Patented July 1, 1947 UNITED STATES 2,423,348 PATENT OFFICE zanntis PHASE CONVERTER ‘Thomas Short, Fort Wayne, Ind, asslenor to ‘General Electric Company, 8 corporation of New York, Application July 12, 8 Clatms. 1 ‘This Invention relates to phase converters and zore particularly to improvements In static net ‘Works for splitting. a single-phase input Into @ ‘hree-phase output. a a single-phase system the power flow pul= sates between zero and maximum twice every e¥- cle, whereas in a syrametsical polyphase system {the power flow is continuous es the power in the separate phases overlaps, Therefore, static sys tems for obtaining polyphast power from s sin fle-phace source require static enerey storage Seviees, sueh as a Tenctor or a capacitor. “In accordance with this invention there is pro- vided a novel and simple static phase converter fof the above-mentioned type which 1s charac terized ‘by a higher single-phase Input power factor then three-phase output, power In accordance with another feature of the inven- tion non-linear reactance means Is provided for permilting substantially balanced polyphase op- tration sith varying polyphase load. ‘An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved phase converter. "Another obJect of the invention {s to provide 1 simple and inexpensive single-phase-to-three- phase converter. "A further object of the invention fs to provide fa single-phase-to-three-phace converter’ which fs adaptable for operation with variable three phase toads. "The invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection ‘with the accompanying drawing and its scope ‘wl be potnted out in the appended claim: In the drawing Fiz. 1 Wlustrates diasrammat- ically an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is fn veetor dlasram for explaining the operation of Fie 1 Pie. is modifiation which uses © nome Hinear net eapacitive reactance means. Fig. 4 fs b vector diagram for explaining the operation ot Fig, 2, Ple. 5 is a palr of volt-ampere charec~ fevistic curves for further exolaining the oper ton of Pig. 3. and Mle, 6s snother modieation, "Referring now to the drawing and more Par- HHewlarly to Pig 1. the converter comprises a pair of single-phase toput terminals { and 2. "These Input terminals ‘are algo two of the three-phase output terminals, the third one of which fs termi- Bal Awinding & which is used as an auto. transformer is connected between terminals 1 nd 2 and this winding Is provided with an ad- Justable output contact or terminal 8 between ‘which and terminal 3.4 capacitor 6 Is connected, "The operation of Fig. 1 con best be understood ny referring to the veetor diagram shown in Fi. 2. Tn thie dlegram the terminals 1.2 and 2 are Shown In the same relative positions they occupy fm Fig. 1 and {t will be noted that they are at the comers of an equilateral triangle. ‘The les or phase voltages of the three-phase output cireult 104, Serlal No. 544,610 (o 172-238) 2 fare shown by dashed Tines which extend be- ‘ween a neutral point N and the terminals 1, 2 and 3 respectively. ‘The output currents 1, and Is of the three phases are shown lagging hele respective phaco voltages by the angle ‘Which fs the power factor angle of the load or Dutput elreult. All of the output ar load current from terminal 3 must be supplied through the tapacitor € and the vottage scross the capacitor must lead “the current 1b by 90 degrees, ‘Therefore, the load power factor angle @ deter- Innes the position of the point 8 on the tnput Foliage vector between terminals { and 2. Tn. ‘ther words, f the eapacitor voltage Exe 's Bro- Jected from’ termina! 3 to the single-phase n- pat voltage vector E21, twill intersect Eb at point &. "The capacitor current at potnt 5 is made up of tyro components, one of ‘which wt terminal 2 1s En end the other of which at terminal 1 1s Ts. ‘Therefore. the input current Te at terminal i is ihe vector resultant of Tt and Ys and the input urrent at terminal ? is the vector resultant of and Ts, and it wil be seen that these vectors eat terminals [and 2 amount to the same cur- ent as the vectors aye Parallel with each other tnd are of the same Length, the opposite dires- tion reprecenting merely that the current at any se instant enters one of the input terminals land leaver the other one. The ancle between tthe input current Zo and iaput voltage a is in ticated as the angle « and this ls the power 182 tor angle of the inpat snd tt will be seen that it 4s a smaller angle than the angle ¢ so that the input power factor Is blgher than the output power factor. ‘Te will be seen from Fig. 2 that Af the Josd power factor englo # decreases, then the pote Simuct move downwardly in the diagram so as to Inerease the Yollage Ex across the capacitor 6 