Control for VAR generator with deadband

Claim 2

A VAR generator of the type which provides a controlled conduction path for reactive current between two conductors in an electrical system across which the voltage of said electrical system may deviate from a nominal value, comprising: (a) capacitance means disposed as part of said conduction path for providing a capacitive component of said reactive current in said conduction path during a predetermined increment of time; (b) inductance means disposed as part of said conduction path for providing an inductive component of said reactive current in said conduction path during a predetermined increment of time; and (c) control means interconnected with said capacitance means and said inductance means for determining the magnitude of said reactive current required as a function of said deviation of said voltage from said nominal value and for cooperating with said capacitance means and said inductance means to provide said required reactive current except in a predetermined range of deviation of said voltage.

Claim 3

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inductance means and said capacitance means are interconnected in parallel circuit relationship.

Claim 4

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said increment of time comprises the period of one half cycle of alternating voltage in said electrical system.

Claim 5

The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein said alternating voltage has a frequency of 60 hz.

Claim 6

The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein said alternating voltage has a frequency of 50 hz.

Claim 7

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inductance means comprises an inductor connected in series circuit relationship with a gated switch, the gate terminal of said gated switch comprising a control terminal which is connected to said control means, said inductive current being determined by the conduction interval of said gated switch as controlled by said control means.

Claim 8

A VAR generator of the type which provides a controlled conduction path for reactive current between two conductors in an a.c. electrical system across which the voltage of said electrical system is impressed, said latter voltage being capable of deviating from a nominal value, comprising: (a) discretely variable capacitance means disposed as part of said conduction path for providing any one of a plurality of predetermined fixed levels of capacitive current in said conduction path during a predetermined increment of time; (b) continuously variable inductance means disposed as part of said conduction path for providing any level of inductive current within a range of inductive currents in said conduction path during a predetermined increment of time; and (c) control means interconnected with said capacitance means, said inductance means and said electrical system for determining the magnitude of said reactive current required as a function of the change of said voltage from said nominal value and for cooperating with said capacitance means to utilize that predetermined level of fixed capacitive current which is closest in value but larger than said determined magnitude of reactive current, and for cooperating with said inductance means to choose a value of cancelling inductive current which when combined with said capacitive current will cancel a sufficient portion of said capacitive current to make said net reactive current generally equal in magnitude to said determined magnitude, said cooperation with said capacitance means and said inductance means not occurring when said voltage is within a predetermined range.

Claim 9

A VAR generator of the type which provides a controlled conduction path for reactive current between two conductors in an a.c. electrical system across which the voltage of said electrical system is impressed, said latter voltage being capable of deviating from a nominal value, comprising: (a) discretely variable capacitance means disposed as part of said conduction path for providing any one of a plurality of predetermined fixed levels of capacitive current in said conduction path during a predetermined increment of time; (b) continuously variable inductance means disposed as part of said conduction path for providing any level of inductive current within a range of inductive currents in said conduction path during a predetermined increment of time; and (c) control means interconnected with said capacitance means, said inductance means and said electrical system for determining the magnitude of said reactive current required as a function of the change of said voltage from said nominal value and for cooperating with said capacitance means to utilize that predetermined level of fixed capacitive current which is closest in value but larger than said determined magnitude of reactive current, and for cooperating with said inductance means to choose a value of cancelling inductive current which when combined with said capacitive current will cancel a sufficient portion of said capacitive current to make said net reactive current generally equal in magnitude to said determined magnitude, said cooperation with said capacitance means and said inductance means not occurring when said voltage is within a predetermined range.

Claim 10

The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control means is interconnected with said electrical system so as to provide closed loop control for the determination of said predetermined level of fixed capacitive current, said control means providing feed forward control for determining said value of cancelling inductive current.

Claim 11

The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein said continuously variable inductance means and said discretely variable capacitance means are interconnected in parallel circuit relationship.

Claim 12

The combination as claimed in claim 13 wherein said increment of time comprises the period of one half cycle of alternating voltage in said electrical system.

Claim 13

The combination as claimed in claim 16 wherein said alternating voltage has a frequency of 60 hz.

Claim 14

The combination as claimed in claim 16 wherein said alternating voltage has a frequency of 50 hz.

Claim 15

The combination as claimed in claim 13 wherein said continuously variable inductance means comprises an inductor connected in series circuit relationship with a gated switch, the gate terminal of said gated switch comprising a control terminal which is connected to such control means, said level of inductive current being determined by the conduction interval of said gated switch as controlled by said control means.

Claim 16

The combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein said discretely variable capacitance means comprises a plurality of capacitors each of which is connected in series circuit relationship with a controlled switch, each series combination of controlled switch and capacitor being connected in parallel circuit relationship with the others, each controlled switch being interconnected with said control means, said control means actuating any combination of said controlled switches to the on state to place the corresponding capacitors into conduction to provide said predetermined fixed levels of capacitive current.

Claim 17

The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein said predetermined range is generally symmetrical about said nominal voltage.

Claim 18

The combination as claimed in claim 13 wherein said predetermined range is generally symmetrical about said nominal voltage.

Claim 19

The combination as claimed in claim 14 wherein said predetermined range is generally symmetrical about said nominal voltage.