Patents by Inventor Dirk Hermeling
Dirk Hermeling has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 12549011Abstract: The application relates to a method for operating an energy generating system including a plurality of DC sub-generators which are connected in parallel with one another and in each case to a shared DC load via a DC/DC converter. Each of the DC sub-generators includes a DC source which is connected, via at least one fuse that is connected in series to the DC source, to the particular DC/DC converter that is assigned to the corresponding DC sub-generator. The method includes monitoring each of the DC sub-generators for a fault, in particular a short-circuit fault; —wherein, if the monitoring of the DC sub-generators indicates a faulty DC sub-generator; —the DC/DC converters that are not assigned to the faulty DC sub-generator are operated at a common total current IRest which corresponds to a default value. The application also relates to an energy generating system which is designed and configured to carry out the method.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2022Date of Patent: February 10, 2026Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Andreas Falk, Dirk Hermeling
-
Patent number: 12470153Abstract: A method and related apparatus for extending a DC voltage range of a rectifier circuit for the supply, from an AC grid, of a DC load which is connected to a DC rectifier output of the rectifier circuit, wherein an AC rectifier input of the rectifier circuit is connected via a grid connection point to the AC grid, wherein the rectifier circuit includes an AC/DC converter having an AC input and a DC output, wherein the AC/DC converter includes a converter circuit having semiconductor switches and freewheeling diodes connected in an antiparallel arrangement thereto, wherein an inductance is connected between the AC input of the AC/DC converter and the grid connection point.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: November 11, 2025Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Alexander Unru, Andreas Falk, Dirk Hermeling, Ralf Juchem, Marcel Kratochvil
-
Patent number: 11770004Abstract: A battery inverter system includes a plurality of battery inverter units, wherein each of the battery inverter units includes a multiphase inverter and a battery unit connected to the inverter on the DC side. The battery unit includes a plurality of individual units connected in parallel to one another and protected against overcurrent by means of rack fuses, and the battery inverter units are connected in parallel on the AC side and are configured to operate with a common drive pulse pattern. The battery inverter units are interconnected on the DC side via compensation fuses, wherein the compensation fuses are provided such that in the event of a short circuit in one of the inverters, the compensation fuses are triggered faster than the rack fuses.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2021Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Dirk Hermeling, Tim Roesinger, Mohamed Mostafa
-
Publication number: 20230050530Abstract: A method and related apparatus for extending a DC voltage range of a rectifier circuit for the supply, from an AC grid, of a DC load which is connected to a DC rectifier output of the rectifier circuit, wherein an AC rectifier input of the rectifier circuit is connected via a grid connection point to the AC grid, wherein the rectifier circuit includes an AC/DC converter having an AC input and a DC output, wherein the AC/DC converter includes a converter circuit having semiconductor switches and freewheeling diodes connected in an antiparallel arrangement thereto, wherein an inductance is connected between the AC input of the AC/DC converter and the grid connection point.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Alexander Unru, Andreas Falk, Dirk Hermeling, Ralf Juchem, Marcel Kratochvil
-
Publication number: 20220231513Abstract: The application relates to a method for operating an energy generating system including a plurality of DC sub-generators which are connected in parallel with one another and in each case to a shared DC load via a DC/DC converter. Each of the DC sub-generators includes a DC source which is connected, via at least one fuse that is connected in series to the DC source, to the particular DC/DC converter that is assigned to the corresponding DC sub-generator. The method includes monitoring each of the DC sub-generators for a fault, in particular a short-circuit fault; —wherein, if the monitoring of the DC sub-generators indicates a faulty DC sub-generator; —the DC/DC converters that are not assigned to the faulty DC sub-generator are operated at a common total current IRest which corresponds to a default value. The application also relates to an energy generating system which is designed and configured to carry out the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: Andreas Falk, Dirk Hermeling
-
Publication number: 20210408796Abstract: A battery inverter system includes a plurality of battery inverter units, wherein each of the battery inverter units includes a multiphase inverter and a battery unit connected to the inverter on the DC side. The battery unit includes a plurality of individual units connected in parallel to one another and protected against overcurrent by means of rack fuses, and the battery inverter units are connected in parallel on the AC side and are configured to operate with a common drive pulse pattern. The battery inverter units are interconnected on the DC side via compensation fuses, wherein the compensation fuses are provided such that in the event of a short circuit in one of the inverters, the compensation fuses are triggered faster than the rack fuses.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: Dirk Hermeling, Tim Roesinger, Mohamed Mostafa
-
Patent number: 11005270Abstract: A method for operating an island system is disclosed. The island system includes a group of voltage-controlling converters, wherein each of the voltage-controlling converters of the group are configured to convert power of respectively connected regenerative power sources into AC power in accordance with a respective frequency-power characteristic curve. The island system also includes a load having a power consumption that depends on a voltage amplitude of an AC voltage of the island system, and a control unit that is configured to transmit a default value of the voltage amplitude to the group of voltage-controlling converters. The method adapts the power to be consumed by the load.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Andreas Falk, Christian Hardt, Neidhardt Bechtel, Dirk Hermeling
-
Publication number: 20200251909Abstract: A method for operating an island system is disclosed. The island system includes a group of voltage-controlling converters, wherein each of the voltage-controlling converters of the group are configured to convert power of respectively connected regenerative power sources into AC power in accordance with a respective frequency-power characteristic curve. The island system also includes a load having a power consumption that depends on a voltage amplitude of an AC voltage of the island system, and a control unit that is configured to transmit a default value of the voltage amplitude to the group of voltage-controlling converters. The method adapts the power to be consumed by the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Andreas Falk, Christian Hardt, Neidhardt Bechtel, Dirk Hermeling
-
Patent number: 10197608Abstract: An apparatus for determining insulation resistance at a PV generator includes a first unit configured to shift a generator potential at an output terminal of the PV generator, and a second unit. The second unit is configured to determine the insulation resistance by: connecting a measurement voltage to the output terminal of the PV generator, measuring a first current value and a first voltage value at the output terminal of the PV generator before the measurement voltage is connected, measuring a second current value and a second voltage value at the output terminal of the PV generator after the measurement voltage is connected, and determining the insulation resistance of the PV generator based on the measured first and second current values and the measured first and second voltage values. The first and second units are connected in series.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Mario Willenberg, Dirk Hermeling, Volker Bergs, Karl Nesemann
-
Publication number: 20170343593Abstract: An apparatus for determining insulation resistance at a PV generator includes a first unit configured to shift a generator potential at an output terminal of the PV generator, and a second unit. The second unit is configured to determine the insulation resistance by: connecting a measurement voltage to the output terminal of the PV generator, measuring a first current value and a first voltage value at the output terminal of the PV generator before the measurement voltage is connected, measuring a second current value and a second voltage value at the output terminal of the PV generator after the measurement voltage is connected, and determining the insulation resistance of the PV generator based on the measured first and second current values and the measured first and second voltage values. The first and second units are connected in series.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2017Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Mario Willenberg, Dirk Hermeling, Volker Bergs, Karl Nesemann
-
Patent number: 9720025Abstract: In monitoring an isolation of an ungrounded power grid an AC voltage source is connected to the power grid via at least one test resistor. A test signal with a periodic continuous voltage course with regard to ground and with a frequency is applied to the power grid by means of the AC voltage source. A leakage current flowing due to the test signal is measured; and an ohmic isolation resistance is determined from the leakage current. The frequency of the test signal is varied such that an active current part of the leakage current keeps a predetermined recommended value at varying leakage capacitances of the power grid. This provides for a desired level of accuracy at maximum speed of isolation or ground fault detection.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Dirk Hermeling, Reinhard Lehmann
-
Publication number: 20140097854Abstract: In monitoring an isolation of an ungrounded power grid an AC voltage source is connected to the power grid via at least one test resistor. A test signal with a periodic continuous voltage course with regard to ground and with a frequency is applied to the power grid by means of the AC voltage source. A leakage current flowing due to the test signal is measured; and an ohmic isolation resistance is determined from the leakage current. The frequency of the test signal is varied such that an active current part of the leakage current keeps a predetermined recommended value at varying leakage capacitances of the power grid. This provides for a desired level of accuracy at maximum speed of isolation or ground fault detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Dirk Hermeling, Reinhard Lehmann