UPS Electromechanical Switching for Low Loss High Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) systems face limitations in power efficiency and switching speed due to the use of semiconductor switches, which result in significant power losses and performance issues during fault conditions.
Innovation Solution
A UPS system utilizing high-speed electromechanical actuators to drive mechanical switches, eliminating semiconductor switches and enabling efficient power switching with reduced power losses and faster switching times, allowing configuration in various operating modes such as online, offline, and line-interactive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If semiconductor switches (SCR) are used in UPS systems, then the system can maintain continuous operation, but power losses increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces semiconductor switches (SCR) with electromechanical switches that use mechanical contacts to open and close circuits. This substitution eliminates the inherent power losses associated with semiconductor switching while maintaining the ability to transfer power continuously between utility and battery sources through the mechanical switching action.
2Speed
If semiconductor switches are used for power switching, then the system structure is simplified, but switching speed is limited and performance during faults deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs electromechanical switches with mechanical contacts that can open and close much faster than semiconductor switches. The mechanical switching action, driven by electromechanical actuators, achieves superior switching speeds while handling fault conditions more effectively, despite the added mechanical complexity.
3Loss of energy
If mechanical switches are used instead of semiconductor switches, then power efficiency increases, but switching speed may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electromechanical switches where electromagnetic actuators drive mechanical contacts to achieve both low power loss during switching and fast response times. The electromagnetic actuation mechanism enables the mechanical switches to operate at high speeds while maintaining the low power consumption benefits of mechanical isolation.
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
The system achieves high efficiency (up to 98% in offline mode and 95% in line-interactive mode) with rapid switching times, minimizing output transient voltage during power quality failures and hardware failures, thereby improving performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
high speed electromechanical actuators to drive mechanical switches
Data Source
AI summary
A UPS system and mechanical switching arrangement therefor that is driven by an electromechanical actuator when a fault condition is detected thereby opening or closing a switch of the switching arrangement in response thereto within 8 milliseconds, preferably within 4 milliseconds, and more preferably within 2 milliseconds of a fault condition being detected. The UPS system has one switching arrangement for controlling current flow through a utility power path that is switched by an electromechanical actuator and another switching arrangement for controlling that is switched by an electromechanical actuator through an inverter power path that supplies an output-connected load with electrical power should a fault condition occur. The switching arrangements can be driven by a common electromechanical actuator or independent driven by separate electromechanical actuators enabling programmability of a plurality of different UPS system operating modes.