Power Converter Controller for Radar Pulse Load Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar systems impose periodic and high-current pulse loads on power sources, leading to large ripple currents that cause instability and mechanical stresses, particularly in ship-based or transportable generators, impacting power quality for other loads.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a power converter and controller that translates pulse power demands into a constant power draw from a power source, while maintaining a desired peak output voltage through a peak voltage controller, using a field-programmable gate array to adjust power commands based on sensed voltages and currents, and compensating for time-varying effects like temperature changes and component aging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a radar system uses periodic high-current pulse loads to achieve high peak power output, then the power delivery capability is improved, but large ripple currents are generated that cause instability and mechanical stresses on the generator
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power delivery function into two independent parts: a power converter that draws constant power from the generator, and a charge store (capacitor bank) that delivers pulsed power to the radar load. This segmentation allows the generator to operate stably while the charge store handles the pulsed power demands.
Solution Approach 2:
A charge store (capacitor bank) is introduced as an intermediary energy storage device between the power converter and the radar load. The charge store accumulates energy during non-pulse periods and releases it during radar pulses, acting as a buffer that isolates the generator from ripple currents while enabling high peak power delivery.
2Power
If a radar system draws pulsed power to achieve high instantaneous power levels, then the power delivery to load is improved, but large ripple currents are generated that impact power quality for other loads
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful ripple current component is extracted and isolated from the generator output by introducing a charge store. The power converter draws smooth constant power from the generator, while the charge store absorbs and releases power in pulses to match the radar load demands, effectively taking out the ripple current generation from the generator side.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge store serves as an intermediary that decouples the pulsed power demand from the generator. It absorbs the pulsed power requirements and presents a constant power draw to the generator, thereby eliminating ripple currents that would otherwise be generated and affect power quality for other loads.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the power converter continuously draws power from the power source to maintain constant power level, then the power source stability is improved, but additional control complexity is introduced to manage the charge store voltage variations
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the charge store voltage and adjusts the power converter's power draw accordingly. When the charge store voltage rises above the target level, the power draw is reduced; when it falls below, the power draw is increased. This feedback mechanism maintains power source stability while managing charge store voltage variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The power converter's power draw is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control system continuously adjusts the power draw based on real-time charge store voltage conditions, allowing the system to adapt to varying power demands and maintain stability without requiring overly complex control architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems to translate a pulse power demand of a pulse load to a constant power draw, and to maintain a desired peak output voltage over time. A power converter (PC) provides power from a power source to a charge store, which provides pulse power to the load. A PC controller continuously monitors an output current of the PC and an output voltage of the charge store, and controls the PC to draw constant power from the source, at a level indicated by a power command. A peak voltage controller periodically adjusts the power command, such as to compensate for time-varying effects, based on a peak voltage reference and the output voltage of the charge store measured at times of synchronization pulses. The peak voltage controller generates the synchronization pulses based on rising edges of a pulse current, or receives the synchronization pulses from the radar system controller.