Diagnostics for multi-level medium voltage drive using mechanical bypass

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10797611-B2
Application number	US-201213589228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2012
Priority date	Aug 20, 2012
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A system and method for performing diagnostics in a medium voltage drive. The system includes a power cell and a bypass mechanism. The bypass mechanism is operably connected to output terminals of the power cell and configured to create a shunt path between the output terminals. The bypass mechanism includes a communication interface configured to transmit a bypass signal to a communication interface associated with the power cell in response to a state change. The method of performing diagnostics includes a controller transmitting an input voltage to a bypass mechanism of the power supply, thereby causing a state change of the bypass mechanism. The controller receives a signal from the power cell, wherein the signal indicates the power cell has detected the state change of the bypass mechanism. The controller then determines if the power cell is correctly associated with the bypass mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A closed-loop system for monitoring and verifying a bypass condition of a power cell, the system comprising:
a power cell comprising:
a first output terminal and a second output terminal, and
a first communication interface positioned at the power cell; and

a bypass mechanism operably connected to the first output terminal and the second output terminal and configured to create a shunt path between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, the bypass mechanism comprising a second communication interface positioned at the bypass mechanism and configured to establish a communication link to the first communication interface and to transmit a bypass signal to the first communication interface in response to a change in state of the bypass mechanism,
wherein the bypass mechanism is further adapted to change its state in response to an input voltage received from a controller and to send an output to the controller indicating that the bypass mechanism has changed its state,
wherein the power cell is adapted to transmit a signal to the controller, wherein the signal indicates that the power cell has detected the state in change of the bypass mechanism based on the bypass signal,
wherein both the bypass mechanism and the power cell report to the controller regarding the change in state thus resulting in a closed-loop system including the controller, the bypass mechanism and the power cell.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first communication interface comprises a photo-detector.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second communication interface comprises a photo-diode configured to produce and direct light at the photo-detector.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power cell is operably connected to the controller.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are configured to establish a unidirectional communication link.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are configured to establish a bi-directional communication link.

Assignees

• Bousfield Iii John Channing
• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Bousfield Iii John Channing

Classifications

• H02M7/4835

  comprising two or more cells, each including a switchable capacitor, the capacitors having a nominal charge voltage which corresponds to a given fraction of the input voltage, and the capacitors being selectively connected in series to determine the instantaneous output voltage · CPC title

• H02P27/08

  with pulse width modulation · CPC title

• H02M7/483

  Converters with outputs that each can have more than two voltages levels · CPC title

• G01R31/50 Primary

  Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) · CPC title

• H02M1/325

  with means for allowing continuous operation despite a fault, i.e. fault tolerant converters · CPC title