Systems and methods for soft starting a motor (40) using solid-state switching devices are disclosed. The system (10) includes a soft starting switch (53) that is made of a plurality of solid-state switches (62, 63). The system (10) also includes a controller (86) that is programmed to regulate currents and voltages delivered to the motor (40) during a start-up operation of the motor by cycling the solid-state switches (62, 63) ON and OFF during the start-up operation.

A non-linear load in the form of an arc furnace with an upstream furnace transformer is supplied with electric power from a power supply device with a plurality of converter units. The converter units have a plurality of main modules with inputs connected to a respective phase of a three-phase grid. The converter units have a common star point between the main modules and the primary side of the furnace transformer. Each main module has a series circuit with a coupling inductance and a plurality of submodules. The submodules have a bridge circuit with four self-commutated semiconductor switches and a bridge path with a storage capacitor between input and output. The semiconductor switches of the submodules can each be switched independently of the semiconductor switches of the other submodules of the same main module and of the other main modules.

A non-linear load in the form of an arc furnace with an upstream furnace transformer is supplied with electric power from a power supply device with a plurality of converter units. The converter units have a plurality of main modules with inputs connected to a respective phase of a three-phase grid. The converter units have a common star point between the main modules and the primary side of the furnace transformer. Each main module has a series circuit with a coupling inductance and a plurality of submodules. The submodules have a bridge circuit with four self-commutated semiconductor switches and a bridge path with a storage capacitor between input and output. The semiconductor switches of the submodules can each be switched independently of the semiconductor switches of the other submodules of the same main module and of the other main modules.

This invention is concerning a control device of an AC rotating machine that estimates, as an estimated rotational position, a rotational position of an AC rotating machine having N sets of three-phase windings where N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2, the device being made up of: a voltage sum calculator that calculates a voltage sum from N sets of voltage commands for applying AC voltage to the N sets of three-phase windings; a current sum calculator that calculates a current sum from N sets of currents respectively flowing in the N sets of three-phase windings; and a rotational position estimator that calculates an estimated rotational position on the basis of calculation results of the voltage sum calculator and the current sum calculator.

This invention is concerning a control device of an AC rotating machine that estimates, as an estimated rotational position, a rotational position of an AC rotating machine having N sets of three-phase windings where N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2, the device being made up of: a voltage sum calculator that calculates a voltage sum from N sets of voltage commands for applying AC voltage to the N sets of three-phase windings; a current sum calculator that calculates a current sum from N sets of currents respectively flowing in the N sets of three-phase windings; and a rotational position estimator that calculates an estimated rotational position on the basis of calculation results of the voltage sum calculator and the current sum calculator.

A PCB motor controller comprises relays mounted on a PCB and interconnected to power traces in or on the PCB to receive incoming three-phase power and to output three-phase power to a motor. Control power traces in or on the PCB connect the relays to control circuitry, also mounted on the PCB. A power supply is mounted on the PCB and connected to the control circuitry to provide power for its operation and for switching of the relays. The relays are switched in accordance with a point-on-wave (POW) switching scheme, allowing for the use or relays and the PCB, which may not otherwise be suitable for motor control applications.

A PCB motor controller comprises relays mounted on a PCB and interconnected to power traces in or on the PCB to receive incoming three-phase power and to output three-phase power to a motor. Control power traces in or on the PCB connect the relays to control circuitry, also mounted on the PCB. A power supply is mounted on the PCB and connected to the control circuitry to provide power for its operation and for switching of the relays. The relays are switched in accordance with a point-on-wave (POW) switching scheme, allowing for the use or relays and the PCB, which may not otherwise be suitable for motor control applications.

An operating circuit and a method for operating a synchronous machine on a voltage supply network is disclosed. The operating circuit has a converter circuit with controllable converter switches and a controllable switching arrangement to switch the converter circuit between a start converter configuration and a direct converter configuration. The power supply network is connected to a converter output and the synchronous machine is connected to a converter input of the converter circuit. In the direct converter configuration, an AC voltage is provided at the converter output with a preset AC voltage frequency. In the direct converter configuration, the switching of the AC voltage between the converter input and the converter output takes place without intermediate rectification.

A three-phase regenerative drive employing multiple converter pulse width modulation (PWM) strategies. The drive includes a three-phase converter having inputs for connection to a three-phase AC source, the three-phase converter having three phase legs, a DC bus operably connected to the three-phase converter wherein the three phase converter is configured to direct current from the three-phase AC source to the DC bus, and a three-phase inverter operably connected to the DC bus and a motor, the three phase inverter configured to draw current from the DC bus and provide three phase command signals to the motor. The three-phase converter employs a first PWM strategy to supply current to the DC bus, and the converter employs a second PWM strategy to supply current to the DC bus if a total current in the three phase legs exceeds a selected threshold.

A three-phase regenerative drive employing multiple converter pulse width modulation (PWM) strategies. The drive includes a three-phase converter having inputs for connection to a three-phase AC source, the three-phase converter having three phase legs, a DC bus operably connected to the three-phase converter wherein the three phase converter is configured to direct current from the three-phase AC source to the DC bus, and a three-phase inverter operably connected to the DC bus and a motor, the three phase inverter configured to draw current from the DC bus and provide three phase command signals to the motor. The three-phase converter employs a first PWM strategy to supply current to the DC bus, and the converter employs a second PWM strategy to supply current to the DC bus if a total current in the three phase legs exceeds a selected threshold.