Automated method and apparatus for testing a crowbar circuit of a power converter

摘要

The present disclosure is directed to an automated apparatus and method for testing a crowbar circuit of power converter. The crowbar circuit includes an anti-parallel diode and a voltage-controlled switching element, e.g. a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). The method includes implementing a first test sequence for testing operability of the diode and a second test sequence for testing operability of the voltage-controlled switching element. More specifically, the first test sequence determines a first current-voltage feedback that is indicative of the operability of the diode and the second test sequence determines a second current-voltage feedback that is indicative of the operability of the voltage-controlled switching element.

主权项

1. A method for testing a crowbar circuit within a power converter with an existing power conversion assembly of a renewable energy system, the method comprising:
implementing a first test sequence for testing operability of an anti-parallel diode of the crowbar circuit, the first test sequence further comprising: transferring a first pulse of energy from the existing power conversion assembly to a capacitive element of a power filter of the power converter through a first switching element of a bridge circuit of the power converter; implementing a non-gating interval so as to allow the first pulse of energy to decay; transferring a second pulse of energy through a second switching element of the bridge circuit such that a bridge circuit voltage is driven substantially to zero, thereby transferring the first pulse of energy from the capacitive element to the inductive element of the power filter; and, determining a first current-voltage feedback of the power filter of the power converter based on the first test sequence after the power filter reaches a steady-state condition, wherein the first current-voltage feedback is indicative of operability of the anti-parallel diode of the crowbar circuit, the first current-voltage comprising a voltage value substantially equal to zero when the diode is operating properly or substantially equal to an initial voltage of the power filter before the first pulse of energy was transferred when the diode is not operating properly; implementing a second test sequence for testing operability of a voltage-controlled switching element of the crowbar circuit; and, determining a second current-voltage feedback of the power converter based on the second test sequence, wherein the second current-voltage feedback is indicative of operability of the voltage-controlled switching element of the crowbar circuit.