UNINTERRUPTED POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM

Abstract: Uninterrupted power conversion system connected to an electric power supply through input terminals (11-1 and 11-2), for providing a voltage distribution busbar (14) with a suitable level of voltage for a set of loads (17-1 to 17-n). First adapter means (13) are connected in parallel with rectifier means (15) connected across the input terminals (11-1 and 11-2) and the voltage distribution busbar (14), such that the power demanded by the loads (17-1 to 17-n) flows constantly through the first adapter means (13). Additionally, the first adapter means (13) compel the input current to follow the waveform of the voltage supplied by the electric power supply.

Description: UNINTERRUPTED POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an uninterrupted power conversion system, which permanently supplies electric power to electrical and/or electronic equipment, being of special, but not exclusive, application in a telecommunications system. The power supply system is capable of receiving power from any source and establishing a conversion path to produce at its output a voltage and current suitable for the equipment which it is feeding. STATE OF THE ART An electric power distribution architecture for telecommunications equipment is described in the European patent application EP98403024.7, titled "Electric power distribution system", and incorporated in the present patent application by reference. The electric power distribution system receives electric power from an alternating current mains and transforms it for supplying a set of electrical means and some energy storage means. The distribution system comprises rectifier means, the outputs of which are connected to electric means that receive a rectified sinusoidal voltage. The conversion of this rectified voltage into a direct voltage suitable for a set of loads is performed in a set of converter means. The power distribution system complies as a whole with the international standards referring to the harmonics content of the current supplied by the alternating current mains since each converter means individually compels the current that it receives to follow the waveform of the rectified voltage. This architecture has certain drawbacks, such as the overall dimensions of the distribution system being penalised, since there are decentralised functions such as the implementation of power factor correction, which result in each converter means being larger in size. In addition, said converter means are less efficient and, consequently, the overall performance of the distribution system is also impaired. CHARACTERISATION OF THE INVENTION To overcome the problems described above, an uninterrupted power supply system is proposed which is of an appropriate size and has suitable electrical operating characteristics for mounting together with telecommunications equipment. The uninterrupted power supply system of the invention receives electric power from an electric power supply through some input terminals, and supplies a voltage and current level to a voltage distribution busbar to which a set of loads is connected. The power supply system comprises first adapter means connected in parallel with rectifier means, which in turn are connected between the input terminals and some first output terminals, so that the power demanded by said loads flows permanently through the first adapter means. The first adapter means compel the current supplied by the electric power supply to follow the waveform of the voltage supplied, also by the same electric power supply. As a consequence, the uninterrupted power supply system achieves a high overall efficiency and a power factor close to unity, is economical and compact in size. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES A more detailed explanation of the invention is given in the following description, based on the attached figures, in which: - figure 1 shows a block diagram of an uninterrupted power conversion system and its connection to an alternating current (AC) mains and to a load, according to the invention, and - figure 2 shows a block diagram of a second implementation of the uninterrupted power conversion system according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a preferred implementation of the uninterrupted power conversion system of the invention, which is connected through some input terminals 1 1-1 and 1 1-2, respectively, to an electric power supply such as an alternating current (AC) mains, and through some first output terminals 12-1 and 12-2 supplies a voltage and current suitable for a predetermined number of loads 17-1 to 17-n, such as a telecommunications equipment. The uninterrupted power conversion system comprises first adapter means 13 whose input terminals are respectively connected to the input terminals 11 -1 and 1 1-2, and its output terminals are respectively connected to the first output terminals 12-1 and 12-2, which in turn are connected to a voltage distribution busbar 14 to which the loads 17-1 to 17-n are connected. Rectifier means 15 are connected in parallel with the first adapter means 13. Charger means 16 though some input terminals are connected to the input terminals 1 1 -1 and 1 1 -2, and are connected through second output terminals 16-2 and 16-3 to an energy storage facility 16-1. The second output terminals 16-2 and 16-3 are respectively connected by cable to the first output terminals 12-1 and 12-2. A switching element 16-4 is installed on one of the cables which forms the electrical connection between the second output terminals 16-2 and 16-3 and the first output terminals 12-1 