DE20207006U1 - Device for the switchable power supply of electrical consumers - Google Patents

Description

Stenger, Watzke & Rwg.. ^: " ^: .. ^: ... ^: ' ^: .K ^: a<;U.Friedrich.Rin _S ?o

D-40547 DÜSSELDORF
PATENT ATTORNEYS &mdash;

Theo Benning Electrical Engineering and Electronics GmbH & Co. KG Münsterstrasse 135-137 46397 Bocholt

DIPL-ING. WOLFRAM WATZKE (- 1999) PATENT ATTORNEYS DIPL-ING. HEINZJ. RING 02-0277 DIPL-ING. ULRICH CHRISTOPHERSEN DIPL-ING. MICHAEL RAUSCH DIPL-ING. WOLFGANG BRINGMANN PATENT ATTORNEYS May 2, 2002 EUROPEAN Us. Sign Our ref. Your sign Your ref. Date

Device for switchable energy supply of electrical consumers

The invention relates to a device for the switchable energy supply of electrical consumers with a locally arranged electrical energy supply device that can be operated independently of an energy supply network and at least one controllable electrical switching device that can be connected to the energy supply network, wherein at least one electrical consumer can be supplied with electrical energy via the energy supply network and/or the energy supply devices depending on the operating state of the switching devices.

Devices of the generic type are widely used in the field of energy supplies for telecommunications systems such as transmitting and receiving stations, switching devices and the like, in the field of energy supplies, for example public energy supply systems, and also in safety-relevant areas, such as in air traffic for supplying radio and radar systems, runway lighting and other safety devices, and in the field of railway technology for supplying signaling systems, route monitoring systems and the like. The use of such devices also achieves independence from the availability of a public energy supply network, for example in the event of a disruption to the public energy supply network, the device also takes over the supply of energy to the corresponding consumer.

Telephone (0211) 572IW :..· .:.· *··* »«BHMarfc, Düsseldorf " (bank code 3*00205 00) 40113276 Fax (0211) 586225 Stadt-Sparkasse, Düsseldorf (bank code 30050110) 10090769

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If more units are installed than are required to meet the energy supply of these facilities, also known as redundancy, failures of such safety-relevant facilities can be avoided as far as possible. Such systems ensure energy supply even if there is a disruption in the energy supply network that supplies the facilities with energy.

In normal operation, the electrical consumer that forms the device and can be connected to the device is connected via the switching device to the power supply network that can be connected to the device, so that the power supply device does not provide any power. The switching device can assume two switching states, namely the switching state of the connection between the power supply network and the consumer and the separation of the power supply device from the consumer, and the switching state of the connection between the power supply device and the consumer and the separation of the power supply network from the consumer. The switching device has controllable switching elements to carry out a switching function, for example electromechanical switching elements such as relays, contactors and the like. It can also have electronic switching elements such as thyristors, TRIACs, GTOs and the like in combination or exclusively.

Only when a fault occurs in the power supply network does the power supply device or devices become active and supply the consumer with energy instead of the power supply network. The switching devices separate the power supply network from the consumer by changing the switching state and the connection between the power supply devices and the consumer is established.

It is desirable to avoid disruptions in the energy supply to the consumer as far as possible. It is therefore considered disadvantageous that when the switching state of the switching device changes, disruptions to the consumer's energy supply can occur for a short time. This can affect the reliability of the consumer's operation, which can disrupt the intended operation of a sensitive consumer.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device with which an improved reliability of the energy supply can be achieved compared to the prior art.

To achieve the present object, the invention proposes a generic device which has a computing device via which at least the operating state of a switching device can be specified.

The invention is based on the knowledge that a disruption of the intended operation of a consumer is all the more unlikely the shorter the period for changing the consumer's energy supply from the energy supply network to the energy supply device, during which either no energy supply is provided or is indefinite. According to the invention, a quasi real-time control and/or regulation of the energy supply device can be achieved by means of the computing device, so that the period for changing the consumer's energy supply is reduced. Even a consumer that is sensitive to disruptions in the energy supply can be operated as intended without disruptions by changing the energy supply. Furthermore, operating data such as the operating state of the switching unit, a load on the energy supply device and the energy supply network can advantageously be determined by corresponding sensors and/or measuring probes provided in the device. The desired quantities can be determined and corresponding measurement data are provided. A disruption in the energy supply network can be recognized immediately and a change in the switching state of the switching device and an activation of the energy supply can be carried out automatically by transmitting corresponding control commands to the switching device. The switching devices can be controlled in such a way that they change to another switching state, via which the energy supply to the consumer can be carried out via the energy supply device. The extremely fast reaction time that can be achieved in this way means that the time for changing the energy supply can be reduced. The computing device can be designed separately. However, it can also be designed as one piece, for example with a switching device or an energy supply device.

