US5801937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Uninterruptible power supplies having cooled components
Assignee: American Superconductor Corp
•
Filing: 1996-10-16
•
Granted: 1998-09-01
•
Expires: 2016-10-16
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems are provided. The UPS systems are configured to provide the advantages of an in-line device, and operate in a quasi-standby mode. The UPS includes a rectifier unit and inverter arranged to nominally deliver a portion (e.g. up to about 20%) of the primary AC power supply to a critical load through an output transformer. The rectifier unit preferably includes internal energy storage capabilities, such as a capacitor and inductor. The remaining portion of the AC power supply is nominally supplied directly to the critical load and is controlled by a transfer switch and the output transformer. When a fault is detected in the main AC power supply, the transfer switch switches to a faulted position and power is supplied from the rectifier inductor and capacitor or from a battery to the load through the inverter. Electronic switches such as MOSFETs are provided in the system to control the supply of power from the battery (or other energy storage device) to the inverter and to control the charging and discharging of the battery. The inverter and MOSFETs are designed to withstand transient overpower and overcurrent operation without deleterious consequences by liquid cooling the inverter or the inverter and the MOSFETs under predetermined conditions to temperatures between about 60 K and 270 K.
Inventors
- 👤 Calman Gold
- 👤 Richard J. Gran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:51
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J9/00; H02J9/04; H02J9/06; H02J9/062; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/003; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/30; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An uninterruptible power supply system, comprising: a primary AC power supply; an input transformer connected to the primarily AC power supply; a transfer switch connected to the input transformer; an output transformer connected to the transfer switch and connected to deliver a first portion of the primary AC power supply to a load under predetermined conditions; rectification means connected to the input transformer; an inverter connected to the rectification means and connected to deliver a second portion of the primary AC power supply to a load through the output transformer under predetermined conditions; cooling means for maintaining the inverter within a predetermined temperature range; at least one electronic switch connected to the inverter; and energy storage means connected to the at least one electronic switch and connected to deliver power to the inverter under predetermined conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An uninterruptible power supply system, comprising: a primary AC power supply; an input transformer connected to the primarily AC power supply; a transfer switch connected to the input transformer; an output transformer connected to the transfer switch and connected to deliver a first portion of the primary AC power supply to a load under predetermined conditions; rectification means connected to the input transformer; an inverter connected to the rectification means and connected to deliver a second portion of the primary AC power supply to a load through the output transformer under predetermined conditions; cooling means for maintaining the inverter within a predetermined temperature range; at least one electronic switch connected to the inverter; and energy storage means connected to the at least one electronic switch and connected to deliver power to the inverter under predetermined conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic switch is configured to control the discharging of the energy storage means to the inverter under predetermined conditions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 2, wherein the cooling means is configured to cool the at least one electronic switch and the inverter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 3, wherein the rectification means includes internal energy storage means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 4, wherein the internal energy storage means includes at least one capacitor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 3, wherein the rectification means further includes at least one inductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 5 or 6, wherein the at least one electronic switch is at least one MOSFET, at least one IGBT or at least one FREDFET.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 7, wherein the inverter is a 300 kW inverter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 5 or 6, wherein the energy storage means is a battery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 5 or 6, wherein the transfer switch is a solid state transfer switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 10, wherein the solid state transfer switch is an IGBT switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1, wherein the cooling means includes immersing the inverter in a cooling liquid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 12, wherein the cooling liquid is nitrogen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 13, wherein the liquid nitrogen maintains the inverter at a temperature of about 77 K.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1, wherein the cooling means includes a cooling liquid that maintains the inverter at a temperature between 60 K to 270 K.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 15, wherein the cryogenic liquid is chemically inert.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 15, wherein the cryogenic liquid is nontoxic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 15, wherein the cryogenic liquid is not hazardous to the environment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 15, wherein the cryogenic liquid is a dielectric cryogenic liquid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 15, wherein the cryogenic liquid is non-flammable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 15, wherein the cryogenic liquid is non-ozone deleting.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 15, wherein the cryogenic liquid is a chlorine-free fluorocarbon or a mixture of chlorine-free fluorocarbons.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 22, wherein the number of carbons in the fluorocarbon or fluorocarbons is in the range of 2 to 5.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 22, wherein the fluorocarbon is completely halogenated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 22, wherein the fluorocarbon is a fluoroalkane.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 25, wherein the fluorocarbon is heptafluoropropane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 26, wherein the heptafluoropropane is 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 26, wherein the heptafluoropropane is 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 26, wherein the fluoroalkane is completely halogenated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 29, wherein the fluoroalkane is octafluoropropane.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 29, wherein the fluoroalkane is decafluoro n-butane.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 29, wherein the fluoroalkane is decafluoro isobutane.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 29, wherein the fluoroalkane is a mixture of fluoroalkanes selected from the group consisting of octafluoropropane, decafluoro n-butane and decafluoro isobutane.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 29, wherein the fluoroalkane is dodecafluoropentane, isomers of dodecafluoropentane or mixtures thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
