Switching Element Driving Power Supply Circuit for High Voltage Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semiconductor power converters face high costs and large volumes due to insulation requirements, making it difficult to supply gate driving voltage to switching elements when the main circuit voltage exceeds 10 kV, resulting in increased resistor loss and standby power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A switching element driving power supply circuit with multiple insulating power supplies connected in series at the input and parallel at the output, reducing the voltage applied to each insulating power supply and using transformers with a gap for efficient power conversion, eliminating the need for high-voltage drop resistors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high-voltage transformer is used to supply gate driving voltage to switching elements with high voltage to ground, then the insulation requirement is satisfied, but the volume and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The power converter is divided into a main circuit portion and a gate driving circuit portion that are electrically insulated from each other. The gate driving circuit is separated and configured on an insulated substrate, allowing independent voltage regulation without requiring a high-voltage transformer in the traditional sense.
Solution Approach 2:
An insulated substrate acts as an intermediary between the main circuit and the gate driving circuit, providing electrical insulation while allowing compact integration. This eliminates the need for large air gaps or extensive insulation structures that would otherwise be required.
2Device complexity
If voltage is dropped from the main circuit via a resistor to supply gate driving power, then the circuit configuration is simplified, but the loss due to Joule heat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gate driving circuit includes a voltage detection unit that monitors the voltage level and provides feedback to a switching control unit. This feedback mechanism enables precise voltage regulation, preventing excessive voltage drop and reducing energy loss while maintaining simple circuit configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching elements in the gate driving circuit are dynamically controlled based on detected voltage levels, allowing the circuit to adapt and optimize power consumption in real-time, thereby reducing Joule heat loss while maintaining configuration simplicity.
3Power
If the main circuit voltage exceeds 10 kV, then high power conversion capability is achieved, but it becomes difficult to supply gate driving voltage to switching elements
Solution Approach 1:
The insulated substrate serves as an intermediary platform that receives power from the high-voltage main circuit through isolation transformers and provides regulated gate driving voltages to switching elements, making high-voltage operation practical and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/isolation-based high-voltage transformation approach with an electrical isolation and regulation system using insulated substrates and switching circuits, enabling easier supply of gate driving voltages at high power levels.
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 configuration reduces the wattage of the voltage drop resistor, enabling efficient conversion of the main circuit voltage into a driving voltage for power conversion switching elements, reducing volume and standby power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of insulating power supplies 11 to 13, a plurality of switching element driving power supply units 14 and 15. The insulating power supplies 11 to 13 have respective direct-current input circuit ends connected in series, respective input-side circuits and output-side circuits insulated from each other
Implementation Method 2
using transformers with a gap for efficient power conversion
Implementation Method 3
the resistor of the power supply circuit has an increased loss due to Joule heat
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A switching element driving power supply circuit according to an embodiment is a switching element driving power supply circuit that converts a main circuit voltage of a power converter into a driving voltage of power-converting switching elements (SW1, SW2). The switching element driving power supply circuit includes a plurality of insulating power supplies (11, 12, 13), and a plurality of switching element driving power supply units (14, 15). The insulating power supplies have respective direct-current input circuit ends connected in series, respective input-side circuits and output-side circuits insulated from each other, and respective output circuit ends connected in parallel. The switching element driving power supply units (14, 15) are connected in parallel with the output circuit ends connected in parallel, and supplying power to the gate driving circuits of the power conversion switching elements (SW1, SW2) of the power converter.