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In a further advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the computing device has a digital signal processor (DSP). This makes it possible to form a compact computing device. Assembly and wiring costs can be reduced. Operating data, for example of the individual inverters and/or coupling units, can be continuously retrieved via the digital signal processor. From the data received, the digital signal processor continuously determines a current operating state of the electrical coupling system, from which it automatically carries out suitable measures if a fault is detected. Inverters and/or coupling units can be switched on or off depending on the operating states and loads. Individual inverters or coupling units can also be tested automatically at regular intervals. In addition to the digital signal processor, the computing device can have other electronic function modules. However, the digital signal processor can also be designed in such a way that the functions of electronic function modules can be taken over at least in part.

In a further development of the present invention, it is proposed that the computer device can execute an algorithm with which events relating to the supply of energy to the consumer can be predicted. For example, reactions such as a fault in the switching device, for example due to a rising operating temperature, or a fault in the energy supply network can be predicted from a temporal tracking of measured variables. Measures to maintain the energy supply to the consumer can be initiated in good time, for example automatically, in order to ensure an essentially continuous supply of energy to the consumer.

It is further proposed that the energy supply device and/or the switching device can be connected to a BUS connected to the computing device, preferably a field bus such as the CAN-BUS. For example, current operating data such as voltage, current, frequency and the like can advantageously be determined and provided by sensors provided in the energy supply device and/or the switching device and, for example, sent to the computing device and/or to a central control/regulation point.

Such operating data can also be transmitted to a central reporting or monitoring point that is also connected to the BUS in order to monitor and track the operation of the device remotely. A field bus such as the CAN BUS is preferably used as the BUS. The amount of cabling required to transmit information can be reduced. However, it can also be provided that an existing BUS intended for communication between other devices is used. A separate communication connection can be saved. The use of a field bus also enables communication with remotely located units, for example a switching device located away from the power supply device.

In a further embodiment, it is proposed that the energy supply device has at least one inverter that can be connected to at least one direct voltage source. A direct voltage source can advantageously feed the inverter as an energy source. Direct voltage sources are particularly suitable for storing energy and can advantageously be formed by a battery, an accumulator, a fuel cell or another suitable storage unit for electrical energy such as a capacitor. In the event of a fault in the energy supply network, the corresponding consumer can thus be supplied with energy via the inverter. The inverter draws its energy from the direct voltage source and converts it into the desired form of energy, in particular an alternating voltage. If a fault occurs in the energy supply network, it is separated from the consumer by the switching device and the inverter takes over the energy supply to the electrical consumer.

In an advantageous development, it is proposed that the energy supply device and/or the switching device are provided redundantly. A reliable energy supply can be achieved in that, in the event of a fault in the energy supply device and/or the switching device, the energy supply to the consumer can be carried out by the redundant devices.

It is also proposed that the energy supply devices and/or the switching devices can be arranged spatially separately. The spatial separation can ensure that not all energy supply devices and/or switching devices are affected together by an intervention by force majeure. In addition, the energy supply devices and/or switching devices can be coupled to different energy supply networks. A lightning strike in, for example, an energy supply network, which would result in a corresponding failure of the energy supply devices and/or the switching devices and/or an energy supply network, would therefore not lead to a total failure of the energy supply. The redundant and spatially separated arrangement of the device means that the energy supply can be taken over by the second, unaffected device. Furthermore, for example, a compact structural unit of an energy supply device with a switching device can be achieved, whereby the individual devices can be arranged in a cabinet such as a 19" cabinet. The switching devices and the energy supply devices can be designed as 19" inserts that can be mounted in such a cabinet. In addition, a high degree of mobility can be achieved, for example by transporting a cabinet equipped in this way to a desired location and setting it up. Costs can be saved. In addition, however, an arrangement in a room and/or a cabinet can also be provided, for example to reduce the amount of cabling required or because only limited spatial options are available.

In a further embodiment, it is proposed that the switching devices can be connected to different energy supply networks. This can advantageously create further redundancy with regard to the energy supply networks. If one energy supply network is faulty, the switching device connected to the second energy supply network takes over the energy supply to the consumer. If each switching device is suitable for ensuring an energy supply to the consumer on its own, it can be achieved that the energy supply to the consumer passes from one switching device to the other essentially without interruption. However, the consumer can also be supplied with energy by both switching devices at the same time, for example 50% of the energy required for supply.

energy required to power the consumer. In the event of a fault in a switching device, the consumer can then be supplied 100% by the fault-free switching device.

