Abstract: A system includes first and second dam modules, a power generation unit, and first and second turbine modules. The first dam module can be secured to a foundation of a dam site and redirect a first flow of water. The second dam module can be secured to the first dam module opposite the foundation and redirect a second flow of water. The first turbine module can be secured to the foundation. The second turbine module can be secured to the first turbine module opposite the foundation. The power generation unit includes a turbine to be driven by a third flow of water at least partially including at least one of the first flow of water or the second flow of water. The first turbine module includes a draft tube having an inlet to receive water from the turbine and an outlet to discharge water from the first turbine module.

Abstract: A reactive power system comprises a plurality of electrical capacitor banks, with each electrical capacitor bank electrically connected in series with an electrical switch. The electrical switches may be electrically connected to a system such as, for example, an electrical induction motor starter system. A controller is coupled with the motor starter system and each of the electrical switches. The controller, in response to receiving a signal from the motor starter system, determines which of the plurality of electrical capacitor banks from which electrical power should be provided for the motor starter system. For the determined or identified electrical capacitor bank(s), the controller identifies the corresponding electrical switch(es) and communicates a signal to close the switch(es). Closing the switches results in the capacitors in the corresponding electrical capacitor banks to be electrically connected to the motor starter system and to provide current to the motor starter system.

Abstract: A system includes at least one generator coupled to an island grid, at least one energy storage unit and at least one converter coupled to the at least one energy storage unit and configured to be coupled to the island grid. The system further includes a control circuit configured to cause the at least one converter to transfer power between the at least one energy storage unit and the grid responsive to a change in a load on the island grid to maintain operation of the at least one generator at a predetermined operating point. The at least one generator may include a control system configured to match generator output to the load and the control circuit may be configured to maintain the control system of the at least one generator within a predetermined dynamic response capability limit responsive to the change in the load.

Abstract: Techniques for datacenter power management using dynamic redundancy are disclosed. A power control switch is configured to selectively apply power to one or two power cords of a dual-corded electronic apparatus. When the power control switch energizes both power cords, the electronic apparatus operates in 2N redundancy. When the power control switch energizes only one of the power cords, the electronic apparatus operates in 1N redundancy. The power control switch is configured to dynamically change the redundancy mode based on service level agreement (SLA) criteria, power policies, power supply and demand, and environmental factors.

Abstract: A circuit assembly for a power converter includes power stage blocks and heat-dissipating substrate. A power stage block includes a power stage IC die, an output inductor that is connected to a switch node of the power stage IC die, and capacitors that form an output capacitor of the power stage block. The output capacitors of the power stage blocks are symmetrically arranged. The output inductors can be placed on the same side of the substrate as the power stage IC dies, or on a side of the substrate that is opposite to the side where the power stage IC dies are disposed. A power stage block may generate two output phases of the power converter.

Abstract: Electrical power is dynamically managed among one or more power sources and one or more loads. A plurality of monitor nodes is connected to an input terminal connected to each source, and to an output terminal connected to each load. A plurality of electrical power storage cells is connected among the input and output terminals, each cell being capable of storing power from at least one of the sources and being capable of discharging stored power to at least one of the loads. A plurality of controllable switches is connected to the cells. A programmed controller dynamically monitors operating conditions at the monitor nodes during operation of each source and each load, and selectively dynamically controls the switches to interconnect the cells in different circuit topologies in response to the monitored operating conditions.

Abstract: A system includes a converter configured to be coupled between an energy storage unit and a grid and a control circuit configured to detect frequency and voltage variations of the grid and to responsively cause the converter to transfer power and reactive components to and/or from the grid. The control circuit may implement a power control loop having an inner frequency control loop and a reactive component control loop having an inner voltage control loop. The control circuit may provide feedforward from the inner frequency control loop to the inner voltage control loop to inhibit reactive component transfer in response to a voltage variation deviation of the grid due to a power transfer between the energy storage unit and the grid.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine-based system includes an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine-based system includes an engine interrupt connected to the engine. The engine interrupt is configured to selectively stop the operation of the engine. The internal combustion engine-based system includes a controller in communication with the engine interrupt. The internal combustion engine-based system includes a carbon monoxide detector in communication with the controller. The controller uses the engine interrupt to stop the operation of the engine when the carbon monoxide detector provides the controller with signals that are representative of a carbon monoxide level proximate the internal combustion engine that together form a trend of building carbon monoxide amounts over a set time interval.

Abstract: A control circuit and method for a voltage converter. The control circuit having a ramp circuit, a reference generating circuit, a comparison circuit and a logic circuit. The ramp circuit generates a ramp signal that decreases from the moment the power switch is turned off and increases from the moment the power switch is turned on. The reference generating circuit generates a reference voltage. The comparison circuit compares the reference voltage with the sum of the feedback voltage and the ramp signal to generate a comparison signal. The logic circuit uses the comparison signal and a clock signal to generate the control signal to control a power switch of the voltage converter.

Abstract: A load shed module configured to be connected in series between a power supply and a load is disclosed. A separate load shed module is connected in series between each load and the power supply. The load shed module determines the frequency of the voltage supplied from the power supply. Based on the frequency, the load shed module determines if utility power is connected or if a generator is connected. If the generator is connected and the frequency of the voltage goes outside of a desired operating range for a preset time, the load shed module disconnects the load from the power supply. Each load shed module includes a priority setting and reconnects its corresponding load after a predetermined time corresponding to the priority setting.

Abstract: A power supply covering both power sharing and power backup functions run in a more efficient and flexible way. The power supply adopts a power sharing converter coupled between a first bus terminal and a second bus terminal, so that if one of the bus terminals provides insufficient power, the other bus terminal kicks in by way of the power sharing converter to provide power support. In addition, a storage capacitor may also kick in to provide power support if one of the bus terminals provide insufficient power via or not via the power sharing converter.

Abstract: A voltage regulator has a switching circuit and a control circuit. The switching circuit provides an output voltage and an output current. The control circuit provides a switching control signal to the switching circuit to adjust the output voltage, such that the output voltage decreases with a first slope as the output current increases when the output current is less than a first current level, the output voltage decreases with a second slope as the output current increases when the output current is larger than the first current level and is less than a second current level, and the output voltage decreases with a third slope as the output current increases when the output current is larger than the second current level.

Abstract: A smart communication interface for a LED driving system driving a LED matrix having a plurality of LEDs. The smart communication interface may have a data write transaction structure in write mode. The data write transaction structure includes an address code for identifying a corresponding one LED among the plurality of LEDs; an R/W indicating code for indicating whether the smart communication interface is in write mode; and a grayscale command code for indicating a programmed grayscale command value for the corresponding one LED identified by the address code. The smart communication interface may include a data read transaction structure in read mode. The data read transaction structure includes the address code, the R/W indicating code and a grayscale read-back code for indicating a grayscale command value for the corresponding one LED identified by the address code.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip includes a copper structure with an intermetallic coating on the surface. The IC chip includes a substrate with an integrated circuit. A metal pad electrically connects to the integrated circuit. The copper structure electrically connects to the metal pad. A solder bump is disposed on the copper structure. The surface of the copper structure has a coating of intermetallic. The copper structure can be a redistribution layer and a copper pillar that is disposed on the redistribution layer.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of power converters, a plurality of energy storage systems, a first common node, a second common node, and zero-reference voltage node. Each power converter is coupled between one energy storage system and the first and second common nodes. The system operates to regulate power between the power converters and the first and second common nodes. Each power converter is a bi-directional power converter and each energy storage system is a battery pack. In one example, the first common node is regulated to a voltage VSPAN, and the second common node is regulated to a voltage VSCN which is the mean of all voltages output by the battery packs. In another example, the first common node is regulated to a voltage ?VSPAN, and the second common node is regulated to a voltage +VSPAN. No power converter processes more than voltage VSPAN yielding high-efficiency power conversion.

Abstract: A current sensing system uses a Hall effect device. A conductor carrying a target current is shaped in a way such that two regions with opposite magnetic field directions crossed there through are created at a silicon die which contains the Hall effect devices placed in a mirror way. The Hall effect devices react the magnetic field to generate a Hall voltage when a bias current is applied, which is then processed by a process circuit and an operational unit, so that a differential signal indicative of the target current is generated.

Abstract: Multi-level data center using consolidated power control is disclosed. One or more controllers communicate with one or more power supplies and sensors to adapt to dynamic load requirements and to distribute DC-power efficiently across multiple IT racks. The distributed DC-power includes one or more DC-voltages. Batteries can be temporarily switched into a power supply circuit to supplement the power supply during spikes in power load demand while a controller reconfigures power supplies to meet the new demand. One or more DC-to-AC converters handle legacy power loads. The DC-to-AC converters are modular and are paralleled for redundancy. The DC-to-AC converters are sourced from the one or more AC-to-DC converters. The AC power is synchronized for correct power flow control. The one or more controllers communicate with the one or more AC-power supplies to dynamically allocate AC-power from the DC-to-AC converters to the multiple legacy IT racks.

Abstract: A circuit assembly for a power converter includes power stage blocks and heat-dissipating substrate. A power stage block includes a power stage IC die, an output inductor that is connected to a switch node of the power stage IC die, and capacitors that form an output capacitor of the power stage block. The output capacitors of the power stage blocks are symmetrically arranged. The output inductors can be placed on the same side of the substrate as the power stage IC dies, or on a side of the substrate that is opposite to the side where the power stage IC dies are disposed. A power stage block may generate two output phases of the power converter.