Rectifier Arrangement Neutral Conductor Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rectifier arrangements in vehicles face challenges in minimizing leakage currents and ensuring safety, particularly when connected to different supply grids without neutral conductors, leading to potential safety risks and reduced EMC properties.

Innovation Solution

A rectifier arrangement with a controllable switch connected between a star point and a node point, controlled by a device that determines the presence of a neutral conductor based on potential measurements, allowing selective switching to reduce leakage currents and improve safety and EMC properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the rectifier arrangement is connected to supply grids without neutral conductors, then the rectifier can operate in more locations, but leakage currents increase and safety is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different supply gridsVSAvoidleakage currents

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamically switchable neutral conductor connection through a controllable switch that can connect or disconnect the star point to the neutral conductor based on detection results. This dynamic adaptation allows the rectifier to optimize its operation mode according to the actual supply grid conditions, reducing leakage currents when neutral conductor is available while maintaining compatibility when it is not

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a detection device that continuously monitors whether a neutral conductor is present in the supply grid and provides feedback to a control device. Based on this feedback, the control device automatically adjusts the switch state to optimize performance and reduce harmful leakage currents, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to different operating conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a neutral conductor connection is always maintained, then leakage currents are reduced, but the rectifier cannot operate on supply grids without neutral conductors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage currentsVSAvoidcompatibility with different supply grids

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The controllable switch enables dynamic adjustment of the neutral conductor connection status based on real-time detection of supply grid conditions. When a neutral conductor is detected, the switch connects to reduce leakage currents; when no neutral conductor is present, the switch disconnects to maintain operational compatibility, thus dynamically optimizing both safety and adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the electrical connection parameter (neutral conductor connection status) based on detected supply grid characteristics. By detecting the presence or absence of a neutral conductor and adjusting the switch state accordingly, the system adapts its electrical configuration to match different supply grid types, optimizing performance for each scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the controllable switch is switched on, then safety and EMC properties improve, but leakage currents increase when no neutral conductor is present

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidleakage currents

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The detection device provides feedback about neutral conductor presence to the control device, which then appropriately controls the switch state. This feedback mechanism ensures the switch is only activated when a neutral conductor is present, simultaneously achieving safety improvement and leakage current reduction without compromising either objective

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The detection device performs preliminary detection of neutral conductor presence before the rectifier operation begins or changes mode. This preliminary action allows the control system to pre-adjust the switch state to the optimal configuration, preventing harmful leakage currents from occurring in the first place while maintaining safety when conditions permit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11283366B2Rectifier arrangement

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

A rectifier arrangement (20) for rectifying an AC voltage into a DC voltage has a first connection (21), a second connection (22), a third connection (23) and a fourth connection (24), which rectifier arrangement (20) has an intermediate circuit (50) with a first line (51), a second line (52) and a node point (53), which node point (53) is connected to the first line (51) via at least one first capacitor (61) and to the second line (52) via at least one second capacitor (62), which first connection (21), second connection (22) and third connection (23) are each connected to a star point (40) via an associated circuit arrangement (31, 32, 33), which fourth connection (24) is likewise connected to the star point (40), and which star point (40) is connected to the node point (53) via a controllable switch (45).