Further advantages and features can be found in the following description of exemplary embodiments. Essentially identical components are designated with the same reference numerals. Furthermore, with regard to identical features and functions, reference is made to the description of the exemplary embodiment in Fig. 1.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device in a cabinet insert,

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a device according to Fig. 2 with two power supply devices and two switching devices and

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, a cabinet insert 32 is shown for a device 10, which can be inserted into a corresponding cabinet housing (not shown). Also in a slide-in technology, three inverters 16 are arranged in parallel in this cabinet insert 32. A switching device 18, 22 is arranged in two further slide-in compartments. Preferably, the inverters 16 and the switching devices 18, 22 are designed in such a way that an exchange of one of the units 16, 18, 22 can be carried out without interrupting the power supply. In this embodiment, the inverters 16 are fed by separate DC voltage sources 14, in this case accumulators, as shown in Fig. 3. The inverters 16 and the accumulators 14 form two power supply devices 30. The accumulators 14 are also in the cabinet together with

the cabinet insert 32, and are constantly kept in the charged state via a power supply 20 and charging units not shown in detail, in that energy is supplied as required via the charging units connected to the energy supply network.

Each of the energy supply devices 30 is designed as a 1+n redundant unit. In this embodiment, each energy supply device 30 has three identical inverters 16 that can be operated in parallel, whereby a proper energy supply to the consumer 12 is already ensured by two inverters 16. In the event of a fault in an inverter 16, the faulty inverter 16 can be deactivated. However, there are still two inverters 16 that ensure the energy supply to the consumer 12.

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the entire device 10 with two energy supply devices 30 and two switching devices 18, 24. A consumer 12, shown here with the resistance symbol, can be connected to one of the energy supply networks 20, 22 via the two switching devices 18, 24 that can be operated in parallel, as shown in Fig. 3. Each switching device 18, 24 is designed in terms of its performance in such a way that it can ensure an energy supply to the consumer 12 on its own. Each switching device 18, 24 has switching elements 34 via which the switching devices 18, 24 are connected to the energy supply networks 20, 22 in a switchable manner. The energy supply to the consumer 12 can be controlled via the respective switching device 18, 24 via a further electronic switching device 36. The electronic switching device 36 is provided with thyristors in this embodiment. The inverter systems 10 are connected to a digital signal processor 28 via a BUS 26.

According to Fig. 3, the energy supply devices 30 each have three inverters 16, which are each connected on the input side to an accumulator 14 in a manner that can be operated in parallel. The inverters 16 are coupled on the output side to the input of the switching devices 18, 24 provided for this purpose via mechanical switching elements 40 in a manner that can be operated in parallel. The power of the inverters 16 is determined in such a way that two inverters

16 ensure a power supply to the consumer 12. If an inverter 16 fails, it is switched off. This means that there are still two inverters 16 that ensure the power supply to the consumer 12. The switching devices 18, 24 and the inverters 16 communicate with each other via the common BUS 26. This means that a fault in a device can be detected immediately and appropriate control measures to maintain the power supply to the consumer 12 can be carried out automatically. Furthermore, a faulty switching device 18, 24 or a faulty inverter 16 can be replaced without interrupting the power supply.

In this embodiment, each energy supply device 30 has a charging unit (not shown in detail) for the accumulators 14. When the consumer 12 is supplied via one of the switching devices 18, 24, the accumulators 14 are simultaneously charged via the charging unit or kept in the charged state in order to achieve optimal operational readiness of the energy supply devices 30 and thus of the device 10. If one of the devices 16, 18, 24 fails, a corresponding switchover is carried out automatically so that a continuous energy supply to the consumer 12 is ensured. Additional reliability can be achieved by using two independent energy supply networks 20, 22. In this embodiment, the electrical connections are permanently installed in the cabinet so that the inserts can be replaced without significant mechanical effort.

