Modular static transfer switch with wide-bandgap transistors
A modular static transfer switch (STS) assembly comprises a semiconductor powertrain constructed with wide-bandgap transistors. A first input of the STS assembly is electrically coupled to a first power source and a second input of the STS assembly is electrically coupled to a second power source. An output of the STS assembly is electrically coupled to a load, wherein the load is powered using the first power source via the STS modular assembly. A galvanic isolator like relay or contactor or breaker or fuse disconnects any faulty semiconductor powertrain. The STS also comprises a controller to execute the transfer of power supplied to the load from the first power source to the second power source by electrically decoupling the first power source from the load, verifying that the first power source is disconnected from the load, and providing instructions to electrically couple the second power source to the load.
1 . A modular static transfer switch (STS) assembly, wherein the modular STS assembly comprises:
at least one semiconductor powertrain constructed with at least two wide-bandgap transistors, wherein the at least two wide-bandgap transistors are connected in source-to-source anti-series, wherein the at least one semiconductor powertrain includes a turn-off delay period;
an STS building block including a first power source and a second power source;
a first input of the modular STS assembly electrically coupled to the first power source of the STS building block and a second input of the modular STS assembly electrically coupled to the second power source of the STS building block,
wherein the first power source is connected to a first terminal of a first wide-bandgap transistor of the at least one powertrain via the first input, and the second power source is connected to a first terminal of a second wide-bandgap transistor of the at least one powertrain via the second input;
an output of the modular STS assembly electrically coupled to a load, wherein the load is powered using the first power source of the STS building block, wherein the output of the modular STS assembly is connected to a second terminal of the first wide-bandgap transistor and a second terminal of the second wide-bandgap transistor; and
a galvanic isolator like relay or contactor or breaker or fuse to disconnect any faulty semiconductor powertrain;
a controller to execute the transfer of power supplied to the load from the first power source to the second power source and within the STS building block of one of the at least two semiconductor powertrains, wherein the controller is configured to:
issue transfer turn-off instructions to the STS building block to electrically decouple the first power source from the load within the turn-off delay period, wherein the turn-off delay period is less than 0.5 milliseconds after the issuance of the turn-off instructions;
verify that the first power source is disconnected from the load; and
issue transfer turn-on instructions to electrically couple the second power source to the load.
2 . The modular static transfer switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wide-bandgap transistors comprise at least one of MOSFETs, JFETs, IGBTs, GITs, HEMTs, FinFETs.
3 . The modular static transfer switch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second semiconductor powertrain constructed with wide-bandgap transistors, wherein the second semiconductor powertrain comprises two wide-bandgap transistors in an anti-series connection.
4 . The modular static transfer switch assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least one semiconductor powertrain and the second semiconductor powertrain are connected in parallel.
5 . The modular static switch assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least one semiconductor powertrain is connected to the first power source and the second semiconductor powertrain is connected to the second power source.
6 . The modular static switch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one semiconductor powertrain connected in parallel to the second semiconductor powertrain is a first STS unit, and further comprising:
a second STS unit, wherein the second STS unit comprises a third semiconductor power train and a fourth semiconductor power train, wherein the third semiconductor powertrain is connected to the at least one semiconductor powertrain and the fourth semiconductor power train is connected to the second semiconductor powertrain.
7 . The modular static switch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one semiconductor powertrain connected in parallel to the second semiconductor powertrain is a first STS unit, and further comprising:
a second STS unit, wherein the second STS unit comprises a third semiconductor power train and a fourth semiconductor power train, wherein the third semiconductor powertrain is connected to a second phase of the first power source and the fourth semiconductor power train is connected to the second phase of the second power source.
8 . The modular static transfer switch assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least one semiconductor powertrain and the second semiconductor powertrain are connected in series.
9 . The modular static transfer switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one semiconductor powertrain comprises one or more four quadrant or bidirectional wide-bandgap transistors, and wherein the wide-bandgap transistors comprise at least one of MOSFETS, JFETs, IGBTs, GITs, HEMTs, FinFETs.
10 . The modular static transfer switch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the modular STS has N+1 parallel branches in a structure, and wherein the N+1th branch is used to maintain operation of the modular STS when one of a first N branches is broken and fail to open circuit.
11 . The modular static transfer switch of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage clamping circuit connected in parallel to at least one semiconductor powertrain.