Bus structure for power system

This invention relates to power system plants in which intermediate power processing modules are mounted in a housing structure of a power plant and between input and output power access modules of that plant; and in particular to a backplane bus structure providing a particular control structure for accepting and controlling different types of inserted power processing modules.

Power plant systems, having input and output power access with intermediate power processors are usually designed with a particular control structure and with anticipated operation using only one type of intermediate plug-in processor. The overall plant structure is usually limited to one type of control and is not readily changeable to use plug-in power processors of the other type control and power output and hence can not accommodate differing plug-in power processing modules.

A power system plant includes a backplane arrangement including a primary and secondary bus to which intermediate power processing modules are selectively connected to the input and output power control and monitors of the plant. The backplane connections of the plug-in intermediate power processing modules are unique to the type of plug-in module placed on an input shelf (i.e. rectifier or converter plug-in module) and how the plant is to be operated. The connections of these plug-in modules to the backplane connector are such that the plug-in module is designed to have its connectors connect to either primary or secondary referenced control signals. The connectors of the backplane accept both type of plug-in modules so that any plug-in module inserted is automatically connected to respond to the appropriate primary or secondary referenced control signals.

The power plant system includes control signal generators and signal references for the primary bus and the secondary bus. The backplane connectors of the plug-in module are designed to connect through the appropriate bus to one or the other of these control signal sources. Its backplane connectors also connect to one or the other of the primary or secondary busses to receive alarm return referenced control signals. The power plant system operates in a rectifier or converter plant mode determined by signal interconnections made within the backplane of the system.

The completed backplance connections for the rectifiers and converters are unique from one another although the connection receptacles are the same regardless of application.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial schematic of a power plant system housing including a plurality of plug in modules which are included to process power between an input and output power module; and

FIG. 2 is a block schematic of how the plug-in power processing modules may be connected to a backplane bus arrangement of the power plant system housing; and

FIG. 3 is a table of pinouts at the power module interface.

A power distribution chassis or housing 100 of a power plant as shown in the FIG. 1 includes a plurality of plug-in power modules 101 which slide into a shelf of the housing and connect to a backplane at the rear of the shelf. This backplane includes a primary and secondary bus to which the plug-in modules 101 are connected by plug of similar connectors to plug receptacles of the back plane bus structure provided in the housing, which as described below are structured to allow selection to accept a rectifier or converter plug-in module determined by how the plug-in module 101 connects to the backplane structure. A plant monitor and control 102 is connected to the backplane in a manner common to use either as a rectifier or converter system. Output power characteristics are monitored by unit 102 . An output power section 103 (i.e. permanent; not a plug-in module) is connected to the backplane structure and provides power output to a load. One of the plug-in power modules 101 is shown prior to insertion into the shelf and consequent connection to the backplane. The back plane backplane electrically (not shown) connects the plug-in modules 101 into the electrical system between input and output modules 102 , 103 and provides power processing of the electrical power there between. The input control module 102 normally provides the desired control signals for the plug in modules and is connected to monitor the appropriate monitored signals as determined by the plug-in connection pattern of the plug-in module.

The organization of a backplane for the power plant housing of FIG. 1, as shown in the FIG. 2, allows the particular connections of the plug-in power processing modules to accept the rectifier and converter plug-in modules on a single shelf. Plug-in pins are included in a plug-in apparatus 210 in which pins of a plug-in module 206 and 212 are mademate with selected receptacles of apparatus 210 . The input AC power is applied at lead 201 of the power plant housing and is applied individually to each of the plug-in modules. Hence, in a shelf of five modules each would have an AC input. Plug-in module 206 , as shown in FIG. 2, is a rectifier module. The power output of the rectifier module 206 is applied to a primary bus 208 by means of a mating of connectors of the module 206 in apparatus 210 and in the backplane of the power system housing. The primary bus 208 may supply power to a load at output lead 209 and connected by a connector in the backplane to a subsequent converter plug-in module 212 . The converter module 212 connected to apparatus 210 includes conversion circuitry for converting voltage from one DC level to another DC level, or from a DC voltage to an AC voltage. Its output power is applied to a secondary bus 215 via lead 219 which is normally connected to a load to be energized.

A source of primary reference control signals 207 supplied by the monitor and control is connected to the primary bus 208 and through that bus to the rectifier module 206 . A source of secondary reference control signals 213 supplied by the monitor and control is connected to the secondary bus 215 and through that bus to the converter module 212 .

An alarm return circuit 221 and monitor and control module 222 is included as a module in the plant housing or housing. The monitor and control module 222 is connected to the primary bus 208 , via lead 290 , to monitor the characteristic power signals of the plant. When a rectifier 206 is plugged in the connecting leads 271 and 281 are activated through backplane connections to connect to the control circuit 207 of the rectifier and to the primary bus 208 respectively. An alarm return circuit 221 is provided for each shelf while the control module 222 is common to the entire power plant.

With a converter 212 plugged in the connecting leads are activated through backplane connections to connect to the secondary reference control signals 213 and to the secondary bus 215 respectively.

The plant operates as an overall system as either a rectifier plant or a converter plant (note that either plant may include rectifier and converter plug in units). The determination of the overall plant operation is set by the connections between the monitor and control unit 222 and the alarm return 221 and the primary referenced control signals 207 and secondary referenced control signals 213 . For operation as a rectifier plant system the connections theconnecting leads 261 and 271 are enabled and the leads 262 and 273 are disabled. In operation as a converter plant system leads 261 and 271 are disabled and leads 262 and 273 are enabled. These connections are made within the shelf circuitry of the backplane as shown in the FIG. 2 .

The aforementioned interconnections to the primary bus and secondary bus are controlled by the different portions of hardwired connector geometry or pin arrangement in the back plane of the shelf of the power plant. The action of plugging in a rectifier or converter assures connection to the proper control and power train connections to enable the operation of that module automatically in the power system.

A particular pinout arrangement is shown in the table at FIG. 3 .

The following is a description of the pinouts for the power module interface. The naming convention defines primary bus power modules to be rectifiers and secondary bus power modules to be converters.

The signals referenced to the primary output bus are:

The signals referenced in the alarm return are:

The signals referenced to the secondary output bus are: