Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a current source converter, comprising a transformer, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The transformer can comprise a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding. The first circuit can be electrically coupled to the first and second windings. The first circuit can comprise a battery port and a photovoltaic (PV) port. The battery port can be configured to interface with one or more batteries. The PV port can be configured to interface with one or more PV modules. The second circuit can be electrically coupled to the third winding. The second circuit can comprise an alternating current (AC) port configured to interface with an AC load.

Abstract: A flexible multiport energy routing system having a first port configured to connect to an AC grid, second ports configured to connect to devices, and a power converter stack. A step-down transformer can be included and have a high voltage side electrically coupled to the first port and a low voltage side. The power converter stack can include power converter modules each having a first converter bridge connected to the low voltage side of the step-down transformer and a second converter bridge connected to one or more of the second ports. Each of the power converter modules can have a converter transformer connected between the first and second converter bridges. The first and second converter bridges can bidirectionally manage AC and DC power flows between the first, second, and third ports.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a power converter system comprising a power converter. The power converter system can comprise a power converter electrically connected to a local power supply and an electrical utility grid. The power converter can comprise an output configured to exchange electrical power with the electrical utility grid. The power converter can be further configured to monitor one or more electrical parameters of the electrical utility grid over a period of time and alter one or more electrical parameters of the output of the power converter based on the monitored one or more electrical parameters of the electrical utility grid in real time using a deep learning neural network.

Abstract: A universal control (UniCon) scheme for grid-connected converters is presented herein that allows operation automatically in grid-following, grid-firming, and grid-forming modes. The converter does not need information on the grid or connected sources and loads. The converter can set its own operating point based on local measurements. The converter can operate over a wide range of typically encountered steady-state, transient, and fault conditions. UniCon realizes a universal control strategy for converters on the grid, allowing operation in distinct modes, including dispatch in grid connected mode, and automatic load sharing in islanded or microgrid mode. Under transient conditions, the converters provide inertial support and improve damping to stabilize and reduce disturbances. Multiple converters on the system do not require detailed system knowledge or low-latency communications for fast coordination, using communications when available for slow coordination and system level optimization.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a resonant module and sensing circuits for use with a soft-switching current source converter. The resonant module comprises a resonant switch, a resonant inductor, and a resonant capacitor. The resonant inductor is connected in electrical series with the resonant switch. The resonant capacitor is connected in parallel with the serially connected resonant switch and resonant capacitor. The resonant module further comprises first and second sensing circuits. The first sensing circuit is configured to generate a first sensing signal indicative of when the time derivative of a voltage across the resonant capacitor is negative. The second sensing circuit is configured to generate a second sensing signal indicative of when a voltage across the resonant capacitor is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a current sensor comprising a current input, a current output, a first current path, and a second current path parallel to the first current path, a Rogowski coil current sensor, and a controller. The first current path can comprise a first switch. When the first switch is in a closed position, current can flow along the first current path between the current input and the current output. The second current path can comprise a second switch. When the second switch is in a closed position, current can flow along the second current path between the current input and the current output. At least one of the first current path and the second current path can pass through an aperture of the Rogowski coil. The controller can be configured to control the first and second switches.

Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosure provides a flexible multiport energy routing system comprising a first port configured to connect to an AC grid, a plurality of second ports configured to connect to a plurality of devices, a step-down transformer, a power converter stack, and a third port. The step-down transformer can a high voltage side electrically coupled to the first port and a low voltage side. The power converter stack can comprise a plurality of power converter modules each having a first converter bridge connected to the low voltage side of the step-down transformer and a second converter bridge connected to one or more of the plurality of second ports. Each of the power converter modules can have a converter transformer connected between the first and second converter bridges. The first and second converter bridges can bidirectionally manage AC and DC power flows between the first, second, and third ports.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an energy meter comprising a current sensor and an interchangeable voltage sensor. The current sensor can be configured to measure an electrical current flowing through a conductor. The interchangeable voltage sensor detachably can be connected to the current sensor and configured to measure an electrical voltage carried by the conductor.

