Abstract: A system and method for leakage current detection and fault location identification in a DC power circuit is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of DC leakage current detectors positioned throughout the DC power circuit, the DC leakage current detectors configured to sense and locate a leakage current fault in the DC power circuit. Each of the DC leakage current detectors is configured to generate a net voltage at an output thereof indicative of whether a leakage current fault is present at a location at which the respective DC leakage current detector is positioned. A logic device in operable communication with the DC leakage current detectors receives output signals from each DC leakage current detector comprising the net voltage output and locates the leakage current fault in the DC power circuit based on the output signals received from the plurality of DC leakage current detectors.

Abstract: A flexible transformer system includes conductive windings extending around a magnetic core of a transformer phase and impedance-varying windings extending around the magnetic core of the transformer phase. The conductive windings and the impedance-varying windings are configured to conduct electric current around the magnetic core of the transformer phase. The system includes an impedance switch coupled with the impedance-varying windings and with the conductive windings. The impedance switch is configured to change an impedance of the system by changing which impedance-varying winding of the impedance-varying windings is conductively coupled with the conductive windings and which impedance-varying winding of the impedance-varying windings is disconnected from the conductive windings.

Abstract: A switch assembly includes one or more solid state semiconductor switches configured to be disposed within a downhole pipe assembly. The one or more switches are configured to operate in a closed state to conduct electric current supplied by a power source disposed above a surface to pumps disposed beneath the surface to cause the pumps to extract a resource from beneath the surface via the pipe assembly. The one or more switches also are configured to operate in an open state to stop conducting the electric current from the power source to the pumps.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a soft switching topology for a direct current (DC)-DC converter. The systems and methods determine an operational status of an electric motor, and activate at least one of an upper or lower first or second semiconductor switches based on an operation of the electric motor. The first and second switching circuits are conductively coupled to a power inverter circuit. The systems and methods include deliver an adjusted voltage to one of the power inverter circuit or a power circuit based on the operational status of the electric motor.

Abstract: Systems and methods provided herein relate to a gate drive circuit for controlling operation of a wide bandgap semiconductor switch. The systems and methods receive a control signal and configuring an operation signal configured to activate a wide bandgap switch (WBG switch). A profile of the operation signal being based on electrical characteristics of first and second shaping circuits. The systems and methods further deliver the operation signal to the WBG switch.

Abstract: A system and method for leakage current detection and fault location identification in a DC power circuit is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of DC leakage current detectors positioned throughout the DC power circuit, the DC leakage current detectors configured to sense and locate a leakage current fault in the DC power circuit. Each of the DC leakage current detectors is configured to generate a net voltage at an output thereof indicative of whether a leakage current fault is present at a location at which the respective DC leakage current detector is positioned. A logic device in operable communication with the DC leakage current detectors receives output signals from each DC leakage current detector comprising the net voltage output and locates the leakage current fault in the DC power circuit based on the output signals received from the plurality of DC leakage current detectors.

Abstract: The DC leakage current detector for detecting leakage current in a DC bus includes a pair of transformers each comprising a magnetic core and excitation and detection windings would about the magnetic core, with the magnetic core positionable about a pair of conductors that create a magnetic field that is a sum of currents in the conductors. An excitation and biasing circuit is connected to the excitation winding in each transformer to inject a current signal thereto that creates a changing magnetic flux in the core of each transformer and a detector output connected to the detection winding in each transformer to receive a voltage therefrom generated responsive to the magnetic flux in the core of each transformer, wherein the voltage on the detection windings provides a net voltage at the detector output whose value is indicative of a presence of a leakage current on the DC bus.

Abstract: A switching system includes a transformer and a switching assembly for controlling conduction of current from a power source to a first load along a power cable. The switching assembly includes a switch cell conductively coupled to the power cable. The transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding is conductively coupled to the switch cell. The primary winding is conductively coupled to a switch controller via the power cable. The transformer is configured to receive an activation control signal from the switch controller at the primary winding via the power cable and convey the activation control signal to the switch cell via the secondary winding. The switch cell is configured to activate and conduct the current from the power source to the first load along the power cable responsive to receiving the activation control signal from the switch controller.

Abstract: A switching system includes a switching assembly and a transformer. The switching assembly includes multiple sets of switch cells conductively coupled to different power conductors that extend between a power source and a load and conduct different phases of current. Each set of switch cells controls conduction of a different phase of current to the load. The transformer has a primary winding and multiple secondary windings that are conductively coupled to the sets of switch cells. Responsive to receiving an activation control signal from the transformer via the secondary windings, the sets of switch cells are configured to activate to conduct the multiple phases of current from the power source to the load along the power conductors.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an electronic drive circuit is disclosed. The electronic drive circuit includes an energy storage device and a first bridge circuit coupled to the energy storage device. The first bridge circuit includes at least one leg having two switches. The electronic drive circuit also includes a transformer. The transformer includes a first winding coupled to the first bridge circuit and a second winding coupled to the energy storage device through a center tap. The electronic drive circuit further includes a second bridge circuit coupled to the second winding of the transformer. The second bridge circuit includes a pair of switches operable to conduct in both directions and block voltage in both directions.