and 12-2. The first adapter means 13 have the function of carrying out power factor correction so that the waveform of the input current follows the sinusoidal waveform of the voltage supplied, also, by the AC power supply through input terminals 1 1 -1 and 1 1 -2. Thus, the first adapter means 13 produce across the output terminals 12-1 and 12-2 an adequate, regulated voltage for the requirements of loads 17-1 to 17-n. To carry out that described up to this point, the first adapter means 13 include a switched boost power converter, which is not described since it is well known in the state of the art. The boost power converter 13 performs the process of transforming the AC power into direct current (DC). In normal operation of the uninterrupted power conversion system, all AC power supplied by the AC power supply flows through the boost power converter 13, since the value of the voltage across the first output terminals 12-1 and 12-2 is greater than the peak value of the voltage across the input terminals 1 1 -1 and 1 1 -2, so that the rectifier means 15 remain cut off. The uninterrupted power conversion system also comprises a second conversion path with capacity for storing energy and supplying it to the loads 17-1 to 17-n, in the event of loss of the AC power supply. Thus, the AC power supply feeds AC power to the charger means 16 that adapt it for storing in the energy storage battery 16-1 , such as a battery. The charger means 16 are known in the state of the art, for which reason they are not described herein. When a fault occurs in the supply of AC power, the energy stored in the battery 16-1 is directly fed to the loads 17-1 to 17-n via the voltage distribution busbar 14, since the switching element 16-4 has been previously closed. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of another preferred implementation. In this case, the energy stored in the battery 16-1 , before being fed to the loads 17-1 to 17-n, is stepped up by means of second adapter means 16-5, such as a switched boost power converter. For this purpose, the battery 16-1 is connected to the loads 17-1 to 17-n through the second adapter means 16-5, the switching element 16-4 and the voltage distribution busbar 14. When a malfunction occurs in the first adapter means 13 such that they are removed from service, the AC power supplied by the AC power supply flows entirely though the rectifier means 15, such as a full-wave rectifier bridge, which rectify it, and supply a rectified voltage to the loads 17-1 to 17-n via the voltage distribution busbar 14. However, in this operational scenario the uninterrupted power conversion system does not perform the power factor correction function.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. - Uninterrupted power conversion system which is connected to an electric power supply through some input terminals (11-1 and 11-2), and supplies a voltage distribution busbar (14) through some first output terminals (12-1 and 12-2) at a suitable level of voltage and current to feed a set of loads (17-1 to 17-n), characterised in that it comprises first adapter means (13) connected in parallel with rectifier means (15) connected, in turn, across said input terminals (11-1 and 11-2) and said first output terminals (12-1 and 12-2), so that the power demanded by said loads (17-1 to 17-n) flows constantly through said first adapter means (13). 2. - Conversion system according to claim 1 , characterised in that said first adapter means (13) compel the current supplied by said electric power supply to follow the waveform of the voltage supplied, also, by said electric power supply. 3. - Conversion system according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that an energy storage battery (16-1 ) supplies the power demanded by said loads (17-1 to 17-n), in the event of a failure in the supply of power from said electric power supply. 4. - Conversion system according to claim 3, characterised in that charger means (16) are connected to said input terminals (11-1 and 11-2), and are connected to said energy storage battery (16-1 ) via some second output terminals (16-2 and 16-3). 5. - Conversion system according to claim 4, characterised in that a switching means (16-4) has one of its ends connected to one of the first output terminals (12-2) and another of its ends connected to one of said second output terminals (16-2), so that said switching means (16-4) is closed when there is a failure in the supply of power from said electric power supply. 6. - Conversion system according to claim 5, characterised in that second adapter means (16-5) process the energy released from said energy storage facility (16-1 ) before it is fed to said voltage distribution busbar (14); said second adapter means (16-5) being connected between said switching means (16-4) and said second output terminals (16-2 and 16-3). 7. - Conversion system according to claim 3, characterised in that said energy storage battery (16-1 ) is a battery. 8. - Conversion system according to claim 1 , characterised in that said first adapter means (13) is a switched boost power converter. 9. - Conversion system according to claim 1 , characterised in that said rectifier means (15) is a full-wave rectifier bridge.

Inventors: FONTAN TARODO ANTONIO, GONZALEZ GONZALEZ JORGE, HUERTAS BLAZQUEZ ANTONIO J, FONTAN TARODO, ANTONIO, GONZALEZ GONZALEZ, JORGE, HUERTAS BLAZQUEZ, ANTONIO, J.
Applicants: CIT ALCATEL, FONTAN TARODO ANTONIO, GONZALEZ GONZALEZ JORGE, HUERTAS BLAZQUEZ ANTONIO J, ALCATEL, FONTAN TARODO, ANTONIO, GONZALEZ GONZALEZ, JORGE, HUERTAS BLAZQUEZ, ANTONIO, J.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H02J1
IPC codes: G05F1, H02J1, H02J9