Parallel Power Converter Restart After Short-Circuit Elimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wind power generation and photovoltaic systems with multiple power conversion devices connected in parallel, a short circuit in one device can cause excessive sneak currents in other devices, leading to system-wide shutdowns even if they have not experienced a short circuit.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a power conversion device with a short circuit elimination determination unit that assesses whether a short circuit has been resolved, allowing unaffected devices to be promptly restarted even when one device experiences a short circuit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional power conversion devices with short-circuit current interruption units are used, then short-circuit current can be interrupted, but other unaffected devices are also stopped due to excessive sneak currents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort-circuit current interruptionVSAvoidsystem downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a determination unit that locally assesses whether a short circuit has occurred in each specific power conversion device. This allows individual devices to be identified and isolated without affecting the operation of other unaffected devices in the parallel system, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliable short-circuit interruption and maintaining system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the control logic by introducing a determination unit that independently evaluates each power conversion device's status. This segmentation enables selective operation where only affected devices are stopped while unaffected devices continue to operate, solving the problem of system-wide shutdowns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If short-circuit current interruption units operate in response to excessive sneak currents, then short-circuit current is interrupted, but current routes are disconnected in unaffected devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort-circuit protectionVSAvoiddevice restart capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The determination unit performs preliminary assessment before stopping a device by first determining whether a short circuit has actually occurred. This preliminary action prevents unnecessary disconnection of current routes in unaffected devices, allowing them to continue operating and be restarted without interruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The determination unit provides feedback information about the actual short circuit status to the control system. This feedback mechanism ensures that only devices with confirmed short circuits are stopped, while unaffected devices maintain their operation and can be promptly restarted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3998700B1Electric power conversion device
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3998700B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3998700B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3998700B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Even when one power conversion device among a plurality of power conversion devices connected in parallel experiences a short circuit, the other power conversion devices having experienced no short circuit can be promptly restarted. Each power conversion device includes: a short circuit occurrence determination unit (33) configured to determine, on the basis of a current value at an output terminal (3a), whether or not a short circuit has occurred; a short circuit elimination determination unit (34) configured to determine, on the basis of a current value and a voltage value at the output terminal, whether or not the short circuit has been eliminated; and a current interruption unit (32) configured to, on the basis of determination by the short circuit occurrence determination unit (33) and determination by the short circuit elimination determination unit (34), interrupt current that flows from a power conversion unit to the output terminal or cancel the interruption.