Multi-Phase Rectifier Thermal Control via Phase Current Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rectifier driving methods fail to effectively manage temperature distribution across semiconductor switching elements, leading to potential overheating and premature aging, necessitating power reduction to prevent damage.
Innovation Solution
A method for driving a multiphase rectifier that determines and adjusts individual phase currents based on temperature distribution, using harmonic overlay and time constant adjustments to equalize temperature across components, allowing for maximum power operation while preventing overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional uniform driving methods are used for all switching elements, then the control is simple, but temperature distribution becomes non-uniform leading to overheating and premature aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining temperature distribution specifically for each phase of the rectifier and setting individual phase currents for each phase based on its temperature characteristics. This allows each phase to be controlled according to its local thermal conditions, preventing uniform overheating while maintaining manageable control complexity through systematic phase-by-phase adjustment.
2Reliability
If power is reduced to prevent overheating of switching elements, then component safety is improved, but the power output of the rectifier decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of phase currents from uniform to non-uniform distribution based on temperature measurements. By adjusting phase currents as variables according to temperature distribution, the system can operate at higher overall power levels while directing current away from overheated phases, thus maintaining component safety without sacrificing total power output.
3Reliability
If individual phase currents are set for each phase based on temperature distribution, then temperature uniformity is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control approach by determining temperature distribution for each phase separately and setting individual phase currents for each phase. This segmentation allows the complex task of thermal management to be divided into manageable phase-specific controls, reducing overall system complexity while achieving temperature uniformity through systematic individual phase adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the controlling of a multi-phase rectifier for adapting the temperature distribution in the rectifier. According to the invention, the phase currents in the individual phases are adjusted on the output-side of the rectifier with a different amplitude. Correspondingly, the respective half bridges in the rectifier are loaded to a differing degree. In this way, an uneven temperature distribution can be compensated in the rectifier. Alternatively, an uneven temperature distribution can also be adjusted in the rectifier in a targeted manner, in order to take further parameters into account.