Intelligent Power Supply Modules

Intelligent power supply modules provide easy digital interfaces, allowing customers to set, query and monitor the module’s status. The modules also facilitate parallel set-up and operation via CANBus.

Power module ICs allow system designers to spend less time on power-supply design and more time designing the other key features of their products, which reduces product development cycle times and R&D costs.

Control cabinet power supplies and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) are evolving to include more functionality and higher-level intelligence.

The power supply of the future should be intelligent enough to communicate with the systems it powers. It should be able to identify when conditions such as internal temperature, fan failure or input voltage are not normal and alert you of the problem. It should also be able to remotely control and monitor all functions within the system including the UPS.

Uninterruptible power supplies provide backup power in the event of grid failure, allowing equipment to continue operating for a time until it can be shut down safely. There are many different types of UPS systems, ranging from simple to highly sophisticated. However, they all require some form of energy storage to maintain a power source. This energy can be stored in many ways, from rechargeable batteries to kinetic energy using heavy flywheels. In the case of a UPS, the most reliable topology is an online double conversion system that provides a constant voltage to equipment even when utility power is interrupted.

BLOCK’s IO-Link capable power supplies can be connected to the field devices they power and offer advanced functionality and communication capabilities that enable you to easily manage your systems from the control room. With a range of sizes, ratings and connections, there’s a power supply to meet the requirements of any application. The IP67-rated Emparro67 is the ideal power supply for control cabinets. It reduces installation time, makes your panel smaller and cuts power losses by using a higher voltage that requires less current to achieve the same runtime.

More information is becoming available on power supplies.

Modern control systems rely on sophisticated power backup systems to operate fire alarms, emergency responder communications repeaters, emergency lighting and security/access control systems. These systems require a high degree of reliability and must communicate Microwave sensor manufacturers their status to the system designer even when line power fails or is compromised.

Traditionally, power supplies have relied on analog signals to communicate with the control systems that use them. However, the control systems they serve are now predominately digital, making it difficult for a non-intelligent power supply to communicate effectively with a digital device.

Intelligent power supplies are being designed with intelligence built in to make communication between the two devices easier. For example, some power supplies are able to provide real-time digital information such as input and output voltages, internal temperature, fan operation, logged power-on hours and a host of other attributes.

Using this information, the control system can monitor the health of the power supply, which is important for a control cabinet that houses multiple power supplies. For example, if one power supply’s internal temperature gets too high, it will send a signal to the control system that the power supply needs attention. The control system can then shut down the affected power supply to prevent overheating and potentially damaging the rest of the control cabinet. The same approach can also be used to monitor battery charging.

Power supplies are becoming more programmable.

As power supplies move from analog to digital devices, they need to be able to communicate with the systems they serve. They also need to respond quickly to changing conditions. To achieve this, programmable power supplies are becoming more intelligent.

The key to this intelligence is a microcontroller-based PWM (pulse width modulation) generator. This enables the controller to generate a high-speed clock that can drive the gate-drive logic of an IGBT in the power supply, reducing switching losses and increasing the speed at which the IGBTs switch. This increases efficiency and reduces heat, allowing the power supply to be smaller and more compact.

Another key technology in the smart power supply is silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs, which are enabling more power density and more efficiency in the same package. This technology also allows the power supply to be more programmable and faster in response to changes in load and output voltage.

The ability to program the DC power output can be an important feature for many applications. This can help to improve stability and accuracy, as well as allow for better product integration and monitoring of real-time values for troubleshooting and optimization. In addition, the use of development tools like LTspice and LTpowerCAD can also be helpful in making the process of designing a power supply more efficient and effective.

Control cabinet power supplies and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) are becoming more flexible.

Power supplies are being made more flexible for mounting on the machine. This saves cabinet space and cuts power losses. It also makes for a more reliable system because critical voltage drops that occur when long cables run from the power supply to field devices are eliminated.

This allows control systems to operate safely and with a higher degree of accuracy. Power supplies Intelligent power supply mounted on the machine also help to reduce wiring expenses, since the power supply can be placed directly next to the output appliances.

Many power supply manufacturers are providing more intelligence in their products, but they have been doing so in a piecemeal manner. This has increased development costs and lengthened time-to-market cycles for the end user.

For example, some power supplies can be used as line circuit breakers, and a PLC or industrial PC can be connected to the power supply via a compatible interface. This allows individual channels to be controlled and switched remotely. This is a valuable feature for machines that are located in remote facilities where the reliability of electric utility power may be questionable.

Some UPSs can be configured with SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) connectivity through an internal plug in card or an external adapter. This allows the UPS to be monitored from an administrative computer on the network. This can detect conditions that warrant attention, such as a loss of battery power or an overheated condition.