Abstract: An exemplary inverter-fault-current-multiplier device and method are disclosed that can be installed into a retrofit installation of an inverter and power-generating equipment to temporarily multiply the output of the inverter so as to trip an installed circuit breaker at a home, premise, or facility. The exemplary system and method can reduce the cost of inverter and power-generating equipment installation by allowing existing circuit breakers of a home or building to be used without any modification or wiring and without the need to overrate the inverter.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides a power conversion system comprising a first battery module, a second battery module, first and second transformers, and first, second, and third current source converter bridges. The transformers can have low voltage sides and high voltage sides. The first bridge can be configured to connect the battery modules and the low voltage sides of the transformers. A mid-point of the serial connection of the battery modules can be connected to a mid-point of the series connection of the transformers. The second bridge can connect to the high voltage side of the first transformer and one or more ports configured to transmit electrical power to and/or receive electrical power from an electrical load and/or source. The third bridge can be configured to connect to the high voltage side of the second transformer and the one and one or more ports.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a battery system comprising one or more battery modules, one or more thermal conduits, and one or more thermoelectric coolers. Each of the one or more battery modules can comprise a plurality of battery cells. The one or more thermal conduits can be coupled to the one or more battery modules. The one or more thermoelectric coolers can be coupled to the one or more thermal conduits. The one or more thermal conduits can be configured to allow thermal energy to flow from the one or more battery modules to the one or more thermoelectric coolers. The thermoelectric coolers can be configured to dissipate thermal energy received from the one or more battery modules via the one or more thermal conduits.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a current sensor comprising a current input, a current output, a first current path, and a second current path parallel to the first current path, a Rogowski coil current sensor, and a controller. The first current path can comprise a first switch. When the first switch is in a closed position, current can flow along the first current path between the current input and the current output. The second current path can comprise a second switch. When the second switch is in a closed position, current can flow along the second current path between the current input and the current output. At least one of the first current path and the second current path can pass through an aperture of the Rogowski coil. The controller can be configured to control the first and second switches.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a current source converter, comprising a transformer, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The transformer can comprise a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding. The first circuit can be electrically coupled to the first and second windings. The first circuit can comprise a battery port and a photovoltaic (PV) port. The battery port can be configured to interface with one or more batteries. The PV port can be configured to interface with one or more PV modules. The second circuit can be electrically coupled to the third winding. The second circuit can comprise an alternating current (AC) port configured to interface with an AC load.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to current source inverters (CSIs), and in particular to soft-switching current source inverters (SSCSIs). An exemplary CSI comprises a first CSI bridge, a second CSI bridge, a DC-link inductor, and a resonant tank. The first CSI bridge can be operatively connected to a first power bank. The second CSI bridge can be operatively connected to a second power bank. The DC-link inductor can be connected in series between the first and second CSI bridges. The resonant tank can be connected in parallel with the DC-link inductor.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a grid edge node, comprising a power supply, one or more sensors, a telecommunications radio, and a backhaul connection. The power supply can be configured to receive input power from a power transformer mounted to a utility pole. The one or more sensors can be configured to monitor one or more conditions of the power transformer. The telecommunications radio can be configured to transmit and receive wireless telecommunications signals to and from remote devices in a telecommunications network. The backhaul connection can be configured to provide communication between the grid edge node and a cloud-based monitoring system. The grid edge node can be configured to transmit data indicative of the one or more monitored conditions to the cloud-based monitoring system via the backhaul connection. The grid edge node can be further configured to be mounted to the utility pole.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a soft-switching solid-state power transformer comprising a transformer, first and second auxiliary resonant circuits, first and second current-source inverter (CSI) bridges, and a first transformer capacitor. The first auxiliary resonant circuit can be coupled to a first winding connection of the transformer. The first auxiliary resonant circuit can comprise a resonant capacitor coupled across the first winding connection, and a resonant inductor coupled across the first winding connection in parallel with the resonant capacitor. The first CSI bridge can be coupled to the first auxiliary resonant circuit. The second auxiliary resonant circuit can be coupled to the second winding connection of the transformer. The second CSI bridge can be coupled to the second auxiliary resonant circuit. The first transformer capacitor can be coupled to a high voltage side of the first winding connection and a ground.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include universal minimal converter comprising power converter circuits and controllers that can perform optimized control of power converters to implement multimodal control schemes using pre-defined set of modes in the control cycles on a cycle-by-cycle basis. The topology of the exemplary system provides for an optimized set of hardware and equipment that reduces or provide for a low cost implementation. The control of the exemplary system extends the hardware and equipment in a universal manner for a plurality of operational modes.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides a power conversion system comprising a first battery module, a second battery module, first and second transformers, and first, second, and third current source converter bridges. The transformers can have low voltage sides and high voltage sides. The first bridge can be configured to connect the battery modules and the low voltage sides of the transformers. A mid-point of the serial connection of the battery modules can be connected to a mid-point of the series connection of the transformers. The second bridge can connect to the high voltage side of the first transformer and one or more ports configured to transmit electrical power to and/or receive electrical power from an electrical load and/or source. The third bridge can be configured to connect to the high voltage side of the second transformer and the one and one or more ports.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a power converter system comprising a power converter. The power converter system can comprise a power converter electrically connected to a local power supply and an electrical utility grid. The power converter can comprise an output configured to exchange electrical power with the electrical utility grid. The power converter can be further configured to monitor one or more electrical parameters of the electrical utility grid over a period of time and alter one or more electrical parameters of the output of the power converter based on the monitored one or more electrical parameters of the electrical utility grid in real time using a deep learning neural network.

Abstract: A universal control (UniCon) scheme for grid-connected converters is presented herein that allows operation automatically in grid-following, grid-firming, and grid-forming modes. The converter does not need information on the grid or connected sources and loads. The converter can set its own operating point based on local measurements. The converter can operate over a wide range of typically encountered steady-state, transient, and fault conditions. UniCon realizes a universal control strategy for converters on the grid, allowing operation in distinct modes, including dispatch in grid connected mode, and automatic load sharing in islanded or microgrid mode. Under transient conditions, the converters provide inertial support and improve damping to stabilize and reduce disturbances. Multiple converters on the system do not require detailed system knowledge or low-latency communications for fast coordination, using communications when available for slow coordination and system level optimization.