Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for a circuit breaker. In some examples, control circuitry may be configured to receive sensor data related to a measured current through a first circuit breaker, determine available current based on the received measurement and a maximum current rating, and set a current trip value for the second circuit breaker according to the determined available current. In some examples, control circuitry may be configured to determine a direction of current, control the circuit breaker based on a first threshold when the current is in a first direction, and control the circuit breaker based on a second threshold when the current is in a second direction.

Abstract: Systems and/or methods for mapping power device in a string of serially connected power devices are disclosed herein. A power source may apply a source voltage to a first end of the string. A power system controller coupled to the two ends of the string may send a first signal to the power devices in the string. The power devices in the string, responsive to receiving the first signal, may measure electrical characteristics of the power devices, where the measured electrical characteristics may indicate the parasitic leakage of the power devices. The power devices may send second signals to the power system controller to report the measured electrical characteristics. The power system controller may determine the mapping of the power devices in the string based on the second signals.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for detecting and preventing arcs in a photovoltaic (PV) power system.

Abstract: A power line communication device including a current path provided between a first terminal and a second terminal. A coupling circuit connected between the first and second terminals includes a first circuit of a first inductor connected in parallel with a first capacitor and a first resistor. A sensor is configured to sense a communication parameter of the coupling circuit. The communication parameter may be a resonance of the first circuit, the quality (Q) factor of the resonance, the bandwidth (BW) of the coupling circuit, the resistance of the first resistor, or the impedance of the first circuit. A transceiver is adapted to couple to the first and second terminal to transmit a signal onto the current path or receive a signal from the current path responsive to the parameter of the coupling circuit and a level of current in the current path sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: A single-phase power converter is disclosed for converting a direct current power source to an alternating current power across first and second output terminals, which may be connected to a split-phase system having a first-phase load connected between one phase and a second-phase load connected between the other phase. When the loads are not balanced, the single-phase power converter provides a differential current to compensate for the imbalance.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for an inverter which receives a direct current (DC) input, and outputs an alternating current (AC) output. A high AC voltage is achieved by serially connecting AC outputs from inversion modules included in the inverter. Multiple inversion stages are serially connected in order to form the AC output. Windings around a common core of the inverter may cause ripple currents to be shared by the inversion modules. Utilizing a common core enables reducing low frequency ripple currents.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first leg having a plurality of transistors connected in series between a first node and a second node. Each of the plurality of transistors includes a respective body diode. The apparatus further includes a second leg connected between the first node and the second node and in parallel to the series connection of the plurality of transistors of the first leg. The second leg includes a first transistor. The second leg has lower reverse recovery losses relative to the first leg.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a methods and apparatuses for disconnecting, by a device, elements at certain parts of an electrical system. The method may include measuring operational parameters at certain locations within the system and/or receiving messages from control devices indicating a potentially unsafe condition, disconnecting and/or short-circuiting system elements in response, and reconnection the system elements when it is safe to do so. Certain embodiments relate to methods and apparatuses for providing operational power to safety switches during different modes of system operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for controlling the spacing of battery cells. The apparatus monitors the temperature of the battery cells, and when a battery cell temperature value exceeds a threshold, changes the configuration of the battery cell spacing from an initial closed configuration to an open configuration using a spacer mechanism. The spacing during the closed configuration is a first distance between the battery cells, and during the open configuration is a second distance between the battery cells. The second distance is substantially large than the first distance to position the lithium ion cells further apart, lowering the probability a thermal runaway event propagating from one cell to adjacent cells. The spacer mechanism may include a telescoping or expanding frame, a motor, one or more sensors, and a controller configured to operate the mechanical spacer.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to determining an order or locations of power devices connected in a serial string to a central power device. The order or locations may be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium.

Abstract: In case the operational power production level of a multi-phase DC-AC power converter decreases, a controller may be configured to determine that a switching leg or switching legs of DC-AC power converter are to be disabled based on a power criterion to reduce losses incurred by the DC-AC power converter. The controller may be configured to select one of more of the switching legs, based on a selection criterion, and disable the selected switching leg or switching legs so as to reduce phase imbalance or degradation of the switching legs.

