Systems and methods for efficient power conversion in a power supply in a power distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020395781-A1
Application number	US-202016881460-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 22, 2020
Priority date	Jun 14, 2019
Publication date	Dec 17, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for efficient power conversion in a power supply in a power distribution system are disclosed. In particular, a low frequency transformer having high conversion efficiency is coupled to an input from a power grid. An output from the transformer is rectified and then converted by a power factor correction (PFC) converter before passing the power to the distributed elements of the power distribution system. By placing the transformer in front of the PFC converter, overall efficiency may be improved by operating at lower frequencies while preserving a desired power factor and providing a desired voltage level. The size and cost of the cabinet containing the power conversion circuitry is minimized, and operating expenses are also reduced as less waste energy is generated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A power distribution system, comprising a power management circuit (PMC) comprising:
a power source input port configured to receive an alternating current (AC) power signal from an external power grid; a transformer for providing isolation between the external power grid and a power distribution line, the transformer comprising:
a transformer input port coupled to the power source input port;
at least one input coil coupled to the transformer input port;
at least one output coil coupled to the at least one input coil; and
a transformer output port coupled to the at least one output coil;
a rectifier comprising:
an AC input port coupled to the transformer output port; and
a rectifier output port;
the rectifier configured to change the AC power signal into a first direct current (DC) power signal having a first voltage level and provide the first DC power signal at the rectifier output port; and
a power factor correction (PFC) converter comprising:
a converter input port coupled to the rectifier output port; and
a converter output port;
the PFC converter configured to generate a second DC power signal having a second voltage level different than the first voltage level, wherein the converter output port is configured to be coupled to a power load.

2 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first housing containing the rectifier and the PFC converter; and a second housing containing the transformer.

3 . The power distribution system of claim 2 , wherein the second housing is configured to conduct heat away from the first housing.

4 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the power distribution line is configured to carry power to one of a data center system, a distributed communication system, and a lighting system.

5 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the transformer comprises the at least one output coil and the power source input port comprises a series input coupled to at least two input coils.

6 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the transformer comprises the at least one output coil and the power source input port comprises a parallel input coupled to at least two input coils.

7 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising a battery or uninterruptable power supply (UPS) coupled to the transformer output port.

8 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the power source input port is configured to receive a 110 volt (V) AC power signal.

9 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the power source input port is configured to receive one of a 240 volt (V) or a 220 (V AC power signal.

10 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the rectifier comprises a diode.

11 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the power source input port is configured to receive an AC power signal operating at or below 400 hertz (Hz).

12 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the converter output port is configured to provide a balanced DC output signal.

13 . The power distribution system of claim 11 , further comprising paired resistors coupled to the converter output port to provide balancing.

14 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the power load comprises the power distribution line to carry the second DC power signal thereover.

15 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the power load comprises a local load.

16 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the PFC converter configured to generate the second DC power signal is configured to generate a higher voltage level as the second DC power signal.

17 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the PFC converter configured to generate the second DC power signal is configured to generate a lower voltage level as the second DC power signal.

18 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the converter output port is configured to provide an unbalanced, relative to a ground, DC output signal.

19 . A method for conditioning power for provision to a distributed power network, the method comprising:
receiving an alternating current (AC) power signal from a power grid; isolating a power management circuit (PMC) from the power grid with a transformer; rectifying an output of the transformer to provide a rectified signal; performing a power factor correction (PFC) conversion on the rectified signal; and providing power.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein receiving the AC power signal comprises receiving a 50, 60, or 400 hertz (Hz) AC power signal from the power grid.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein isolating the PMC comprises using a series input with the transformer.

22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein isolating the PMC comprises using a parallel input with the transformer.

23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein rectifying the output of the transformer comprises using a diode.

24 . The method of claim 19 , wherein providing power comprises providing a balanced power signal.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein providing the balanced power signal comprises using paired resistors.

26 . The method of claim 19 , wherein providing power comprises providing power over a power distribution line.

27 . The method of claim 19 , wherein providing power comprises providing power to a local load.

28 . The method of claim 19 , wherein providing power comprises providing an unbalanced power signal relative to ground.

29 . A distributed communication system (DCS), comprising:
a central unit configured to:
distribute one or more downlink communication signals over one or more downlink communication links to a plurality of remote units; and
distribute received one or more uplink communication signals from the plurality of remote units from one or more uplink communication links to one or more source communication outputs;
the plurality of remote units, each remote unit among the plurality of remote units configured to:
distribute at least one received downlink communication signal among the one or more downlink communication signals from the one or more downlink communication links to one or more client devices; and
distribute the one or more uplink communication signals from the one or more client devices to the one or more uplink communication links; and
a power distribution circuit, comprising:
a power source input port configured to receive an alternating current (AC) power signal from an external power grid;
a transformer for providing isolation between the external power grid and a power distribution line, the transformer comprising:
a transformer input port coupled to the power source input port;
at least one input coil coupled to the transformer input port;
at least one output coil coupled to the at least one input coil; and
a transformer output port coupled to the at least one output coil;

a rectifier comprising:
an AC input port coupled to the transformer output port; and
a rectifier output port;
the rectifier configured to change the AC power signal into a first direct current (DC) power signal having a first voltage level and provide the first DC power signal at the rectifier output port; and

a power factor correction (PFC) converter comprising:
a converter in

Assignees

• Corning Res & Dev Corp

Inventors

• Hazani Ami

Classifications

• H02J13/1311

  using the power network as support for the transmission · CPC title

• H02M1/4225 Primary

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• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title