Optically triggered high voltage switch network and method for switching a high voltage

Patent · Tue Jan 19 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:868639

El-Sharkawi, Mohamed A ^[1]; Andexler, George ^[2]; Silberkleit, Lee I ^[3]

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1. Renton, WA
2. Everett, WA
3. Mountlake Terrace, WA

An optically triggered solid state switch and method for switching a high voltage electrical current. A plurality of solid state switches (350) are connected in series for controlling electrical current flow between a compensation capacitor (112) and ground in a reactive power compensator (50, 50') that monitors the voltage and current flowing through each of three distribution lines (52a, 52b and 52c), which are supplying three-phase power to one or more inductive loads. An optical transmitter (100) controlled by the reactive power compensation system produces light pulses that are conveyed over optical fibers (102) to a switch driver (110') that includes a plurality of series connected optical triger circuits (288). Each of the optical trigger circuits controls a pair of the solid state switches and includes a plurality of series connected resistors (294, 326, 330, and 334) that equalize or balance the potential across the plurality of trigger circuits. The trigger circuits are connected to one of the distribution lines through a trigger capacitor (340). In each switch driver, the light signals activate a phototransistor (300) so that an electrical current flows from one of the energy reservoir capacitors through a pulse transformer (306) in the trigger circuit, producing gate signals that turn on the pair of serially connected solid state switches (350).

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AI79-87BP65584
• Assignee: Board of Regents of University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5180963
• Application Number: 07/697,673
• OSTI ID: 868639
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

optically
triggered
voltage
switch
network
method
switching
solid
electrical
current
plurality
switches
350
connected
series
controlling
flow
compensation
capacitor
112
ground
reactive
power
compensator
50
monitors
flowing
distribution
lines
52a
52b
52c
supplying
three-phase
inductive
loads
optical
transmitter
100
controlled
produces
light
pulses
conveyed
fibers
102
driver
110
triger
circuits
288
trigger
controls
pair
resistors
294
326
330
334
equalize
balance
potential
340
signals
activate
phototransistor
300
flows
energy
reservoir
capacitors
pulse
transformer
306
circuit
producing
gate
serially
pulse transformer
trigger circuit
power compensator
inductive load
voltage electrical
series connected
reactive power
serially connected
light pulses
optical fibers
optical fiber
current flow
electrical current
current flowing
current flows
light pulse
light signal
light signals
optically triggered
optical transmitter
distribution lines
connected solid
inductive loads
phase power
voltage electric
voltage switch
power compensation
distribution line
/323/327/