Abstract: A printed circuit board power cell having a printed circuit board including a DC bus disposed within the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board power cell includes a plurality of capacitors connected to the DC bus, a three-phase AC input disposed on the printed circuit board and a single-phase AC output disposed on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board power cell also includes a power module connected to the DC bus, the three-phase AC input and the single-phase AC output, wherein the power module receives three phase AC input power via the three-phase AC input and responsively outputs a single-phase AC power via the single-phase AC output.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) power cell (100) for arranging in a multi-cell power supply (500) includes a housing assembly (102) with a multiple section housing (104, 106), and a PCB assembly (120) positioned within the housing assembly (102), wherein the housing assembly (102) and the PCB assembly (120) are configured to provide an integrated voltage isolation of the power cell (100) which supports an output voltage of the multi-cell power supply (500). Furthermore, a multi-cell power supply (500) including a PCB power cell (100) with isolation is described.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) power cell (100) for arranging in a multi-cell power supply (500) includes a housing assembly (102) with a multiple section housing (104, 106), and a PCB assembly (120) positioned within the housing assembly (102), wherein the housing assembly (102) and the PCB assembly (120) are configured to provide an integrated voltage isolation of the power cell (100) which supports an output voltage of the multi-cell power supply (500). Furthermore, a multi-cell power supply (500) including a PCB power cell (100) with isolation is described.

Abstract: A printed circuit board of a power supply has a multi-tap voltage attenuator mounted thereon that may provide a selectable plurality of attenuated voltages based on a received voltage. A power supply may include two or more of the same printed circuit boards to attenuate different input and output power supply voltages to one or more desired lower voltages. The attenuated voltages may be input to, e.g., a controller of the power supply to monitor and, when necessary, adjust one or more parameters of the output power supply voltage. The selectable plurality of attenuated voltages allows substantially identical printed circuit boards to be used in the same and/or different power supplies for attenuating different voltages. Methods of assembling power supplies are also provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A printed circuit board power cell having a printed circuit board including a DC bus disposed within the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board power cell includes a plurality of capacitors connected to the DC bus, a three-phase AC input disposed on the printed circuit board and a single-phase AC output disposed on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board power cell also includes a power module connected to the DC bus, the three-phase AC input and the single-phase AC output, wherein the power module receives three phase AC input power via the three-phase AC input and responsively outputs a single-phase AC power via the single-phase AC output.

Abstract: A printed circuit board of a power supply has a multi-tap voltage attenuator mounted thereon that may provide a selectable plurality of attenuated voltages based on a received voltage. A power supply may include two or more of the same printed circuit boards to attenuate different input and output power supply voltages to one or more desired lower voltages. The attenuated voltages may be input to, e.g., a controller of the power supply to monitor and, when necessary, adjust one or more parameters of the output power supply voltage. The selectable plurality of attenuated voltages allows substantially identical printed circuit boards to be used in the same and/or different power supplies for attenuating different voltages. Methods of assembling power supplies are also provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods in accordance with this invention provide a multi-cell power supply for receiving power from a source and delivering power at an output terminal to a load. The multi-cell power supply includes a first power cell coupled to the source, and a first current sensor circuit. The first power cell provides a first output current, and includes a first output terminal coupled to a reference node of the multi-cell power supply, and a second output terminal coupled to the output terminal. The first current sensor circuit includes a first current sensor and a power supply. The first current sensor is coupled to the first output terminal of the first power cell, and measures the first output current. The power supply is coupled to either the reference node or a floating ground node of the first power cell, and provides power to the first current sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods in accordance with this invention provide a multi-cell power supply for receiving power from a source and delivering power at an output terminal to a load. The multi-cell power supply includes a first power cell coupled to the source, and a first current sensor circuit. The first power cell provides a first output current, and includes a first output terminal coupled to a reference node of the multi-cell power supply, and a second output terminal coupled to the output terminal. The first current sensor circuit includes a first current sensor and a power supply. The first current sensor is coupled to the first output terminal of the first power cell, and measures the first output current. The power supply is coupled to either the reference node or a floating ground node of the first power cell, and provides power to the first current sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods in accordance with this invention provide a multi-cell power supply for receiving power from a source and delivering power at an output terminal to a load. The multi-cell power supply includes a first power cell coupled to the source, and a first current sensor circuit. The first power cell provides a first output current, and includes a first output terminal coupled to a reference node of the multi-cell power supply, and a second output terminal coupled to the output terminal. The first current sensor circuit includes a first current sensor and a power supply. The first current sensor is coupled to the first output terminal of the first power cell, and measures the first output current. The power supply is coupled to either the reference node or a floating ground node of the first power cell, and provides power to the first current sensor.

