Fault clearing in electrical systems with injected signal
A power supply system to provide power to a load connected between first and second connectors. The system includes a generator that produces an alternating current generator output and a rectifier that receives the alternating current generator output and converts it into a direct current output and provides the direct current (DC) output between the first and second connectors. The system also includes a filter connected to the rectifier and between the connectors and that smooths the DC output. The filter includes a midpoint configured to be connected to ground. The system also includes a fault clearing source connected to the first connector that provides a clearing voltage to the first connector when a ground fault occurs on the first connector.
1 . A power supply system to provide power to a load connected between first and second connectors, the system comprising:
a power source that produces a power output;
a power converter that configured to receive the power output and convert it into a direct current (DC) output and provides the DC output between the first and second connectors;
a filter connected to the power converter and between the connectors and that is configured to smooth the DC output;
a fault clearing source connected to the first connector that is configured to provide a clearing voltage to the first connector when a ground fault occurs on the first connector; and
a switch connected to the first connector configured to open and close to clear the fault while the fault clearing source is providing the clearing voltage to the first connector;
wherein the clearing voltage includes an identifiable characteristic.
2 . The power supply system of claim 1 , wherein the identifiable characteristic is a frequency, a square wave, a sinusoid, a pulse, or other distinctive and detectable pattern.
3 . The power supply system of claim 1 , wherein the fault clearing source is a battery.
4 . The power supply system of claim 1 , wherein the fault clearing source receives power from the second connector.
5 . The power supply system of claim 1 , wherein the power source is an AC generator and the power converter is a rectifier configured to receive the AC power from the generator and converts it into a direct current output and provide the DC output between the first and second connectors.
6 . The power supply of claim 5 , wherein the rectifier is a two stage active rectifier.
7 . The power supply system of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the switch is a contactor.
8 . The power supply system of claim 1 , wherein the fault clearing source is connected between the first connector and a ground.
9 . The power supply system of claim 8 , wherein the ground is an airframe ground.
10 . A power supply system to provide power to a load connected between first and second connectors, the system comprising:
a power source that produces a power output;
a power converter configured to receive the power output, convert it into a direct current (DC) output and provide the DC output between the first and second connectors;
a filter connected to the power converter and between the connectors configured to smooth the DC output; and
a first fault clearing source connected to the first connector configured to provide a first clearing voltage to the first connector when a first ground fault occurs on the first connector;
a second fault clearing source connected to the second connector configured to provide a second clearing voltage to the second connector when a ground fault occurs on the second connector; and
a switch connected to the first connector configured to open and close to clear the fault while the fault clearing source is providing the clearing voltage to the first connector;
wherein at least one of the first and second clearing voltages includes an identifiable characteristic.
11 . The power supply system of claim 10 , wherein the identifiable characteristic is a frequency, a square wave, a sinusoid, a pulse, or other distinctive and detectable pattern.
12 . The power supply system of claim 10 , wherein the first and second fault clearing sources are batteries.
13 . The power supply system of claim 10 , wherein the first fault clearing source receives power from the second connector and the second fault clearing source receives power from the first connector.
14 . The power supply system of claim 10 , wherein the power source is an AC generator and the power converter is a rectifier configured to receive the AC power from the generator and converts it into a direct current output and provide the direct current (DC) output between the first and second connectors.
15 . The power supply of claim 14 , wherein the rectifier is a two stage active rectifier.
16 . The power supply system of claim 10 , wherein the first fault clearing source is connected between the first connector and a ground and the second fault clearing source is connected between the second connector and the ground.
17 . The power supply system of claim 16 , wherein the ground is an airframe ground.
18 . A power supply system to provide power to a load connected between first and second connectors, the system comprising:
a power source that produces a power output;
a power converter that configured to receive the power output and convert it into a direct current (DC) output and provides the DC output between the first and second connectors;
a filter connected to the power converter and between the connectors and that is configured to smooth the DC output;
a fault clearing source connected to the first connector that is configured to provide a clearing voltage to the first connector when a ground fault occurs on the first connector; and
a contactor connected to the first connector configured to open and close to clear the fault while the fault clearing source is providing the clearing voltage to the first connector;
wherein the clearing voltage includes an identifiable characteristic.
19 . The power supply system of claim 10 , wherein the switch is a contactor.