Universal AC to DC converter
A universal AC to DC converter may be configured to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), such as for use in aerospace applications. The disclosure relates to a single universal power electronic converter capable of converting an AC input voltage, such as a line to neutral input voltage of either 115 Vrms or 230 Vrms nominal to 28 V DC.
1. A universal alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) converter comprising:
a rectifier coupled to a three phase AC input and configured to convert an AC current into a DC current that is output to a high rail, a low rail, and a neutral rail, and to accommodate varying three phase AC input voltages;
a first DC to DC converter and a second DC to DC converter; and
a switching system including:
a first reverse oriented diode coupled between the neutral rail and the first DC to DC converter,
a first forward oriented diode and a first switch connected in parallel between the low rail and the first DC to DC converter,
a second forward oriented diode coupled between the neutral rail and the second DC to DC converter, and
a second reverse oriented diode and a second switch connected in parallel between the high rail and the second DC to DC converter;
wherein the first DC to DC converter and the second DC to DC converter are connected in series in response to the first switch and the second switch being in an off configuration and the first DC to DC converter and the second DC to DC converter are connected in parallel in response to the first switch and the second switch being in an on configuration.
2. The universal AC to DC converter of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the rectifier to control the operation of the rectifier.
3. The universal AC to DC converter of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the switching system to control the operation of the switching system.
4. The universal AC to DC converter of claim 1 , wherein the switching system has a default setting in which the first DC to DC converter and the second DC to DC converter are connected in series.
5. The universal AC to DC converter of claim 1 , wherein the rectifier is a Vienna rectifier.
6. The universal AC to DC converter of claim 1 , wherein the nominal line to neutral input voltage is at least one of 115 Vrms or 230 Vrms.
7. The universal AC to DC converter of claim 6 , wherein the universal AC to DC converter can accommodate both a 115 Vrms and 230 Vrms nominal input voltage without being de-rated.
8. The universal AC to DC converter of claim 1 , wherein the first DC to DC converter and the second DC to DC converter are high voltage to low voltage DC to DC converters.
9. The universal AC to DC converter of claim 1 , wherein the first switch is at least one of a field-effect transistor, an insulated-gate bipolar transistor, a bipolar junction transistor or a solid state relay.
10. A method of converting input AC voltage to a DC voltage, the method comprising:
receiving, via an input coupled to a rectifier, a three phase AC voltage;
converting, via the rectifier, the three phase AC voltage to a DC voltage;
outputting, via the rectifier, the DC voltage to a high rail, a low rail, and a neutral rail;
determining, via a controller, the input AC voltage;
switching, via a switching system, the output of the rectifier to a first DC to DC converter and a second DC to DC converter based upon the sensed input AC voltage; and
delivering the output of the rectifier to the first DC to DC converter and the second DC to DC converter,
wherein the switching system includes:
a first reverse oriented diode coupled between the neutral rail and the first DC to DC converter,
a first forward oriented diode and a first switch connected in parallel between the low rail and the first DC to DC converter,
a second forward oriented diode coupled between the neutral rail and the second DC to DC converter, and
a second reverse oriented diode and a second switch connected in parallel between the high rail and the second DC to DC converter,
wherein the first DC to DC converter and the second DC to DC converter are connected in series in response to the first switch and the second switch being in an off configuration and the first DC to DC converter and the second DC to DC converter are connected in parallel in response to the first switch and the second switch being in an on configuration.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first switch includes at least one of a field-effect transistor, an insulated-gate bipolar transistor, a bipolar junction transistor or a solid state relay.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the input AC voltage comprises a line to neutral input voltage of at least one of 115 Vrms or 230 Vrms.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first DC to DC converter and the second DC to DC converter are high voltage to low voltage DC to DC converters.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the rectifier is at least one of a Vienna rectifier or a passive rectifier.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the rectifier includes a universal AC to DC converter and the universal AC to DC converter can accommodate both a 115 Vrms and 230 Vrms input voltage without being de-rated.