Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided herein. For example, a method for maintaining a power conversion system can include transmitting, to a computing apparatus in operable communication with the power conversion system, an alert message indicating non-working microinverters and which of the non-working microinverters are under warranty and eligible for replacement; receiving, from the computing apparatus, a request for replacement for the non-working microinverters; and transmitting, to the computing apparatus, an acknowledgment message indicating that the request has been successfully received and replacements for the non-working microinverters are being shipped.

Abstract: A partial-resonant converter is provided herein and comprises a partial resonant link formed by a magnetizing link inductor connected in parallel with a first capacitor on a primary winding side of a transformer and a second capacitor on a secondary winding side of the transformer, a pair of series connected switches coupled across the magnetizing link inductor and the first capacitor, and a plurality of forward conducting bidirectional blocking switches that connect an input source and an output load to the magnetizing link inductor during operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning an alternative energy source generator operable with a gateway in communication with a web portal are provided herein. In one embodiment, the method includes entering system information into the gateway, and transmitting the system information to the web portal. The method also includes validating the system information, determining configuration information for the alternative energy source generator in response to validation of the system information, and transmitting the configuration information to the gateway. The method also includes initiating a discovery process to ascertain discovery information for the alternative energy source generator in response to the configuration information, and transmitting the discovery information to the web portal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for active EMI cancellation in a switch mode power supply are provided herein. For example, an apparatus comprises an active EMI cancellation circuit coupled to a switch mode power supply circuit comprising an isolation transformer, wherein the active EMI cancellation circuit is positioned such that current flow through an EMI coupling capacitor substantially matches displacement current flow through a primary-to-secondary interwinding capacitance of the isolation transformer.

Abstract: A switched mode power converter is provided herein and comprises a cycloconverter comprising a plurality of switches, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is a native four quadrant bi-directional switch with a common drift region configured to allow current flow in a first direction from a first source terminal to second source terminal and in a second direction from the second source terminal to the first direction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining relative value of loads. In one embodiment the method comprises determining, for a load in a plurality of loads where (i) each load in the plurality has a weight and a value associated with it and (ii) the plurality is operating according to a primary solution where a net weight of all loads with an activated state satisfies a primary threshold, a change in operating state; determining a secondary solution for a subset of loads not including the load having the change, such that a net weight of all loads in the subset with an activated state satisfies a secondary threshold based on the primary threshold; and determining, based on the values of loads in the subset that have operating states in the secondary solution different from their operating states in the primary solution, an updated value for the load having the change.

Abstract: A resonant parallel triple active bridge converter comprising a DC port configured to receive DC energy, an AC port configured to produce AC energy, and an AC line cycle energy storage port, coupled to both the DC port and the AC port, where the AC line cycle energy storage port comprises an energy storage device for storing energy during an energy conversion process.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for load-based primary regulation in a power system. In one embodiment the method comprises receiving information pertaining to each load of a plurality of loads in a power distribution system; generating, using the information, a plurality of combinations of operating states for the plurality of loads that provides a pseudo-linear response for all the plurality of loads; generating a look up table (LUT) that comprises the plurality of combinations of operating states; and transmitting the LUT to each load of the plurality of loads for use by the plurality of loads in primary regulation.

Abstract: A microinverter inverter is provided and comprises an output comprising a four-way connector comprising three power input/output connecters and a voltage monitoring and power line communications connector. The output is configured to connect to an AC cable comprising a rotatable four-way connector comprising three phase wires and a neutral wire which allows the microinverter to operate in at least one of a three-phase grid-tied mode of operation, a three-phase off-grid neutral-forming mode of operation, a two-phase grid-tied mode of operation, a two-phase off-grid neutral-forming mode of operation, or a split-phase and single-phase grid tied and off-grid neutral-forming mode of operation when the microinverter is connected to the AC cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for geotagging components of an energy production and consumption system. A user device captures an identifier of at least one component of an energy production and consumption system, determines location data related to the identifier, where the identifier and location data form geotagging data, and transmits the geotagging data to a network. Upon receiving the geotagging data from the network, a server processes the identifier to determine component information and generates a map comprising an icon for each component positioned within the map at a location derived from the geotagging data.

Abstract: A method and system for AC battery operation. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining, at a battery management unit (BMU) coupled to an AC battery comprising a power converter and a battery that is rechargeable, a bias control voltage that indicates a state of a charge process of the AC battery; and coupling, by a bias control module of the BMU, the bias control voltage to the power converting for communicating the state of the charge process to and from the BMU and the power converter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing helix windings used for a transformer are provided. For example, apparatus comprise an electrically conductive mandrel comprising an elongated body, a head comprising an eyelet detail, and a winding structure disposed along the elongated body.

Abstract: Methods and systems for servicing distributed generators are provided herein. For example, a system for servicing distributed generators comprises a distributed generator comprising a plurality of components, a controller communicatively connected to the plurality of components, and an unmanned aerial vehicle communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of components or the controller for at least one of transmitting and receiving data relating to the plurality of components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating capacity of a system including an energy generation system, an energy storage system or both. The method and apparatus initially estimate the system capacity based on a facility location and size. The initial estimate may be adjusted through adjustment of at least one parameter. An updated capacity estimate is generated and displayed.

Abstract: A method and system for AC battery operation. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining, at a battery management unit (BMU) coupled to an AC battery comprising a power converter and a battery that is rechargeable, a bias control voltage that indicates a state of a charge process of the AC battery; and coupling, by a bias control module of the BMU, the bias control voltage to the power converting for communicating the state of the charge process to and from the BMU and the power converter.

Abstract: Devices for reducing the open circuit voltages of solar systems are described. In one embodiment, a solar system includes a string of a plurality of solar modules having an open circuit voltage. The solar system also includes a device for reducing the open circuit voltage of the string of the plurality of solar modules during an open circuit configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing substrate voltage management is provided herein and comprises an active substrate voltage management circuit configured to be coupled to a substrate of a bidirectional gallium nitride high electron mobility transistor comprising a first source and a second source. The active substrate voltage management circuit comprises a first circuit that is connected to the first source and a second circuit that is connected to a second source such that when the bidirectional gallium nitride high electron mobility transistor is operational one of the first circuit or the second circuit connects one of the first source to the substrate or the second source to the substrate, respectively, to control a bias voltage applied to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting DC power to AC power. For example, apparatus for converting DC power to AC power comprises an input adapted to be coupled to a high-powered distributed generator having a maximum voltage at a first voltage and an arc fault mitigation device, coupled to the input, for providing a second voltage at the input that is lower than the first voltage, where a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is not large enough to cause an arc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling power production. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a predicted weather event; determining a predicted power production impact for a distributed generator (DG) array based on the predicted weather event; and controlling power production from one or more components of the DG array to compensate for the predicted power production impact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling power production. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a predicted weather event; determining a predicted power production impact for a distributed generator (DG) array based on the predicted weather event; and controlling power production from one or more components of the DG array to compensate for the predicted power production impact.