Abstract: A fully isolated drive circuit to be used for regulating an output voltage across a load. The isolated drive circuit may charge, discharge, or preserve the load charge using a controller that controls one or more switches. The controller may operate a switch according to an internal/external clock or an external control signal received by the controller. The isolated drive circuit may be an effective solution to simplify the drive design and decrease the amount of energy dissipated by the drive, especially when the load, associated with the drive, requires a high input voltage level.

Abstract: A multi-level inverter topology is disclosed. A power converter circuit converts a DC source at its input to provide an alternating current (AC) at its output. The power converter circuit may have a controller operably attached to multiple series connections of switches. The controller may control one or more of the multiple series connections of switches to convert a DC input to provide multi-level AC voltages with DC offset across two terminals of the power converter circuit. The multi-level AC voltages with DC offset may then be converted by use of a plurality of series connections of switches to provide a single-phase AC voltage at a first output terminal with respect to at least one of a neutral potential, an earth potential, or a terminal of the power converter circuit.

Abstract: A multi-level inverter having one or more banks, each bank containing a plurality of low voltage MOSFET transistors. A processor configured to switch the plurality of low voltage MOSFET transistors in each bank to switch at multiple times during each cycle.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for direct current (DC) bus management. In some examples, an energy storage device may be controlled to balance the voltage of the DC bus to maintain a substantially constant voltage on the DC bus. In some examples, control circuitry may determine the total power produced and the total power consumed of the power system and control the energy storage device to balance the power. The energy storage device may balance the power while maintaining a substantially constant voltage on the DC bus. In some examples, a DC to alternating current (AC) converter may be connected between the DC bus and an AC bus, and/or an AC to DC converter may be connected between the AC bus and the DC bus. The DC to AC converter and the AC to DC converter may have different power ratings.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed to a pyrotechnic fuse comprising a magnetic concentrator configured to partially surround at least a portion of a busbar, wherein the magnetic concentrator may comprise an aperture, a pyrotechnic actuator (which may be coupled to the busbar and configured to stop electrical flow in the busbar when the pyrotechnic actuator is activated), and a magnetic switch (which may be located within or near the aperture). The magnetic switch may be configured to activate the pyrotechnic actuator when a current through the busbar reaches a threshold current. An angle of the magnetic switch relative to the aperture may determine the threshold current.

Abstract: A protection method in a distributed power system including of DC power sources and multiple power modules which include inputs coupled to the DC power sources. The power modules include outputs coupled in series with one or more other power modules to form a serial string. An inverter is coupled to the serial string. The inverter converts power input from the string and produces output power. When the inverter stops production of the output power, each of the power modules is shut down and thereby the power input to the inverter is ceased.

Abstract: A power converter employing a plurality of parallel high-frequency switching legs, and a low-frequency switching leg, is disclosed. A load may be coupled between the high-frequency switching legs and the low-frequency switching leg. A number of levels of a power waveform produced by the power converter may be higher than the number of levels of the high-frequency switching legs. The low-frequency switching leg may employ switches which may have low switching frequency characteristics, low conduction losses, and may be less expensive.

Abstract: A method of signaling between a photovoltaic module and an inverter module. The inverter module is connected to the photovoltaic module. In an initial mode of operation an initial code is modulated thereby producing an initial signal. The initial signal is transmitted from the inverter module to the photovoltaic module. The initial signal is received by the photovoltaic module. The operating mode is then changed to a normal mode of power conversion, and during the normal mode of operation a control signal is transmitted from the inverter to the photovoltaic module. A control code is demodulated and received from the control signal. The control code is compared with the initial code producing a comparison. The control command of the control signal is validated as a valid control command from the inverter module with the control command only acted upon when the comparison is a positive comparison.

Abstract: A multiplicity of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices may be equipped with a plurality of sensors which report on the state of various operational parameters of the UPS devices to a registry device. Output of the registry device may be displayed on a dedicated GUI and/or written to log files at a monitoring station. In the event that one or more sensors reports a parameter to the registry device which is indicative of a malfunction of one or more of the UPS devices, examination the registry device output may indicate which UPS device or devices is/are malfunctioning. Related embodiments, apparatus, systems, and methods are also discussed.