Advance Power System New Technology Report

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Energy conservation specifies the reduction of power used for lighting. One High Efficiency standard is the Compact Fluorescent Light. The High Efficiency, Low Voltage Adapter, Load and Method exceed the above standard by 15 percent, and connect multiple luminaire to one adapter at a lower per unit cost. The APS Lite Adapter isolates an instantaneous DC voltage power pulse from the AC high voltage line by a Patented Method. The Method is 99% efficient as it limits phase conduction within the latter half transition of one alternate DC half cycle. At this point a conduction angle is isolated within a narrow range of 16 degrees. Within this range the luminance of the connected Low Voltage Load is made equal to a conventional lamp. The RMS power the pulse carries, is 10 percent of the power required to drive a conventional lamp.

Typical APS Lite installation requires a spliced miniature adapter containing the solid state power processing circuit, and a matched lamp. This results in a general efficiency increase shown in the charts below.

Utility company data was used to chart the Inventors' household cost savings over the course of a year. The following cost analysis breakdown compares a conventional 100 watt lamp to an APS Lite luminaire computed over one year of continuous illumination.

Standard 100 Watt Lamp at 1750 lumens x 8760 Hours = 876,000 Watts.
876 Kilowatt-hours x $0.12648 per Kilowatt-hour = costs $110.79 per year.
APS Lite luminaire at 9.09 Watts at 1750 lumens.
79.62 Kilowatt-hours x $0.12648 per Kilowatt-hour = costs $9.97 per year.
COST REDUCTION=$100.82

Based upon the above, the value of a single APS Lite luminaire over a service life of five years is $500.00, minus initial cost of purchase and lamp replacement. As shown, there is an innovative cost reduction for the consumer use of a single lamp, if long term computations are made.

The LVs Load embodied in this Patent is a conventional Low Voltage medium base bulb designed for industrial service. The material characteristics of Low Voltage lamps are low voltage and low resistance. The load resistance is calculated by V 2 / W. The High Efficiency data herein pertain to the match of a 30 volt 50 watt medium base lamp, as the 18 Ohm resistance and low voltage of this lamp will yield results in the 90% range of High Efficiency rating. A specifically engineered luminaire may improve the light output, lower the wattage, or extend service life.

In practice a method of preventing the accidental application of AC line voltage to such a lamp is desirable. A permanently connected chip at the lamp base is one method. Another method is a Pellet package inserted into the fixture, and a shortened bulb base. The short bulb base will not contact the line voltage in the fixture without the Pellet installed first. A pellet chip that fits under the bulb base can be reused when the bulb expires. Further, the Pellet can be made in a range of brightness. Alternatively the circuit can be housed in a plug- in module that allows the connection of free standing lamps. These ideas are herein illustrated.

One may conceive the High Efficiency, Low Voltage Adapter can be installed as a single lamp and dual lamp unit. The Adapter is spliced at a junction box, or replacing the wall switch as shown below. Also a fixture composed of threaded base that screws into conventional lamp fixture and receives the lamp, all weather package, or featuring other consumer novelties such as computer control, touch switch, timers and more. APS technology can also be applied to existing products that contain an incandescent lamp and desire a competitive energy efficiency rating, such as tensor lamp, track light, outdoor low voltage lighting and other illuminated appliances. Furthermore, the connected lamp L1 need not be incandescent, L1 may be a low voltage Halogen, Mercury or other type of luminaire or motor adaptable to the Method.

The information below clarifies and expands on USS Patent No. 5,463,307. A theoretical solid state transformer can transform source voltage to a secondary voltage, completely alleviating the losses associated with inductive devices. An example is, reducing voltage 50% permits' the connection of a matched voltage load expecting an output equal to that of a conventional voltage load. The efficiency increase wanted is 50%, rather than 50%-15% inductive loss = 35%. The use of solid state components to simulate a step down transformer supply a secondary voltage, with the stability of a transformer, transforms line voltage at 99% efficiency. This Method of conservation is a fundamental advance in the supply or distribution of electric power, and as such presents an advancement in the field of power delivery systems. Low Voltage Source power may be in the 90% range with a matched Load, without any reduction in output. Referring to text book AC theory, a sine wave consists of 360 degrees of phasors, also known as conduction angles. Applying only one phasor supplies the voltage pulse described in theory above. The leading edge of the pulse formed by such conduction is a high intensity instantaneous conduction of electrons. When conduction is held to a precise static angle, one phasor at XXX.XX degrees is conducted.

A Low Voltage Adapter circuit supplies this DC voltage and current uni-polar power pulse, isolated from the AC source high voltage. The Method limits a switching means conduction angles within the latter half transition of an alternate DC cycle. The switching means is triggered by a precision timing circuit featuring a timing capacitor charge limiting resistor. The resistor limits the voltage to the capacitor, thus the available conduction angles the switching means can supply. The resulting uni-polar power pulse supplied, is consistently limited below the maximum rated power of the matched Low Voltage Load. The Method eliminates AC source transient voltage interaction and noise, which causes undesirable triggering and fluctuation of the recurrent conduction angle of an isolated uni-polar pulse above or below the static conduction angle.

Source voltage supplied by a single phasor is more effective than the Average voltage associated with it. A low voltage applied at an instantaneous rate of rise can raise the molecules in an incandescent lamp to the maximum level of excitation. The load connected to this system is low in voltage rating, compared to the line voltage, as the specified conduction angle actually carries a small average voltage. The result is a doubling of the light output of the load. Further, the method conducts DC or uni-polar pulses. A bi-polar pulse consists of two identical current pulses of opposite polarity per cycle. Eliminating one current pulse decreases dissipated power fifty percent. Additionally, the second pulse may arrive before the full release of energy. This discounts the energy released by the second bi-polar current pulse.With pure resistive loads such as lamp filaments, the heating of the load and light emission continues after the phasor ends. (see diagram) This further reduces the power by half that of conventional AC pulses. The matched lamp requires less than ninety percent of the power commonly expended while emitting twice the original rated light level of the specified lamp.

Power decrease, and heating in the Low Voltage lamp filament begin immediately after peak power is reached, extending Low Voltage lamp filament life to standard expectations or better. The supplied Low Voltage is herein known as LVs (low voltage source), as the supplied pulse has an average voltage, that raised to the power LVs 1.4, in the 100 watt examples, is the maximum advertised rated voltage of the connected Low Voltage Load.

Since the instantaneous voltage of the leading edge of the pulse is higher than what is measured, it can overvoltage a load even though the average voltage as measured is below the rated voltage of the load. In the present embodiment of the Invention the DC switching means is timed to conduct, within a range of 150.xx degrees to 168.xx degrees, to fix the luminance of a Low Voltage lamp to that of an equivalent conventional lamp.

Capacitive filters eliminate spurious fluctuation in the recurrent accuracy of an isolated conduction angle. The filters must function perfectly as variation in recurrent conduction angle that results in a perceptible luminance fluctuation at a logarithmic rate, from an approximate low of five to a high of 55 foot candle increase or decrease per tenth of a degree. Therefore, the selected conduction angle must reoccur with a tolerance of .1 degrees of conduction. This precision circuit design requirement provides consistent photometric brightness.

At an isolated phase conduction angle of 151.1 degrees shown in the angle of conduction diagram, at point a, the values are 12.3 average VDC and .6 average ADC. Conducting the uni-polar power pulse through said LV Load at 60 pulses per second, results in a 1750 foot candle measurement from the luminaire. This is equivalent to conventional 100 watt lamp advertised initial lumens. The power used is 7.38 watts. A conservative rate (RMS factor) is obtained by multiplying the average voltage and average ampere measurement by RMS factor 1.11 and calculating wattage as V(1.11) x I(1.11) = W. The result of the computation is 9.09 RMS watts, or a conservative 90% rate of conservation of power.

As in b, at 152.0o,10.81VDC x .57 ADC = 7.58 Watts, emitting 1190 FC, equivalent to a 75 Watt conventional lamp.

As in c, at 158.7o, 9.28 VDC x .50 ADC = 5.66 Watts, emitting 870 FC, equivalent to a 60 Watt conventional lamp.

As in d, at 159.7o, 8.85 VDC x .48 ADC = 5.2 Watts, emitting 810 FC, equivalent to a 50 Watt conventional lamp.

As in e, at 162.5o, 7.69 VDC x .45 ADC = 4.17 Watts, emitting 505 FC, equivalent to a 40 Watt conventional lamp.

As in f, at 167.6o, 5.42 VDC x .36 ADC = 2.34 Watts, emitting 190 FC, equivalent to a 25 Watt conventional lamp.

The above calculations are of the conservative type.

The means of accomplishing a range of luminance in the present embodiment of the Invention is illustrated as a rotary switch SW1 selecting various precision timing resistors. Each resistor corresponds to one of the above stated isolated conduction angles. Manual selection can emit the range of above luminance from one luminaire. A filter capacitor connected to the gate and cathode of the SCR eliminates false triggering. The connection of a series resistor-capacitor filter across the AC terminals eliminates the probability of AC power switch interaction, (bounce transients) causing SCR tracking of the AC source high voltage.

Other secondary Method circuit features enhance the supply of a stable LVs by eliminating source supply, transient induced, conduction angle "jitter". The SCR is triggered by a uni-junction transistor. The UJT is itself triggered by a precision capacitive-resistive timing circuit connected to the emitter of the UJT. The UJT has a "boot strap" capacitor coupled between base two and the emitter. Also, a temperature compensating resistor is connected between supply voltage and UJT base two. Further, the LV Load is connected to the cathode terminal of the SCR while the anode connects to the hot terminal of AC source voltage supply. This feature removes the LVs Load from the power supply of UJT and supplies the LVs Load through the SCR.

A pilot SCR and SCR array provide versatility in power handling capability. Increasing array size will match power handling capability to a heavy demand. The addition of stages facilitates large increases. See Figure 2. Pilot SCRs may require voltage and current adjustment appropriate to the array common gate. A voltage dropping resistor is connected between AC source voltage and the anode. A current limiting resistor is connected between SCR array common gate and return side. Multiple LVs Loads may require advanced protection from circuit component failure overvoltage. Fuse protection is shown in Figure 1, 2 below. The protection may be augmented with a "crowbar" overvoltage circuit.

The UJT is characterized for SCR trigger circuits to ensure reliable operation. Anticipated transient voltages probable in AC distribution grids may cause undesirable triggering. The UJT triggering device embodies features that eliminate interaction within the timing circuit. One known technique for decoupling against line voltage transients acting on the uni-junction transistor use of "bootstrap capacitor" between base two and the emitter of the uni-junction transistor. The result is positive or negative transients on the uni-junction supply voltage will not trigger the UJT. A further step is, inclusion of resistor between voltage source and UJT. The resistor is primarily intended for temperature compensation.

Another feature eliminates SCR triggering due to maximum transient voltage interaction between anode and cathode. If the slope of any pulse applied to the SCR is greater than this (dv/dt) the SCR probably will turn on. To avoid undesirable triggering from sudden transient voltage, a 0.05 uf capacitor may be connected from the gate to the cathode.

A further feature is connection of the LVs Load in the return side. This step removes the LVs Load from power supply of timing circuit. This feature anticipates the probability of the LVs Load interaction shifting critical timing requirements thus altering the conducted voltage.

The high conduction angle of the switching means compounds conduction faults occurring due to over heating of the thyristor junction, if the SCR is switched from a high blocking voltage. The APS power control circuits employ thyristors connected in parallel, improving stability in this respect. An array arrangement allows a pilot SCR or other control element of minimal power rating and cost to become the timing circuit of a larger array of SCRs, thereby increasing effective power handling capacity to any level desired. Referring to Figure 1, a single lamp, High Efficiency, Low Voltage Adapter circuit is shown employing a switching means having thyristor SCRl and a pulse timing means having semiconductor device Q1. Device Q1 is an unijunction transistor, NTE 6401. Q1 has base one connected through resistor R3 to voltage low side T1 and directly to the gate of SCR1. R3 sets the trigger pulse voltage, to the SCR gate. The base two of Q1 connects through the serial combination of resistors R1 and R2 to terminal T2. R1 drops AC source voltage to the supply voltage of the timing circuit. R2 serves to compensate Q1 with thermal variations. Variable resistor R5 connects through the limiting resistor R6 between junction of resistors R1 and R2 to the emitter of Q1. A capacitive element C2 connects between the base two of Q1 and its emitter. C2 "Boot Strap" capacitor serves to prevent Q1 from triggering on positive or negative transients in the supply voltage. A precision timing capacitor C1 connects between the emitter of Q1 and terminal T1.

Resistors R1, R6 and R5 referred to as a resistive divider, with precision capacitor C1 constitute a resistive capacitive network that operates as a precision timing circuit. Variable resistor R5 can be replaced with a rotary switch SWl in which case its wiper connects to the emitter of Q1 and its switched terminals separately connect through precision resistors Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd to junction of resistors R1 and R2 through R6 to select one of several isolated conduction angles. In other embodiments variable resistor R5 can be replaced with a low inductance, precision fixed resistor element, selecting the conduction angle of the Low Voltage Adapter at a non adjustable value.

Semiconductor SCR1 is shown as a SCR thyristor having its anode connected to terminal T2 and its cathode connected to terminal T1. SCRl is a SCR having an on-state current of 6-8 amps and a peak reverse voltage of 600 volts maximum, although other component values are anticipated depending upon the environment. The gate electrode of SCR1 connects to first terminal T1 through capacitive filter C3.

The filter means shown herein is a resistor-capacitor circuit employing resistor R4 and capacitor C4, which are serially connected between terminals T1 and T2. The filter eliminates switching (bounce) interaction that in probability causes SCR tracking of AC source voltage. The filter is required as SW2 is a mechanical power switch. First terminal T1 connects a single LVs load L1, whose other terminal connects to the low side of AC source high voltage VS. The hot side of source VS connects through mechanical power switch SW2 to terminal T2. It is advantageous to connect L1 to the cathode of SCRl and connect power switch SW2 at the anode of the SCR circuit. This latter configuration avoids the effects of noise and other interference that may adversely affect the thyristor and recurrent timing. AC source high voltage VS may be conventional AC high voltage operating at nominally 115 VAC, 60 HZ.

Precision resistors Ra, Rb, Rc, and Rd are chosen to provide a graduated luminance range from L1 equivalent to the luminance of conventional lamp powered by conventional AC source high voltage. The illustrated range is; 100 watt, 75 watt, 60 watt, 50 watt, 40 watt, 25 watt. The luminance output can be increased above the illustrated 100 watt luminance. Further, the graduated luminance provided may be in non conventional ratings. The conduction angle range is represented by interval an in Figure 4 wherein voltage applied to L1 starts at zero, then instantaneously increases to peak voltage b and diminishes to zero. L1 is a low voltage incandescent lamp rated at 30 volts. Since AC source power VS is rated 115 VAC, the high voltage cannot be directly applied to T1 or the filament of L1 without the consequence of LVs Load over voltage failure. According to the secondary Method, the conduction angle range is fundamentally limited with a DC thyristor. Further with R6, so the isolation of a static conduction angle within the latter half of the DC cycle supplies a power pulse that can not exceed the connected LVs Load maximum voltage rating.

Figure 2, refers to a dual lamp High Efficiency, Low Voltage Adapter, and Load, wherein components having identical reference number as in Figure 1 are the same components configured identically with respect to terminals T1 and T2 as before. The operation of the dual lamp High Efficiency, Low Voltage Adapter, and Load circuit of Figure 2 is identical to that described before. The exception is that upon the triggering of uni-junction transistor Ql, its base one triggers gate of pilot SCR, SCR3, which conducts through R7 to trigger gates of array SCRs, SCR5 and SCR7. Since SCR3 does not carry the main power, it can have a relatively small rating and therefore a relatively small amount of signal energy is provided by Ql to trigger SCR3. An amplified trigger signal is provided by SCR3 that is capable of triggering the main thyristors SCR5 and SCR7 thus supplying L1 and L2. As before, capacitors C5 and C6 provide stability and noise immunity for the thyristor gate. Precision resistors R a, b, c, and d function identically as in Figure 1 through SW1. Where a parallel SCR array is shown, a larger array may be connected. While parallel SCRs SCR15 and SCR17 are shown, an array of multiple high power (35-55 amp and above) SCRs is possible. While a bank of lamps L1-L3 is shown, multiple stage switching can handle heavy lines of lamps. Also high voltage, current and phase combinations required to power, various large electromagnetic devices or architectural lighting. Such applications of the Invention may require a "crowbar" LVs Load protection circuit.

The basic package that most are familiar with is shown to the right. This is the same as the familiar DIMMER. There is but one exception. There need not be a provision for dimming the lamp. Rather than that there is a simple on/off switch, as if this were an ordinary lamp switch. Of course all consumer extras can be added to this sort of device. However, this one package is capable of reducing electric power cost to an astonishing level.