land if the ansle # becomes less than 60 degrees lagging, then fis necessary to have an extension. fon the winding 4 20 that the point § wil be be- {ow the terminal f. Such an extension ts shown In Fig. 1. ‘The value of the vottage Ea between the point 8 end te terminal I may be expressed im terms of the input voltage En and the load power factor angle ¢ by the following equation: Py sof ene 3) “The sine of Ba tells whether point § is between terminals | and 2 or Is on en extension of the ‘winding 4 below the terminal {, Tf Ew {s poal~ {ive the autotransformer 4 a step-down trans former and point 8 is between terminals | and 2, wheress if Ex is negative the autotransform= fr 4 1s a voliage step-up transformer and point 5 is on the extended part of the winding and is 60 below terminal 1. 52,423,348, From the above equation it will be seen that when 6 fs equal to 60 degrees Bs 1s equal to 2270 so that point 8 corresponds with terminal | ‘nder these conditions the “autotransformer ‘winding 4 may be eliminated and such a creult fs shown in Fig. 3. As will be soon from Pig. 5, the terminal 2 then becomes a. dummy terminal ‘The vector relations of Pig. 3 are shown In Fiz 4 and it will be seen that the current Ts lags the Voltage Ns by 60 deszees so that the capacitor voltage Is the voltage between terminals t and 3. ‘Another feature of Fig. 3 is that the capacitive reactnnee means is made non-linear, One way of ‘accomplishing this is to connect a winding T be- tween terminals | and 3 and provide this winding with a saturated magnetic core. ‘The capacitor § Js connected across the inductive winding 7 and preferably this winding fs provided with an ex- tended portion across which the capacitor 6 Is connected so a to raiee the capacitor voltage ‘In Fig. 5 the volt-ampere relations between the ceptcitor and the Induetive winding Tare shown, the former being a straight line and the latter be- ‘ng curved due fo the saturation ofits core. "The currents in these two elements are directly out of phase with each other so that the net current is fhe arithmetical difference between thelr indi- vidual currents. "They are operated below the in ection point of thelr characteristis so thatthe ‘current in the eapacttor, as reflected in tae inp connections to the winding 1, is always greater than the lagging current reprecenting the mas hetizing current of the winding Vand it wil be seen that as the voltage across these elements goes up the net capacitive eutrent through them ‘oes down, Tn Pig. da three-phase motor 8 is connected Lo the terminals 1, 2 and 3 by means of « switeh § ‘When the switch 8 1 ‘rst losed the motor draws f heavy starting current and the non-lmeatiy of ‘the combination of the capacitor G and the wind ing 1 acts to keep the polyphase system substan Laity balanced during the heavy starting current conditions as well a during the normat running conditions because the non-linear characteristic ‘or regulation effect of the parallel reactor-capact- tor combination is such aso produce a lower volt= sage drop with higher currents, I only a linear ‘eapacitor were tsed between terminals { and 3 then the polyphase output would be unbalanced ‘with changes in Toad current, Tn Fig. 6 the point 5 fg shown on the extended part of the autotransformer winding 4 snd an a4 Gitional capacitor 10 is connected to an interne late point 11 on the winding 4 by means of a switeh 12. Such a. clrpult is particularly ‘well ‘adepted for operation with three-phase motors as the capacitor may bea paper dielectric eapacitor having low losses and low kva per unit volume ‘hich is for use when the motor is running aut which cen be adiusted so as to give substentially ‘unit power factor on the single-phase input side of the cireult, “Capacitor 10 may be starting ceapactior of the electrotytie type having relatively low power factor. By closing the slltch 12 when ‘the motor isstarted low power factors eliminated on the input side and also the starting in-rish ‘current is materialy reduced on the Inpit side of the clrouit. ‘The ‘two capacitor currents ane shown in Pig. 6 at right angles to their respective ‘voltages so that when both capacitors are in cit- cult the current at terminal 41s the vector sum of the currents in the capacitors 6 and 10 and, fas will be seen, this current ls Incger and more lagging with respect to the phase voltage between 10 6 30 as “6 50 85 oo 70 6 4 ‘he neutral point N and terminal 3 then when capacitor 6 1s in the eieult alone. While there have been shown and described particular embodiments of this invention, It wil be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications ean be made therein ‘without departing from the invention and, there= fore, it is aimed In the appended clatms to cover all such changes and modiftestions es fall within the true spirit and scope of the Invention, ‘What claim ag new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A statle.single-phase-to-three-phase_con- verter comprising, im combination. a pair of single-phase Input terminals, three three-phase output terminals two of which correspond to st Input terminals, winding connected between sald ‘input terminals, and a palr of eapecitors con- nected between the third output terminal and dif ferent points on said winding. 