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: 12549011
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Dirk Hermeling
  • Patent number: 12470153
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2025
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Alexander Unru, Andreas Falk, Dirk Hermeling, Ralf Juchem, Marcel Kratochvil
  • Patent number: 11770004
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hermeling, Tim Roesinger, Mohamed Mostafa
  • Publication number: 20230050530
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander Unru, Andreas Falk, Dirk Hermeling, Ralf Juchem, Marcel Kratochvil
  • Publication number: 20220231513
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Dirk Hermeling
  • Publication number: 20210408796
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Dirk Hermeling, Tim Roesinger, Mohamed Mostafa
  • Patent number: 11005270
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Christian Hardt, Neidhardt Bechtel, Dirk Hermeling
  • Publication number: 20200251909
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Christian Hardt, Neidhardt Bechtel, Dirk Hermeling
  • Patent number: 10197608
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Mario Willenberg, Dirk Hermeling, Volker Bergs, Karl Nesemann
  • Publication number: 20170343593
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Mario Willenberg, Dirk Hermeling, Volker Bergs, Karl Nesemann
  • Patent number: 9720025
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hermeling, Reinhard Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20140097854
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hermeling, Reinhard Lehmann