Precision DC Sources for High Current Measurements and Processes

摘要

High frequency power conversion has, over the last decade, been brought firmly into the area of high current dc sources. The reduced net losses from conversion efficiency improvements have two areas of impact. Firstly, smaller lighter equipment is available for high current (multi-kA) applications. Secondly, a high level of precision is available when careful attention is applied to the thermal stability of control systems and related issues. As a result, precision current injection is now finding increased applications in many areas of testing, measurement and process control. The testing and measurement applications are especially relevant as the combination of portable equipment and precision output enables objective and quantitative quality assurance tests to be simply applied to substantial critical components such as circuit breakers (1-10kA) on railway traction supplies and emergency power systems. In the laboratory, high levels of stability (ppm per hour) permit simple, reliable calibration of high current measurement devices. Processes such as electroplating have benefited from accurate process control and there are emergent applications in the forensic analysis of wiring and proof testing of new installations.