Abstract: A system for cooling a multi-cell power supply, the system including a water pump, a water-to-air heat exchanger in fluid communication with the water pump, and a supply water manifold in fluid connection with the water-to-air-heat exchanger. The system further includes a plurality of power cells in fluid communication with the supply water manifold via one or more water hoses, and a multi-winding device in fluid communication with the plurality of power cells via at least one water-cooled bus, wherein the at least one water cooled bus electrically connects the power cells to secondary windings of the multi-winding device. The water-cooled buses provide both electrical current as well as cooling fluid to each winding of the multi-winding device, thereby eliminating a need for separate cooling and power connections.

Abstract: A method for designing a transformer using three secondary winding phase shift angles and a minimized core cross-sections. The method includes receiving an indication of an acceptable level of total harmonic distortion (THD) for the transformer, identifying a desired number of secondary windings per output phase of the transformer, simulating performance of various models for the transformer various potential phase shift angles, wherein each of the various models includes a set of phase shift angles for the secondary windings of the transformer. The method further includes identifying, based on the simulation, a transformer model that both has no more than three unique phase shift angles in the set and exhibits a primary side THD that is within the acceptable level, identifying an optimized core cross-sections, and reporting the identified transformer model having the three unique phase shift angle and the optimized core cross-sections.

Abstract: A power delivery system includes a group of removable power cells. Each power cell includes a water cooled heat sink, an air intake, and an air output. The system also includes a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger draws air from the cells, cools it, and recirculates the cooled air to the cells via each cell's air intake. The cell may be designed so that components that are not near the heat sink are cooled by air from the intake before that air reaches the heat sink.

Abstract: A method of operating a power delivery system that has at least one power cell includes directing air into the power cells to cool them, receiving the air from the cells, directing the air to a cooling system, and recirculating the cooled air to the power cells. Each cell may include an air intake, an air output, a water-cooled heat sink, and optionally a plurality of capacitor connectors and/or a circuit board. The air may be directed through the air intake to the air output so that air passes over the capacitor connectors and/or the circuit board before passing over the heat sink.

Abstract: A method for optically detecting an electrical arc in a power supply. The method includes capturing light with a light pipe, transmitting the captured light along at least a portion of a length of the light pipe, optically detecting the transmitted light with a photodetector which is optically coupled to the light pipe, generating a signal indicative of an intensity of the detected light, and determining whether the detected light is associated with an electrical arc.

Abstract: A method for designing a transformer using three secondary winding phase shift angles and a minimized core cross-sections. The method includes receiving an indication of an acceptable level of total harmonic distortion (THD) for the transformer, identifying a desired number of secondary windings per output phase of the transformer, simulating performance of various models for the transformer various potential phase shift angles, wherein each of the various models includes a set of phase shift angles for the secondary windings of the transformer. The method further includes identifying, based on the simulation, a transformer model that both has no more than three unique phase shift angles in the set and exhibits a primary side THD that is within the acceptable level, identifying an optimized core cross-sections, and reporting the identified transformer model having the three unique phase shift angle and the optimized core cross-sections.

Abstract: A system for optically detecting an electrical arc in a power supply. The system includes a light pipe, a photodetector optically coupled to the light pipe, and a signal processor connected to the photodetector.

Abstract: A system for cooling a multi-cell power supply, the system including a water pump, a water-to-air heat exchanger in fluid communication with the water pump, and a supply water manifold in fluid connection with the water-to-air-heat exchanger. The system further includes a plurality of power cells in fluid communication with the supply water manifold via one or more water hoses, and a multi-winding device in fluid communication with the plurality of power cells via at least one water-cooled bus, wherein the at least one water cooled bus electrically connects the power cells to secondary windings of the multi-winding device. The water-cooled buses provide both electrical current as well as cooling fluid to each winding of the multi-winding device, thereby eliminating a need for separate cooling and power connections.

Abstract: A system for optically detecting an electrical arc in a power supply. The system includes a light pipe, a photodetector optically coupled to the light pipe, and a signal processor connected to the photodetector.