Abstract: Power delivery systems and methods described herein conductively couple several input lines with a cable that conducts a multi-phase electric current. The input lines separately conduct different phases of the electric current. Output lines are conductively coupled with plural machines, and separately conduct the different phases of the electric current. Plural switching devices are conductively coupled with the input lines and with the output lines, and are used to control the switching devices in order to conduct the different phases of the electric current to the machines. A first set of the switching devices is closed to separately conduct the different phases of the electric current to a first machine of the machines. A different, second set of the switching devices is separately closed to separately conduct the different phases of the electric current to a different, second machine of the machines.

Abstract: Power systems and methods are disclosed herein. The systems and methods use a switching system coupled with a power source and subterranean pumps for pumping a resource from beneath a surface of earth. A first capacitor is between a first switching device and a first transformer, and stores electric energy received from the first transformer to activate the first switching device. A bias capacitor is between the first capacitor and the first switching device, and receives a bias voltage via a second transformer. The bias capacitor applies the bias voltage to the first switching device to prevent the first switching device from activating unless a combination of the voltage received by the first switching device via the first transformer and the bias voltage is at least as large as the activation voltage of the first switching device.

Abstract: A system and method for conditioning DC power received from hybrid DC power sources is disclosed. A power conversion circuit is coupled to a respective DC power source to selectively condition the output power generated thereby to a DC bus voltage. The power conversion circuit includes a switch arrangement and capacitors arranged to provide a charge balancing in the power conversion circuit. A controller in operable communication with the switch arrangement receives inputs on a DC bus voltage and at least one parameter related to operation of the DC power source, and determines an adjustable voltage to be output from the conversion circuit to the DC bus based on the received inputs. The controller then selectively controls operation of the switch arrangement in order to generate the determined adjustable voltage.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an electronic drive circuit is disclosed. The electronic drive circuit includes an energy storage device and a first bridge circuit coupled to the energy storage device. The first bridge circuit includes at least one leg having two switches. The electronic drive circuit also includes a transformer. The transformer includes a first winding coupled to the first bridge circuit and a second winding coupled to the energy storage device through a center tap. The electronic drive circuit further includes a second bridge circuit coupled to the second winding of the transformer. The second bridge circuit includes a pair of switches operable to conduct in both directions and block voltage in both directions.

Abstract: A system and method for conditioning DC power received from hybrid DC power sources is disclosed. A power conversion circuit is coupled to a respective DC power source to selectively condition the output power generated thereby to a DC bus voltage. The power conversion circuit includes a switch arrangement and capacitors arranged to provide a charge balancing in the power conversion circuit. A controller in operable communication with the switch arrangement receives inputs on a DC bus voltage and at least one parameter related to operation of the DC power source, and determines an adjustable voltage to be output from the conversion circuit to the DC bus based on the received inputs. The controller then selectively controls operation of the switch arrangement in order to generate the determined adjustable voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes an avalanche photodiode unit and a thyristor unit. The avalanche photodiode unit is configured to receive incident light to generate a trigger current and comprises a wide band-gap semiconductor. The thyristor unit is configured to be activated by the trigger current to an electrically conductive state. A semiconductor device and a method for making a semiconductor device are also presented.

Abstract: A switch assembly includes one or more solid state semiconductor switches configured to be disposed within a downhole pipe assembly. The one or more switches are configured to operate in a closed state to conduct electric current supplied by a power source disposed above a surface to pumps disposed beneath the surface to cause the pumps to extract a resource from beneath the surface via the pipe assembly. The one or more switches also are configured to operate in an open state to stop conducting the electric current from the power source to the pumps.

Abstract: A gate drive unit includes a charging device, a switch, and a timing module. The charging device is conductively coupled with an electrical energy source and a power switch between the electric energy source and the charging device. The switch closes to transfer electrical energy from the energy source to the charging device. The timing module is configured to close the switch to direct the electrical energy from the electrical energy source to the charging device for a designated charging time period in order to charge the charging device with the electrical energy while the power switch is in an OFF state. The timing module opens the switch to cause the electrical energy stored in the charging device to be transferred out of the charging device in the form of a trigger current that is conducted to a gate terminal of the power switch to activate the power switch to an ON state from the OFF state.

Abstract: A system and method of using one or more DC-DC/DC-AC converters and/or alternative devices allows strings of multiple module technologies to coexist within the same PV power plant. A computing (optimization) framework estimates the percentage allocation of PV power plant capacity to selected PV module technologies. The framework and its supporting components considers irradiation, temperature, spectral profiles, cost and other practical constraints to achieve the lowest levelized cost of electricity, maximum output and minimum system cost. The system and method can function using any device enabling distributed maximum power point tracking at the module, string or combiner level.

Abstract: Power delivery systems and methods described herein conductively couple several input lines with a cable that conducts a multi-phase electric current. The input lines separately conduct different phases of the electric current. Output lines are conductively coupled with plural machines, and separately conduct the different phases of the electric current. Plural switching devices are conductively coupled with the input lines and with the output lines, and are used to control the switching devices in order to conduct the different phases of the electric current to the machines. A first set of the switching devices is closed to separately conduct the different phases of the electric current to a first machine of the machines. A different, second set of the switching devices is separately closed to separately conduct the different phases of the electric current to a different, second machine of the machines.