Variable Speed Drive for a Chiller System with a Switched Reluctance Motor

Abstract

A variable speed drive with a boost converter is provided for a chiller system driven by a switched reluctance motor. The boost converter can be a diode or thyristor rectifier followed by a boost DC/DC converter or a three-phase pulse width modulated boost converter. The boost converter provides a boosted voltage to the DC link, which results in a boosted voltage being applied to the switched reluctance motor by the inverter of the variable speed drive.

1 . A drive system for a compressor of a chiller system, the drive system comprising: 
 a variable speed drive, the variable speed drive being configured to receive an input AC power at a fixed input AC voltage and a fixed input frequency and provide an output power at a variable voltage and variable frequency, the variable voltage having a maximum voltage greater in magnitude than the fixed input AC voltage and the variable frequency having a maximum frequency greater than the fixed input frequency, the variable speed drive comprising: 
 a converter stage connected to an AC power source providing the input AC power, the converter stage being configured to convert the fixed input AC voltage to a boosted DC voltage, the boosted DC voltage being greater than the fixed input AC voltage;  
 a DC link connected to the converter stage, the DC link being configured to filter the boosted DC voltage and store energy from the converter stage; and  
 an inverter stage connected to the DC link, the inverter stage being configured to convert the boosted DC voltage from the DC link into the output power having the variable voltage and the variable frequency; and  
   a switched reluctance motor connected to the inverter stage and powered by the output power from the inverter stage, the switched reluctance motor being connectable to a compressor of the chiller system to power the compressor.    
   
   
       2 . The drive system of  claim 1  wherein the boosted DC voltage is a DC voltage greater than 1.3 times the root-mean-squared value of the fixed AC input voltage.  
   
   
       3 . The drive system of  claim 1  wherein the converter stage comprises: 
 a rectifier; and    a DC-DC boost converter connected to the rectifier, the DC-DC boost converter being configured and disposed to provide the boosted DC voltage to the DC link.    
   
   
       4 . The drive system of  claim 1  wherein the converter stage comprises a pulse width modulated boost rectifier having insulated gate bipolar transistors.  
   
   
       5 . The drive system of  claim 1  wherein the switched reluctance motor has a voltage rating greater than the fixed input AC voltage.  
   
   
       6 . The drive system of  claim 1  wherein the converter stage is configured to control a current waveform drawn from the AC power source to have a substantially sinusoidal shape and to be substantially in phase with the fixed input AC voltage.  
   
   
       7 . The drive system of  claim 1  wherein the converter stage is configured to provide the boosted DC voltage to the DC link substantially independent of the fixed input AC voltage, thereby permitting the variable speed drive to operate during a reduction in the fixed input AC voltage for a predetermined time.  
   
   
       8 . The drive system of  claim 1  wherein the inverter stage is configured to have a DC current of reduced magnitude in response to the boosted DC voltage being present at the DC link, thereby reducing inverter losses in the variable speed drive.  
   
   
       9 . The drive system of  claim 1  wherein the switched reluctance motor is configured to have a motor current having a RMS value of reduced magnitude in response to the variable voltage being greater than the fixed input AC voltage, thereby reducing motor losses in the switched reluctance motor.  
   
   
       10 . The drive system of  claim 1  wherein the switched reluctance motor is configured to have a quicker establishment and extinction of a motoring torque in response to the variable voltage being greater in magnitude than the fixed input AC voltage, thereby providing improved dynamic response in the switched reluctance motor.  
   
   
       11 . A chiller system comprising: 
 a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant loop;    a switched reluctance motor connected to the compressor to power the compressor; and    a variable speed drive connected to the switched reluctance motor, the variable speed drive being configured to receive an input AC power at a fixed input AC voltage and a fixed input frequency and provide an output power at a variable voltage and variable frequency to the switched reluctance motor, the variable voltage having a maximum voltage greater in magnitude than the fixed input AC voltage and the variable frequency having a maximum frequency greater than the fixed input frequency, the variable speed drive comprising: 
 a converter stage connected to an AC power source providing the input AC power, the converter stage being configured to convert the input AC voltage to a boosted DC voltage, the boosted DC voltage being greater than the fixed input AC voltage;  
 a DC link connected to the converter stage, the DC link being configured to filter the boosted DC voltage and store energy from the converter stage; and  
 an inverter stage connected to the DC link, the inverter stage being configured to convert the boosted DC voltage from the DC link into the output power for the switched reluctance motor having the variable voltage and the variable frequency.  
   
   
   
       12 . The chiller system of  claim 11  wherein the boosted DC voltage is a DC voltage greater than 1.3 times the root-mean-squared value of the fixed AC input voltage.  
   
   
       13 . The chiller system of  claim 11  wherein the converter stage comprises: 
 a rectifier connected to an AC power source; and    a DC-DC boost converter connected to the rectifier, the DC-DC boost converter being configured and disposed to provide the boosted DC voltage to the DC link.    
   
   
       14 . The chiller system of  claim 11  wherein the converter stage comprises a pulse width modulated boost rectifier having insulated gate bipolar transistors.  
   
   
       15 . The chiller system of  claim 11  wherein the switched reluctance motor has a voltage rating greater than the fixed input AC voltage.  
   
   
       16 . The chiller system of  claim 11  wherein the converter stage is configured to control a current waveform drawn from the AC power source to have a substantially sinusoidal shape and to be substantially in phase with the fixed input AC voltage.  
   
   
       17 . The chiller system of  claim 11  wherein the converter stage is configured to provide the boosted DC voltage to the DC link substantially independent of the fixed input AC voltage, thereby permitting the variable speed drive to operate during a reduction in the fixed input AC voltage for a predetermined time.  
   
   
       18 . The chiller system of  claim 11  wherein the switched reluctance motor is configured to have a motor current having a RMS value of reduced magnitude in response to the variable voltage being greater in magnitude than the fixed input AC voltage, thereby reducing motor losses in the switched reluctance motor.  
   
   
       19 . The chiller system of  claim 11  wherein the inverter stage is configured to have a DC current of reduced magnitude in response to the boosted DC voltage being present at the DC link, thereby reducing inverter losses in the variable speed drive.  
   
   
       20 . The chiller system of  claim 11  wherein the switched reluctance motor is configured to have a quicker establishment and extinction of a motoring torque in response to the variable voltage being greater in magnitude than the fixed input AC voltage, thereby providing improved dynamic response in the switched reluctance motor.