In this embodiment, the respective switching devices 18, 24 can be connected in pairs to the energy supply networks 22, 20. If a fault occurs in one of the energy supply networks 20, 22, there is thus redundancy of the energy supply on the energy supply system side. Only if both energy supply networks 20, 22 fail is the energy supply to the consumer 12 activated via the inverters 16 of one or both energy supply devices 30. The switching devices 18, 24 and the energy supply devices 30 are controlled and/or regulated accordingly by a digital signal processor 28 via the common BUS 26. One energy supply device 30 and one pair of switching devices 18, 24 are arranged in separate cabinets (not shown in detail), which

are located at a distance from each other . A locally limited external influence such as an explosion, for example in a room, can therefore cause a disruption of the devices arranged in one cabinet, but the power supply to the consumer 12 can be carried out via the devices arranged in the second cabinet. In this embodiment , the digital signal processor is suitable for significantly reducing the time delay when the power supply changes. It is also provided that individual devices are automatically checked for their function at predefined intervals. The requested measurement variables are determined via sensors and the data obtained in this way is transmitted to the digital signal processor . A device identified as faulty is transmitted to a monitoring point (not shown in detail).

The digital signal processor 28 is in communication with the energy supply devices 30 and with the switching devices 18, 24 via the BUS 26. Data such as the operating state of the switching devices 18, 24, the charge state of the accumulators 14, the electrical voltage at the consumer 12, the electrical energy supplied by the inverters 16 , the temperature of the inverters 16 and the switching devices 18, 24, and the energy taken from the energy supply networks 20, 22 are continuously recorded by sensors (not shown in detail) and transmitted to the digital signal processor 28. This determines an overall operating state of the device 10, stores this in a storage unit (not shown in detail), and makes the data available for further data processing. The data is transmitted to a central unit, via which the device can also be controlled if necessary . For this purpose , the digital signal processor 28 receives commands, which are converted by the digital signal processor 28 into corresponding operating states of the device 10.

Starting from an operating state, the function of the device in operation is explained below. In this operating state , the consumer 12 is supplied with electrical energy from the power supply network 20 via the left switching device 18 in Fig. 3. The digital signal processor 28 continuously receives measured values of the electrical voltage of the power supply network 20 via the BUS 26. If a fault occurs in the power supply network 20 in the form of a voltage drop in the power supply network 20, the digital signal processor 28 recognizes this directly from the data transmitted via the BUS 26.

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If the voltage of the power supply network 20 falls below a predetermined threshold value, the left switching device 18 is switched off and the left switching device 24 is switched on. The switching process is calculated by the digital signal processor 28 in such a way that the influence on the power supply of the consumer 12 is minimized. After the switching process has been carried out, the consumer 12 is supplied with power via the left switching device 24 in Fig. 3 by the power supply network 22.

If the energy supply network 22 is also faulty, this fault is determined by the digital signal processor 28 as previously described, the switching device 24 is switched off, and the energy supply to the consumer 12 is provided by the left energy supply device 30 in Fig. 3. For this purpose, the inverters 16 of this energy supply device 30 take electrical energy from the accumulators 14, which is converted accordingly and provided to supply energy to the consumer 12.

The electrical voltage of the accumulators 14 of the energy supply devices 30 is also continuously determined by corresponding sensors (not shown in detail) and the measurement data is transmitted to the digital signal processor 28 via the BUS 26. If a predetermined threshold value for an accumulator voltage is undershot and the energy supply networks 20, 22 are also faulty, the energy supply to the consumer 12 is taken over by the right-hand energy supply device 30 in Fig. 3. For this purpose, the energy supply devices 30 receive corresponding commands from the digital signal processor 28 via the BUS 26, so that a switchover process takes place from the energy supply device 30 shown on the left in Fig. 3, which is to be switched off, to the second energy supply device 30 which is arranged remotely from it and shown on the right in Fig. 3. The digital signal processor 28 determines the switchover time in such a way that, despite the two energy supply devices 30 being arranged remotely from one another, the effect on the energy supply to the consumer 12 is minimal. In particular, the effects of long supply lines between the energy supply devices 30 and the consumer can be taken into account, which, for example, cause a time delay or, in the case of an alternating voltage, a phase difference. This is taken into account when determining the switching time by the digital signal processor 28 and

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the corresponding control commands of the digital signal processor 28 to the energy supply devices 30 and the switching devices 18, 24 are taken into account.

An inverter 16 of the right energy supply device 30 in Fig. 3 that has failed due to a fault is detected by the digital signal processor 28 and switched off. The energy supply to the consumer 12 is provided via the other two inverters 16 of this energy supply device 30, since in this embodiment an n+1 redundancy is provided with regard to the inverters 16 of each energy supply device 30.

