Phase-Angle Power Control Circuit with Ripple-Resistant Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power control circuits face difficulties in maintaining precise phase angle control due to ripple control signaling on power lines, which can lead to reduced control quality or malfunction.

Innovation Solution

A power control circuit with a synchronization information determining mechanism that uses first and second synchronization signal rendering means, including full wave and half wave rectification circuits, to generate corrected synchronization signals, averaging out the effects of ripple control and ensuring precise phase angle control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ripple control signaling is superimposed on power lines for communication, then communication capability is improved, but synchronization precision for phase angle control deteriorates due to confused zero crossing detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidsynchronization precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A synchronization signal rendering circuit is introduced as an intermediary between the power line voltage and the phase angle controller. This circuit generates a clean synchronization signal from the power line voltage, filtering out ripple control interference, and provides this purified signal to the controller for accurate phase angle determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronization information is extracted separately from the power line voltage through a dedicated rendering circuit, rather than being directly taken from the composite signal containing both power and ripple components. This separation allows the synchronization signal to be generated without ripple control interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If conventional zero crossing detection is used for synchronization, then circuit simplicity is maintained, but control reliability deteriorates under ripple control signaling conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit simplicityVSAvoidcontrol reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A synchronization signal rendering circuit is inserted as an intermediary between the power line and the phase angle controller. This rendering circuit processes the power line voltage to generate a clean synchronization signal, isolating the controller from ripple control interference while maintaining reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If direct observation of power line voltage is used for synchronization, then response speed is fast, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to ripple control signal interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidzero crossing detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization signal rendering circuit acts as an intermediary that processes the power line voltage signal. It maintains fast response by immediately detecting zero crossings while simultaneously improving accuracy by filtering out ripple control signal interference through full-wave rectification and signal conditioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The full-wave rectification circuit converts the ripple control signal interference into a form that does not affect zero crossing detection. By rectifying the signal, the circuit ensures that both positive and negative half-cycles produce identical synchronization signals, making the system immune to ripple-induced false zero crossings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

The solution enables precise phase angle control even in the presence of ripple control signals, improving control quality and preventing malfunctions by averaging out disturbances and adjusting for slight changes in power grid frequency.

Implementation Method 1

a first synchronization signal rendering means (17-1) for rendering a first synchronization signal (22d) comprising consecutive first impulses (22d1, 22d2, 22d3 ...) in accordance with a voltage across said switching circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFull wave rectification: Diode

Implementation Method 2

a second synchronization signal rendering means (17-2) for rendering a second synchronization signal (22e) comprising consecutive second impulses (22e1, 22e2, 22e3 ...) in accordance with a voltage at said third terminal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHalf wave rectification: Diode

Data Source

PatentEP4254765A1Power control circuit
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP4254765A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4254765A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2e
  • EP4254765A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3e

AI summary

A power control circuit comprises two terminals (11, 12) for being connected into one of a pair of power lines and a terminal (13) for being connected to the other (4) of said power lines (3, 4), a switching circuit (15) connected between the two terminal (11, 12) and comprising one or more semiconductor switches (15a, 15b), a phase angle controller (16) for controlling switching of the switching circuit (15) according to a target signal and a synchronization information determined by a synchronization information determining means (17) for determining said synchronization information and comprising a first synchronization signal rendering means (17-1) for rendering a first synchronization signal (SYNC) comprising consecutive first impulses (3di) in accordance with a voltage across said switching circuit (15), a first synchronization signal correction value determining means (17-3-1) for determining a first synchronization signal correction value by evaluating across plural consecutive first impulses (3di, 3di+1), and a synchronization information rendering means (17-3-3) configured for rendering said synchronization information in accordance with said first synchronization signal correction value.