System and method for tuning transformers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10132848-B2
Application number	US-201815944712-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2018
Priority date	Mar 31, 2014
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A system and method for tuning a transformer is provided. A transformer fixture may connect a switching network to a plurality of inductors of a transformer. At least one computing device may calculate a target number of turns for a primary coil and a secondary coil of the transformer based on a frequency response of the transformer. The switching network may connect the inductors of the transformer together in a pattern that results in the primary coil and secondary coil having the target number of turns.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transformer tuning system comprising:
a fixture removably coupled to a transformer, the fixture including a plurality of electrical connectors configured to engage a plurality of inductors of the transformer when the fixture is coupled to the transformer;
an impedance analyzer in communication with the transformer, the impedance analyzer being operative to execute a frequency sweep of the transformer and to monitor a frequency response of the transformer based on the frequency sweep;
a switching network coupled to the fixture and including a plurality of electrical switches in electrical communication with the plurality of electrical connectors of the fixture, the switching network being operative to selectively open and close the plurality of electrical switches to selectively connect at least one inductor of the plurality of inductors of the transformer to at least one terminal of the transformer; and
at least one computing device in communication with the impedance analyzer and the switching network, the at least one computing device being operative to
determine at least one of a frequency value and an impedance value of the transformer following the frequency sweep, the frequency value corresponding to a maximum impedance of the transformer observed during the frequency sweep, the impedance value corresponding to a predetermined frequency applied to the transformer, and
instruct the switching network to adjust a number of turns of at least one of a first coil and a second coil of the transformer based on the at least one of the frequency value and the impedance value of the transformer.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is operative to
calculate a target number of turns of the at least one of the first coil and the second coil of the transformer, and
determine a connection pattern of the plurality of inductors of the transformer that identifies which inductors to connect to the at least one terminal of the transformer to achieve the target number of turns.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is operative to determine the impedance value corresponding to the predetermined frequency in response to the number of turns of the at least one of the first coil and the second coil being adjusted by the switching network.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switching network includes a plurality of cards removably coupled to the fixture, and the plurality of cards include the plurality of electrical switches.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
executable instructions such that when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
instruct an impedance analyzer to execute a frequency sweep of a transformer;
determine a frequency value corresponding to a maximum impedance of the transformer observed during the frequency sweep;
in response to the frequency value being outside of a threshold frequency range, instruct a switching network coupled to the transformer to adjust a number of turns of a first coil of the transformer;
determine an impedance value of the transformer corresponding to a predetermined frequency; and
in response to the impedance value being outside of a threshold impedance range, instruct the switching network to adjust a number of turns of a second coil of the transformer.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the impedance value is determined in response to the number of turns of the first coil of the transformer being adjusted by the switching network.

Assignees

• Us Navy

Inventors

• Kure Josue
• Gomez Timothy
• Arvin Patrick

Classifications

• G01R31/62

  Testing of transformers · CPC title

• G01R29/20 Primary

  Measuring number of turns; Measuring transformation ratio or coupling factor of windings · CPC title

• H01F21/12

  discontinuously variable, e.g. tapped · CPC title

• H01F27/42

  Circuits specially adapted for the purpose of modifying, or compensating for, electric characteristics of transformers, reactors, or choke coils (circuits for controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P13/00; impedance networks H03H) · CPC title

• G01R23/00

  Arrangements for measuring frequencies; Arrangements for analysing frequency spectra · CPC title