SMART DC VOLTAGE CONVERTER FOR DYNAMICALLY VARYING LOAD Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC H02J9/06 

FIELD: electrical engineering; uninterruptable power supply.

SUBSTANCE: converter comprised of (N+l) identical DC/DC modules each having output capacity equal to the value of rated load divided by N. Each DC/DC module has its own microcontroller-based control system. Control systems of DC/DC modules are capable to exchange data over a bus (CAN-type bus) and are peer systems (that is, they are not distinguished as "master control system" and "slave control systems"). Original identical algorithms are implemented in all the microcontrollers of peer DC/DC converter module control systems to provide for: automatic monitoring of availability of DC/DC module control systems after converter powering on and determining the level of converter readiness to accept the load, automatic switching-over to supply from backup power supply network in case of failure in the main power supply network and return to supply from the main power supply network after its recovery and switching off of the backup power supply network, generating of control input for invertors of the first and second channels of conversion in order to stabilize voltage on the load when voltage of the main or backup power supply network is within allowed range of voltage values, activation of the quantity of DC/DC converter modules, which corresponds to the value of sum current of the converter load, switching-over to standby mode and relevant extension of service life of the power equipment of the rest DC/DC modules, which are not loaded, even load distribution between DC/DC modules operated in parallel, switching-over (at rated load) to standby mode one of DC/DC module only, automatic switching into service a backup DC/DC module in case of increase of the load over the rated load level or in case of single failure (in case of failure of one DC/DC module), informing an external control system on the fact of failure in the converter (and, as a consequence, on its operation state without capacity reserve). A failure message received by external control system allows site maintenance personnel to carry out necessary and timely actions to recover converter operation in its original (fault-tolerant) mode with "N+1" reserve capacity (replacement of faulty DC/DC module by one in good working order from spare parts kit).

EFFECT: improved load capacity and fault tolerance of entire converter.

3 cl, 5 dwg