Switching Rectifier Soft-Start Strategy for Voltage Spike Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current switching rectifiers lack a suitable soft-start strategy to effectively start under various environmental conditions and load requirements, particularly in extreme temperatures and unbalanced fuel generator loads, leading to potential damage and overvoltage issues.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that acquire external environmental and power supply parameters to establish voltage and current start strategies, allowing the switching rectifier to gradually boost to full-load conditions, using a combination of voltage and current soft-start strategies with digital control, ensuring safe and efficient start-up.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a switching rectifier starts directly to full load, then the startup speed is fast, but voltage and current spikes cause damage and reliability issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestartup speedVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a soft-start strategy that gradually increases voltage and current before reaching full load. The controller progressively adjusts the switching rectifier operation from zero to full load over a predetermined time period, preventing sudden voltage and current spikes that would otherwise cause damage. This preliminary gradual activation resolves the contradiction by sacrificing some startup speed to ensure reliability and prevent component damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a soft-start strategy is implemented to prevent voltage and current spikes, then reliability is improved, but startup time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidstartup time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the soft-start time and strategy adjustable based on different operating conditions. The controller can dynamically modify the soft-start parameters including the time period duration and the rate of voltage/current increase. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize between reliability and startup time depending on specific application requirements, resolving the contradiction by making the soft-start process adaptable rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by allowing the soft-start strategy parameters (such as soft-start time, voltage increase rate, current increase rate) to be configured and adjusted. Different parameter sets can be selected based on environmental conditions, load characteristics, and application requirements. This flexibility enables the system to minimize startup time while maintaining reliability by optimizing parameters for specific operating scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the switching rectifier is designed to operate under various environmental conditions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a soft-start controller that can handle multiple operating conditions and environmental scenarios through a unified adjustable strategy. The controller is capable of adapting to different temperatures, load conditions, and power supply scenarios by modifying soft-start parameters rather than requiring separate hardware designs for each condition. This multi-functional capability resolves the contradiction by providing broad adaptability through parameter adjustment rather than through complex hardware variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3010130B1Switch rectifier startup control method, and device and storage medium thereof
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 ZTE CORP
  • EP3010130B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3010130B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3010130B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling soft start of a switching rectifier, which comprises: acquiring an external environmental parameter of the switching rectifier and a power supply characteristic parameter of an object to be powered, establishing a voltage start strategy and/or a current start strategy for the switching rectifier according to the external environmental parameter and the power supply characteristic parameter, and controlling a voltage and/or a current of the switching rectifier to start to a full-load voltage and/or a full-load current according to the voltage start strategy and/or the current start strategy. The present disclosure further provides a device for controlling soft start of a switching rectifier. The technical scheme of the present disclosure is able to provide a suitable voltage and/or current start approach for a switching rectifier according to power supply requirements of an object to be powered and operating environment of the switching rectifier.