2. A static. single-phase-to-three-phase con: verter comprising, in combination, a. pair of single-phase input terminals, theee three-phase fcutput tarminals two of which correspond to said Input terminals, a winding connected between said input terminals, a pair of capacitors con- rected between the third output terminal and diferent points on said winding, anda three- [phase motor connested to sald output terminais 4. A single-phase-to-three-phase converter comprising, In combination, «pair of single- phase input terminals, three theee-phare output {erminals two of whieh correspond to sald init ferminals, a winding connected between sald in- Dut terminals, a pair of capacitors connected between the third Output terminal and diferent points on sald winding, and circuit controlling ‘means for controlling the connections of one of sald eapacttors. 44 A static single-phase-to-three-phase con: verter comprising, in combination, © pair of single-phase Input terminal, three three-phase output terminals (Wo of which correspond to said ‘input terminals, capacitive means having at least two terminats one of which is connected to the Femaining one of sald three-phase. terminals. ‘means for connecting another terminal of said capacitive means to a point whose voltage i in phase with the voltage betieen sald palr of input ferminals, and means for varying the effective Value of said capacitive means, 5. A. static single-phase-to-three-phase con- verter comprising, in combination, a dummy ter~ ‘minal whieh is common to bath the single-Dhase input and three-phase output sides of said con- verter, @ second terminal which is common to Doth t ‘input and three-phase ou Dat sides of said converter, a third terminal for fhe three-phase output side of sald converter, and ‘capacitive means connected between said second ‘and third terminals 6. A static single-phase-to-three-phase con vverier comprising, in combination, a dummy terminal whieh is common to both the single. phase input and three-phase output sides of said converter, a second terminal whieh is common to both the single-phase input and three-phase out- Dut sides of said converter, « third terminal for the three-phase output side of sald converter, fand nonlinear capacitive means connected. be: teen said second and third terminals. “7. A static single-phase-to-three-phase _con- verier comprising, 1n combination, a dummy terminal which is’ common to both the sintle- phase input and three-phase output sides of said9,499,948, 5 ‘converter, a second terminal which is common to Dott the’ tingle-phace input and three-phase output sides of said converter, a third terminal {or the three-phase output side of said converter, a saturable core autotransformer having. its Drimary winding connected between sald second and third terminals, and e eapacitor connected feross the secondary Winding of sald autotrans- former, 3. A static-phase converter for operating @ tuhreesphare motor rom a single-phase supply comprising, in combination, a alr of single-phase Input terminals, an autotransformer connected Detween sald input terminals, three three-phase output terminals two of which correspond with, ‘sald input terminals, @ continuous duty paper Glclectric capacttor connected between the third output terminal and @ point on the autotrans~ former winding, an intermittent. duly elect?o- lytic eapaoiter, ‘and means for connecting sald electrolytic capacitor between gala third terminal land another point on the autotransformer wind Sng during motor starting and for disconnecting 1 6 20 6 sald electrolytic capacitor therefrom during nor~ ‘mal operation, ‘THOMAS T. SHORT. REFERENCES CITED ‘The following references are of record in the file of this patent: ‘UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 62089 Steinmete et al. ---— Mar. 14, 1899 224307 Cain 7 May 21, 1941 2aezarT — Woltert ‘Nov, 11, 1941 Gos778 Stone et al — ‘May 10, 1696, G87070 —Stelnmete - Nov. 18, 1901 250,768 Kitle (et. 10, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18632 England Mar. 4, 1940 518000 England ~ Feb. 14, 1940 ‘46010. Holland — July 15, 1959July 1, 1947. 1.7. SHORT 2,423,348 PHASE CONVERTER ited July 12, 1944 Fig. Inventor: ThomasT. Short, 4.