Power inverter with optical isolation
An optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit that includes an input electrical power source, a heat pipe, a power electronic switch or plurality of interconnected power electronic switches, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the input power source, a mechanism for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or input bus bars, an optically isolated drive circuit connected to the switch, a heat sink assembly upon which the power electronic switch or switches is mounted, an output load, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the output load, the mechanism for connecting including an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or output bus bars, at least one a fiber optic temperature sensor mounted on the heat sink assembly, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar, and at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the input power interconnection cable and/or input bus bar.
1. An optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit comprising:
an input electrical power source;
a power electronic switch;
a means for connecting said switch to said input power source, said means for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar;
an optically isolated drive circuit operatively connected to said switch;
a heat sink assembly;
an output load;
means for connecting said switch to said output load comprising at least one interconnecting cable and/or bus bar; and,
at least one optical sensor for sensing conditions in a high-power stage of the converter.
2. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1 , wherein said at least one optical sensor comprises a fiber optic temperature sensor.
3. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 2 , wherein said fiber optic temperature sensor is mounted on said heat sink assembly.
4. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1 , wherein said at least one optical sensor comprises a fiber optic current sensor.
5. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 4 , wherein said fiber optic current sensor is mounted on a load interconnection cable.
6. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 4 , wherein said fiber optic cuurent sensor is mounted on an output bus bar.
7. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 4 , wherein said fiber optic current sensor is mounted on an input bus bar.
8. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 4 , wherein said fiber optic current sensor is mounted on an input power interconnection cable.
9. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1 , wherein said at least one optical sensor comprises a fiber optic voltage sensor.
10. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 9 , wherein said fiber optic voltage sensor is mounted on the load interconnection cable.
11. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 9 , wherein said fiber optic voltage sensor is mounted on the output bus bar.
12. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 9 , wherein said at fiber optic voltage sensor is mounted on an input power interconnection cable.
13. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 9 , wherein said at fiber optic voltage sensor is mounted on an input bus bar.
14. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a heat pipe.
15. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1 , wherein said at least one power electronic switch comprises a plurality of interconnected power electronic switches.
16. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1 , wherein said at least one power electronic switch is mounted upon said heat sink assembly.
17. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1 , wherein said means for connecting said switch to said input power source comprises a plurality of interconnecting cables and/or input bus bars.
18. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1 , wherein said means for connecting said switch to said output load comprises a plurality of interconnecting cables and/or output bus bars.
19. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1 , wherein the power conversion circuit is a power inverter.
20. The optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit of claim 1 , wherein the power conversion circuit is a rectifier.