If the fault in the power supply network 22 is rectified, this is detected by the digital signal processor 28 and the right-hand switching device 24 in Fig. 3 is switched on, via which the energy supply to the consumer 12 is carried out. At the same time, the accumulators 14 are automatically charged with electrical energy via the charging units. Overall, an essentially continuous supply of energy to the consumer 12 is achieved.

Furthermore, a continuous check of the functions of the energy supply device 30 and the switching devices 18, 24 is provided by the digital signal processor 28. For this purpose, the individual functions of the inverters 16, the switching devices 18, 24 and the charge and capacity status of the accumulators 14 are automatically checked at predetermined intervals. In order to check the function of the inverters 16 of an energy supply device 30, the energy supply of the consumer 12 is switched over to the inverters 16. One of the inverters 16 is switched off one after the other. The energy supply of the consumer 12 must remain stable. If a fault occurs, this is immediately recognized by the digital signal processor 28 and appropriate countermeasures are initiated, such as switching the energy supply of the consumer 12 to supply from the energy supply network 20 or 22, so that any impairment of the energy supply of the consumer 12 is largely avoided. A faulty inverter 16 is reported to a control center (not shown in detail) so that the fault can be remedied.

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The function of the switching devices 18, 24 is also tested by switching the energy supply of the consumer 12 from the energy supply network 20 to the energy supply network 22 or vice versa at predetermined times. Here too, a faulty switching device 18, 24 is immediately detected and reported to the control center for the purpose of initiating countermeasures.

Devices 14, 16, 18, 24 identified as faulty are marked as faulty by the digital signal processor 28 until the fault is remedied. If a switchover of the energy supply to the consumer 12 is necessary for reasons of continuous energy supply, this is taken into account when selecting the energy supply source from which the further energy supply to the consumer 12 is to be provided.

As a further embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of a device 38 in which, as in the embodiment of Fig. 2, two switching devices 18, 24 and, in contrast to the first embodiment, four inverters 16 are provided in a manner that can be operated in parallel. Here, a power supply device 42 is provided which, as in the embodiment of Fig. 2, has n+1 redundancy. However, in this embodiment, the computing device 44 is distributed between the power supply device 42 and the switching devices 18, 24 by being formed in one piece with the corresponding device 16, 18, 24. The individual components of the computing device 44 are in communication with one another via a BUS 46. For the function of the device 42, reference is made to the description of the function of the embodiment in Fig. 2.

The embodiments shown in the figures serve only to explain the invention and are not restrictive of it. In particular, the appearance and shape of the inverter systems, the structure of the inverter system, the structure of the energy supply system, etc. can vary. Designs or parts thereof can also be combined to form new designs within the scope of this invention.

List of reference symbols

10 Device

12 consumers

14 DC voltage source

16 inverters

18 first switching device

20 first energy supply network

22 second energy supply network

24 second switching device

26 CAN BUS

28 digital signal processor

30 Energy supply facility

32 Cabinet insert

34 Switching element

36 electronic switching device

38 Device

40 Switching element

42 Power supply device 44 Computing device 46 BUS

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Claims (8)

1. Device ( 10 , 38 ) for the switchable energy supply of electrical consumers ( 12 ) with a locally arranged electrical energy supply device ( 30 , 42 ) that can be operated independently of an energy supply network ( 20 , 22 ) and at least one controllable electrical switching device ( 18 , 24 ) that can be connected to the energy supply network ( 20 , 22 ), wherein at least one electrical consumer ( 12 ) can be supplied with electrical energy via the energy supply network ( 20 , 22 ) and/or the energy supply devices ( 30 ) depending on the operating state of the switching devices ( 18 , 24 ), characterized by a computing device ( 28 , 44 ) via which at least the operating state of one switching device ( 18 , 24 ) can be specified. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the computing device ( 28 ) comprises a digital signal processor. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the computing device ( 28 , 44 ) can execute an algorithm with which events relating to the supply of the consumer ( 12 ) with energy can be predicted. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the energy supply device ( 30 , 42 ) and/or the switching device ( 18 , 24 ) can be connected to a BUS ( 26 , 46 ) connected to the computing device ( 28 , 44 ), preferably a field bus such as the CAN-BUS. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the energy supply device ( 30 , 42 ) has at least one inverter ( 16 ) connectable to at least one direct voltage source ( 14 ). 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the energy supply device ( 30 , 42 ) and/or the switching device ( 18 , 24 ) are provided redundantly. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the energy supply devices ( 30 , 42 ) and/or the switching devices ( 18 , 24 ) can be arranged spatially separately. 8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the switching devices ( 18 , 24 ) can be connected to different energy supply networks ( 20 , 22 ).