Regeneration Module for Speed Variator Energy Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing variable speed drive systems require modifications and use excessive inductances for electrical energy regeneration, making them costly and bulky.
Innovation Solution
An electrical energy regeneration module that integrates a voltage converter with an inductance and a switching circuit, connected directly to the DC power supply bus, allowing for efficient control of braking current without additional inductances, and can be adapted to conventional variable speed drives without structural modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional variable speed drive topologies with active rectifier stages are used for energy regeneration, then electrical energy can be recovered during load braking, but the device structure becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the energy regeneration function from the main variable speed drive structure by adding a separate, dedicated regeneration module. This module includes a voltage converter with inductance and a switching circuit that connects to the DC power supply bus, allowing braking energy to be recovered and managed independently without modifying the conventional drive topology.
Solution Approach 2:
The regeneration module is designed to work with conventional variable speed drives without requiring active rectifier stages or other complex modifications. The voltage converter and switching circuit can handle multiple functions: recovering braking energy, managing DC bus voltage, and interfacing with the existing drive structure, thereby providing multi-functionality without increasing overall system complexity.
2Loss of energy
If two inductances are used in the regeneration architecture (one on network side and one for voltage converter), then voltage conversion and energy recovery are achieved, but the module size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the voltage conversion function and the energy recovery function into a single integrated module. The voltage converter with its inductance is directly connected to the DC power supply bus through a switching circuit, eliminating the need for a separate network-side inductance. This consolidation reduces the total number of inductances from two to one, thereby reducing module size and cost while maintaining effective braking energy recovery.
3Productivity
If the switching circuit is connected directly to the inductor with synchronized switching, then braking current control is simplified and efficiency improved, but switching losses may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The switching circuit employs periodic switching synchronized with the frequency of the electrical distribution network. This periodic action allows for controlled energy transfer from the DC bus back to the network through the inductor, achieving efficient braking current control while managing switching losses through synchronized operation that aligns with the natural AC cycle.
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
This solution reduces the number of inductances needed, lowering costs and size while enabling efficient energy regeneration without altering the existing drive structure.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage converter connected to the two input terminals and comprising an inductance so as to form a current source in order to control the braking current of the load electrical
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention concerns a module for the regeneration of electrical energy, intended to be fitted to a speed variator, said module comprising: - two input terminals (d, e) each intended to be connected to a power supply line of the supply DC bus of the speed variator, - three output terminals (a, b, c) intended to be connected to the three input phases (R, S, T) of the speed variator, - a voltage converter connected to the two input terminals (d, e) and intended to control the braking current of the electrical load (C), - a switching circuit connected in series with the voltage converter and intended to switch the braking current (lbrake) to one of the three output terminals (a, b, c).