US 12,249,470 B2
Method and apparatus for energy harvesting from a current source
Alireza Tajfar, Northbrook, IL (US); and Todd W. Klippel, Oak Park, IL (US)
Assigned to S&C Electric Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by S&C Electric Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jun. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/834,975.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/220,288, filed on Jul. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0010600 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. H01H 33/666 (2006.01); H02J 3/46 (2006.01); H02M 3/335 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 33/6661 (2013.01) [H01H 33/6662 (2013.01); H02J 3/46 (2013.01); H02M 3/33507 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
17. An energy harvesting circuit for harvesting energy from a power line to provide power to an actuator to close a vacuum interrupter, the energy harvesting circuit comprising:
an input film capacitor electrically coupled to the power line and storing power therefrom;
a flyback converter including a primary coil and a secondary coil;
a switching circuit electrically coupled in series with the primary coil and the combination of the primary coil and the switching circuit being electrically coupled in parallel with the input capacitor, the switching circuit being operable to electrically connect and disconnect the input capacitor to and from the primary coil, the switching circuit including an input voltage regulation feedback circuit for regulating an input voltage provided to the switching circuit from the input capacitor;
an output film capacitor electrically coupled to the secondary coil and the actuator, the output capacitor being charged by the secondary coil when the switching circuit is closed to provide power to the actuator to close the vacuum interrupter; and
a voltage clamp circuit for controlling the output voltage of the output capacitor, the voltage clamp circuit including a MOSFET switch and a microcontroller, wherein when the sensed output voltage of the output capacitor reaches a predetermined setpoint, the microcontroller turns on the MOSFET switch, which prevents the power converter from further charging the output capacitor.