175 words
An power supply system, comprising: a primary AC power supply; an input transformer connected to the primary AC power supply; a transfer switch connected to the input transformer; an output transformer connected to the transfer switch and connected to deliver at a first portion of the primary AC power supply to a load; rectification means connected to the input transformer, the rectification means including internal energy storage means; an inverter including a plurality of semiconductor switches, the inverter connected to the rectification means and connected to deliver a second portion of the primary AC power supply to a load through the output transformer, the power provided by the inverter to the load characterized in that transients in the primary AC power supply do not affect the load; cooling means for maintaining the inverter having the plurality of semiconductor switches at a predetermined temperature; at least one electronic switch connected to the inverter; and energy storage means connected to the at least one electronic switch and connected to deliver power to the inverter under predetermined conditions.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
175 words
An power supply system, comprising: a primary AC power supply; an input transformer connected to the primary AC power supply; a transfer switch connected to the input transformer; an output transformer connected to the transfer switch and connected to deliver at a first portion of the primary AC power supply to a load; rectification means connected to the input transformer, the rectification means including internal energy storage means; an inverter including a plurality of semiconductor switches, the inverter connected to the rectification means and connected to deliver a second portion of the primary AC power supply to a load through the output transformer, the power provided by the inverter to the load characterized in that transients in the primary AC power supply do not affect the load; cooling means for maintaining the inverter having the plurality of semiconductor switches at a predetermined temperature; at least one electronic switch connected to the inverter; and energy storage means connected to the at least one electronic switch and connected to deliver power to the inverter under predetermined conditions.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The power supply system of claim 35, wherein the transfer switch is a solid state transfer switch.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The power supply system of claim 36, wherein the solid state transfer switch is an IGBT switch.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The power supply system of claim 35, wherein the cooling means includes immersing the inverter in a cooling liquid.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
The power supply system of claim 38, wherein the cooling liquid is nitrogen.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The power supply system of claim 39, wherein the liquid nitrogen maintains the inverter at a temperature of about 77 K.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power supply system of claim 35, wherein the cooling means includes a cooling liquid that maintains the inverter at a temperature between 60 K and 270 K.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The power supply system of claim 41, wherein the cooling liquid is chemically inert.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The power supply system of claim 41, wherein the cooling liquid is nontoxic.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The power supply system of claim 41, wherein the cryogenic liquid is not hazardous to the environment.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The power supply system of claim 41, wherein the cooling liquid is a dielectric cryogenic liquid.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
The power supply system of claim 41, wherein the cooling liquid is nonflammable.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
14 words
The power supply system of claim 41, wherein the cooling liquid is non-ozone deleting.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
The power supply system of claim 41, wherein the cooling liquid is a chlorine-free fluorocarbon or a mixture of chlorine-free fluorocarbons.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
25 words
The power supply system of claim 48, wherein the number of carbons in the fluorocarbon or fluorocarbons is in the range of 2 to 5.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
13 words
The power supply system of claim 48, wherein the fluorocarbon is completely halogenated.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
13 words
The power supply system of claim 48, wherein the fluorocarbon is a fluoroalkane.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
12 words
The power supply system of claim 51, wherein the fluorocarbon is heptafluoropropane.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
12 words
The power supply system of claim 52, wherein the heptafluoropropane is 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
12 words
The power supply system of claim 52, wherein the heptafluoropropane is 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
13 words
The power supply system of claim 51, wherein the fluoroalkane is completely halogenated.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
12 words
The power supply system of claim 55, wherein the fluoroalkane is octafluoropropane.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
13 words
The power supply system of claim 55, wherein the fluoroalkane is decafluoro n-butane.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
13 words
The power supply system of claim 55, wherein the fluoroalkane is decafluoro isobutane.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
27 words
The power supply system of claim 55, wherein the fluoroalkane is a mixture of fluoroalkanes selected from the group consisting of octafluoropropane, decafluoro n-butane and decafluoro isobutane.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
19 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 55, wherein the fluoroalkane is dodecafluoropentane, isomers of dodecafluoropentane or mixtures thereof.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 35, wherein the plurality of semiconductor switches include MOSFETs or IGBTS.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |