As a core component of a high-voltage DC power supply system, the tethered power supply box (TPS) directly impacts overall power supply performance through its HVDC output efficiency and cable loss balance. In HVDC transmission scenarios, cable losses primarily stem from heat dissipation caused by conductor resistance, while output efficiency is closely related to power conversion, energy distribution, and load adaptability. Achieving a dynamic balance between these two factors requires addressing three dimensions: technical optimization, system design, and operational control.
From a technical optimization perspective, improving the conversion efficiency of the tethered power supply box is key. The conversion efficiency of core HVDC power supply components, such as DC-DC converters and DC-AC inverters, directly impacts energy transmission efficiency. The use of advanced power semiconductors can reduce switching and conduction losses, thereby improving overall power supply efficiency. Furthermore, optimizing the power supply topology, such as adopting a three-level or multi-level architecture, can reduce voltage stress on components and mitigate the impact of switching frequency on losses, thereby lowering current density in the cable while maintaining high efficiency.
In system design, properly planning voltage levels and cable parameters is crucial for balancing efficiency and losses. Line losses in HVDC transmission are proportional to the square of the current and inversely proportional to the voltage. Therefore, increasing the output voltage can significantly reduce cable losses. However, increasing voltage requires balancing equipment insulation capacity, system safety, and cost. Simulation and experimentation are required to determine the optimal voltage range. Furthermore, the selection of cable cross-sections must balance economic efficiency with loss reduction requirements. Cables that are too thick increase costs, while cables that are too thin increase resistance. The economic current density must be calculated based on the transmission distance and load power to ensure that the cables operate within a low-loss range over the long term.
Operational control strategies are crucial for dynamically balancing efficiency and losses. By monitoring load demand in real time, the tethered power supply box can adjust output voltage and current to avoid overloading or overloading. For example, during light loads, the output voltage can be reduced to reduce cable current and thus losses; during heavy loads, the voltage can be increased to maintain efficiency. Furthermore, a distributed power supply architecture, with power supply boxes deployed at load centers, can shorten the power supply radius, reduce cable length, and further reduce losses. Incorporating intelligent algorithms, the system can also predict load changes and proactively adjust output parameters to achieve the optimal balance between efficiency and losses.
Load adaptability is also a key factor in balancing efficiency and losses. A tethered power supply box must be compatible with the voltage and power requirements of different load types to avoid energy waste due to voltage mismatches. Its modular design allows flexible configuration of output parameters to accommodate diverse loads, from drones to industrial equipment. Furthermore, load-side energy regeneration technology feeds energy from braking or deceleration back to the box, reducing reactive power losses and improving overall efficiency.
Environmental adaptability also impacts the efficiency-loss balance. In high-temperature, high-humidity, or heavily polluted environments, the insulation and conductivity of cables degrade, leading to increased losses. Tethered power supply boxes must utilize weather-resistant materials and sealing designs to ensure the cables maintain low resistance even in harsh environments. Furthermore, the power supply box's heat dissipation design must be optimized to prevent efficiency loss and component aging caused by overheating.
Over the long term, maintenance and management strategies have a cumulative impact on the efficiency-loss balance. Regularly testing cable resistance, insulation performance, and connection status can identify and correct potential problems promptly, avoiding additional losses caused by poor contact or insulation aging. At the same time, a line loss monitoring system was established to identify high-loss links through data analysis, providing a basis for technology upgrades and equipment replacement.
Balancing the efficiency of a tethered power supply box's high-voltage DC output and cable loss is a complex issue involving technology, design, control, adaptation, environment, and management. By improving conversion efficiency, optimizing system design, implementing intelligent control, enhancing load adaptation, improving environmental adaptability, and optimizing maintenance and management, efficient and economical energy transmission can be achieved, providing stable and reliable energy support for scenarios such as tethered drone power supply and industrial equipment power supply.
