disconnection of all loads, causing significant losses, especially when additional loads are added, as they fail to differentiate between essential and non-essential loads.
Innovation Solution
A power supply device with a current sampling module, a first comparison module, and a control module that sends an alarm signal when the current exceeds a predetermined alarm current reference value, allowing for advance warning and selective load reduction or disconnection to prevent power loss to essential loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional overcurrent protection method is used, then power supply devices are protected from damage, but all loads are disconnected causing significant power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by sending alarm signals before actual overcurrent protection is triggered. When current reaches the alarm threshold (lower than the protection threshold), the system alerts the load system in advance, allowing time to reduce non-essential loads before power disconnection becomes necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the protection approach into two distinct levels: alarm level (first threshold) and protection level (second threshold). This segmentation allows differentiated responses - alarm signals for minor overloads and power disconnection for severe overloads - enabling selective load management rather than blanket disconnection.
2Reliability
If overcurrent protection is activated, then power supply device is protected, but essential loads are interrupted causing related losses
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides preliminary warning through alarm signals before triggering protection disconnection. This gives the load system advance notice to prioritize essential loads and reduce non-essential loads, maintaining productivity for critical functions while still protecting the power supply device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables different treatment of different loads based on their importance. The load system can selectively reduce non-essential loads while maintaining operation of essential loads, creating local quality differences in load management rather than uniform disconnection of all loads.
3Loss of time
If alarm current reference value is set below overcurrent protection reference value, then advance warning is provided, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new parameter (alarm current reference value) that is distinct from the traditional protection reference value. By setting the alarm value below the protection value, the system creates a time buffer that allows advance response. This parameter change enables gradual response strategy without fundamentally redesigning the protection architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
The application discloses a power supply device and an overcurrent alarm method. The power supply device provides power to a load system and includes: a current sampling module for obtaining a current sampling value; a first comparison module for comparing the current sampling value with an alarm current reference value to obtain a first output value; and a control module for determining whether to send a current alarm signal to the load system based on the first output value, wherein when the current sampling value is greater than or equal to the alarm current reference value, the control module sends the current alarm signal and provides a warning notification to the load system; when the current sampling value is less than the alarm current reference value, the control module does not send the current alarm signal, or the control module sends a current non-alarm signal.