The installation of this device is as simple as shown or the right. The existing switch is replaced and the existing lamp. The owner can now enjoy Super High Efficiency lighting for as long as the expendable elements of the product are available. This conventional design would be cost effective. Competing Compact Fluorescent lamps manufacturing costs are at this point now. Once this product is available the demand for more expensive products is certain to be curtailed. Further, as a glimpse into the future, technology progress could eventually incorporate the circuit into the bulb base itself. The cost can become so low, as to make the entire device and lamp disposable. One must be aware that then, conventional incandescent lamps as we know them will be obsolete.

Regarding the above circuitry, this is not the entirety of the invention or the product. The concept of supplying power in an electronic method to the matched low voltage load is the key. Every fundamental energy to work producing device can benefit if the components are matched to operate with this Method. Even very large motors or entire rooms of lamps can be operated in this way. The circuit means required may vary considerably with the demand, but the voltage pulse(s) and the efficiency with which it is delivered does not change. This is the intent of the APS Patent. This opens the door to an entire new technology in which power efficiency can prevail. The most encouraging part of this is that very little change is required in the devices the Method powers. A general reduction of the operating voltage and current is the object of making energy efficiency available in all appliances.

Residential lighting generally expends about 10% of the total residential electrical demand. This demand is 103.12 Billion Kilowatt-hours derived from the table below. 92.8 Billion Kilowatt-hours can be conserved by retrofitting incandescent lighting with a product that operates at a 90% High Efficiency rate. Projecting market saturation in the Residential lighting sector, at $0.12648 a Kilowatt-hour, $11.737 Billion can be conserved.

U.S. Electricity Supply: (Billion Kilowatt-hours)
Year 1994.... 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1994 1995
Demand: (Supplied by Electric Utilities)
Residential....279.4....229.8...272.3....241.5....1023.1......1031.2
Commercial..197.1....196.3...225.5....203.6......822.4........855.1
Industrial......244.1....252.6...263.7....255.3....1015.7......1027.51

1. Sources: Historical data: Energy Information Administration, Monthly Energy Review, and Electric Power Monthly.

Above is the APS Lite Energy Audit Worksheet for the homeowner. This form allows the consumer to calculate the amount of savings that installing APS Lite products will deliver. The customer performs the audit and decide how many units to purchase and how much of a reduction in the electric costs can be expected.

This is the target market for APS Super High Efficiency products. The wide use of APS technology can decrease the consumption of fuel at power plants, and reduce the load on such plants reducing maintenance costs. However, presently there is no alternative other than expensive and possible toxic chemical gas and experimental high energy means. These of course have no place in the household. APS technology completely avoids the problems inherent in chemical process, and instead processes the energy with which AC power is constituted. This is a safe and chemical free "green" technology.

Evidently the full availability of APS technology provides an alternative to the most common forms of conventional energy conservation today. The innovative method can eventually be applied to almost every appliance and industrial process. Further research as to the most inexpensive and reliable electronic circuit possible with todays technology will soon make this product available to the public. As the cost to manufacture and distribute these product decreases, it might render most common household devices obsolete based upon their inherent cost of power consumption.

Production Cost and Comparison
The electronic circuit and lamp have cost considerations. As with most electronic devices, the cost will almost always fall in mass production. The APS circuit shown herein uses a unijunction transistor that is now discontinued by most makers. The cost has increased from one dollar to over six dollars. However, this circuit can be modified with regards to the timing circuit. Using cheaper components will result in a substantial cost reduction. The use of a programmable unijunction transistor is the next manufacturers recommended transistor. Silicon bilateral switches may also be considered. APS is presently examining the use of optical switches coupled to logic devices generally intended for high power industrial use.

Other products now on the market have a similar circuit attached to a lamp. This approach can of course be used here. The selling price of this product is five dollars. However the efficiency gain is not comparable. With a estimated target price of a single lamp and adapter at about five dollars the competition is the well known compact fluorescent lamp. There are two styles of this lamp available. The large style is bulky and cannot fit in most fixtures and sells for ten dollars. A second design sells for twenty dollars and can be received by most fixtures. The efficiency of the APS product is higher than fluorescent lamps. The matter of the mercury contained within such products leaking into a household with children may be persuasive to the domestic market. Further, the safe low voltage of the adapter excludes any fears of a shock hazard and may be essential in some commercial installations.

The above document in no way grants or transfers any right to make, use, or sell the described product or technology or include any part in an existing product or technology for any commercial purpose.
© Advance Power System 1966