Solid state protection circuits for a converter circuit
An example method may include generating an alternating current (AC) output at a power source within a borehole in a subterranean formation. An electrical component may receive a direct current (DC) output from a converter circuit coupled to the power source and the electrical component. One or more measurements corresponding to the power source, the converter circuit, the electrical component, or a protection circuit coupled to the converter circuit may be received. Blocking devices within the protection circuit may be selectively caused to block current flow in the converter circuit based, at least in part, on the one or more received measurements.
1. A system, comprising:
a power source providing an alternating current (AC) output, wherein the power source is either disposed within a bottom hole assembly of a subterranean drilling assembly, or disposed at a surface of the subterranean drilling assembly;
a converter circuit that receives the AC output from the power source and provides a direct current (DC) output, wherein the converter circuit comprises at least one switching device in parallel with at least one diode in each branch of the converter circuit;
an electrical component that is coupled to and receives the DC output from the converter circuit;
a protection circuit coupled to the converter circuit, the protection circuit comprising one or more blocking devices that selectively block current flow in the converter circuit, wherein each of the one or more blocking devices is in series with both the at least one diode and the at least one switching device in a branch of the converter circuit; and
an information handling system communicably coupled to the blocking devices of the protection circuit, wherein the information handling system controls operation of the blocking devices based on measurements from one or more sensors coupled to the power source, the converter circuit, the protection circuit, or the electrical component,
wherein when the measurements from the one or more sensors indicate a fault condition, the information handling system controls operation of the blocking devices in the protection circuit to disconnect the power source from the converter circuit.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the blocking devices are configured in a reverse blocking configuration.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the blocking devices are operable to conduct current and block current in both directions.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the blocking devices comprise at least one of junction gate field-effect transistors (JFETs) and metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs).
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the blocking devices comprise silicon carbine (SiC) JFETs.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the protection circuit comprises at least one blocking device per phase of the power source.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the measurements from one or more sensors comprise a current of the AC output, a voltage of the AC output, a speed of an alternator of the power source, an ambient temperature, a temperature of a component of the power source, the converter circuit, the protection circuit, or the electrical component, or any combination thereof.
8. A method, comprising:
generating an alternating current (AC) output at a power source, wherein the power source is either disposed within a bottom hole assembly of a subterranean drilling assembly, or disposed at a surface of the subterranean drilling assembly;
receiving at an electrical component a direct current (DC) output from a converter circuit coupled to the power source and the electrical component, wherein the converter circuit comprises at least one switching device in parallel with at least one diode in each branch of the converter circuit;
receiving one or more measurements corresponding to the power source, the converter circuit, the electrical component, or a protection circuit coupled to the converter circuit;
selectively causing blocking devices within the protection circuit to block current flow in the converter circuit based, at least in part, on the one or more received measurements, wherein each of the blocking devices is in series with both the at least one diode and the at least one switching device in a branch of the converter circuit; and
when the measurements indicate a fault condition, causing the blocking devices within the protection circuit to disconnect the power source from the converter circuit.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the blocking devices are configured in a reverse blocking configuration.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the blocking devices are operable to conduct current and block current in both directions.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the blocking devices comprise at least one of junction gate field-effect transistors (JFETs) and metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs).
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the blocking devices comprise silicon carbine (SiC) JFETs.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the protection circuit comprises at least one blocking device per phase of the power source.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the measurements from one or more sensors comprise a current of the AC output, a voltage of the AC output, a speed of an alternator of the power source, an ambient temperature, a temperature of a component of the power source, the converter circuit, the protection circuit, or the electrical component, or any combination thereof.