Method for balancing voltages in a DC grid and balancing unit for a DC grid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12374883-B2
Application number	US-202318316275-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2023
Priority date	Nov 12, 2020
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

The application describes a method for balancing voltages on a first and a second DC conductor in a DC grid using a balancing circuit with a first and second semiconductor switch connected in series between the first and second DC conductors, and a connection to a ground potential that is arranged between the first and second semiconductor switches. In the presence of an asymmetry in the voltages of the first and second DC conductors to ground potential, a compensation current is generated between at least one of the DC conductors ground potential via at least one of the semiconductor switches, with the asymmetry in the voltages being reduced by the compensation current (IA), with the voltages of the DC conductors to ground potential being balanced.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for balancing voltages on a first DC conductor and a second DC conductor in a DC grid using a balancing circuit with a first semiconductor switch and a second semiconductor switch, which are connected in series between the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor, and a connection to a ground potential that is arranged between the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch,
wherein, when an asymmetry in voltages of the first DC conductor to ground potential and of the second DC conductor to ground potential is detected, generating a compensation current between at least one of the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor and ground potential via at least one of the first and second semiconductor switches, wherein the asymmetry in the voltages of the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor to ground potential is reduced and/or the voltages of the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor to ground potential are balanced by the compensation current,
wherein the asymmetry in the voltages is determined by a control circuit,
wherein the compensation current is generated via the first or second semiconductor switch when the asymmetry in the voltages exceeds a predefinable first threshold value; and
monitoring a size of the compensation current by the control circuit and generating a switch-off signal and outputting the switch-off signal when a predefinable second threshold value is exceeded.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the outputting of the switch-off signal disconnects the DC grid from an electrical energy store and/or a DC source.

3. A balancing circuit for a DC grid with a first DC conductor and a second DC conductor, wherein at least one DC load and an electrical energy store and/or a DC source are connected between the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor, comprising:
a first semiconductor switch and a second semiconductor switch, which are connected in series between the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor, and
a connection to ground potential arranged between the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch,
wherein the balancing circuit is configured to operate at least one of the first and second semiconductor switches such that, in a presence of an asymmetry in voltages of the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor to ground potential, a compensation current flows between at least one of the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor and the ground potential via the at least one semiconductor switch, wherein the asymmetry in the voltages of the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor to ground potential is reduced and/or the voltages with respect to ground potential are balanced by the compensation current,
wherein the compensation current is generated via the first or second semiconductor switch when the asymmetry in the voltages exceeds a predefinable first threshold value,
a control circuit configured to monitor the asymmetry in the voltages,
wherein the control circuit is configured to monitor a size of the compensation current and generate a switch-off signal and output the switch-off signal when a predefinable second threshold value is exceeded.

4. The balancing circuit as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch comprise transistors.

5. The balancing circuit as claimed in claim 4 , wherein control terminals of the transistors are connected to a center tap of a series connection of two ohmic resistors arranged between the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor.

6. The balancing circuit as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a Zener diode arranged between the center tap of the series-connected ohmic resistors and the control terminals of the transistors.

7. The balancing circuit as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising an ammeter and, in series therewith, a further Zener diode arranged between the control terminals of the transistors and ground potential, wherein the control circuit uses the ammeter to detect a current flow through the further Zener diode and generate and output a switch-off signal when a current flows through the further Zener diode.

8. The balancing circuit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is configured to drive the at least one semiconductor switch based on the asymmetry in the voltages.

9. The balancing circuit as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising a first voltmeter arranged in parallel with the first semiconductor switch, and a second voltmeter arranged in parallel with the second semiconductor switch, wherein the first voltmeter is configured to measure a voltage of the first DC conductor to ground potential and the second voltmeter is configured to measure a voltage of the second DC conductor to ground potential.

10. The balancing circuit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the first voltmeter and the second voltmeter to monitor an asymmetry in the voltages of the first DC conductor to ground potential and of the second DC conductor to ground potential, respectively, and selectively generate and output the switch-off signal in response thereto.

11. The balancing circuit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch are part of a charge pump circuit that comprises a first series connection of four semiconductor switches, a second series connection of four diodes and a third series connection of two capacitors, wherein the first, second and third series connections are each connected between the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor and wherein center taps of the first, second and third series connections are connected to one another, and wherein the charge pump circuit comprises a resonant circuit comprising a coil and a capacitor.

12. The balancing circuit as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising a further DC grid operated between a connection to ground potential arranged between the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch, and the first DC conductor or the second DC conductor.

13. A DC grid with a balancing circuit for the DC grid with a first DC conductor and a second DC conductor, wherein at least one DC load and an electrical energy store and/or a DC source are connected between the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor, wherein the balancing circuit comprises:
a first semiconductor switch and a second semiconductor switch, which are connected in series between the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor, and
a connection to ground potential arranged between the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch,
wherein the balancing circuit is configured to operate the at least one of the first and second semiconductor switches such that, in a presence of an asymmetry in voltages of the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor to ground potential, a compensation current flows between at least one of the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor and the ground potential via the at least one semiconductor switch, wherein the asymmetry in the voltages of the first DC conductor and the second DC conductor to ground potential is reduced and/or the voltages with respect to ground potential are balanced by the compensation current,
wherein the compensation current is generated via the first or second semiconductor switch when the asymmetry in the voltages exceeds a predefinable first threshold value,
a control circuit configured to monitor the asymmetry in the voltages,
wherein the control circuit is configured to monit

Assignees

• Sma Solar Technology Ag

Inventors

• Unru Alexander
• Kratochvil Marcel
• Müller Burkard

Classifications

• G05F1/613

  using semiconductor devices in parallel with the load as final control devices (G05F1/461 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02M7/4833

  Capacitor voltage balancing · CPC title

• H02M1/32

  Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection · CPC title

• H02J1/082 Primary

  DC supplies with two or more different DC voltage levels · CPC title

• H02M7/797 Primary

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title