Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods related to electric power transfer between an aerial vehicle of an airborne wind turbine and a power grid. An example power conversion system may include power converters, a DC bus connecting the power converters to the aerial vehicle, and an AC bus connecting the power converters to the power grid. The power converters may be configured to provide AC/DC power conversion between the aerial vehicle and the power grid. The power conversion system may also include switches operable to either (i) electrically connect a respective power converter to the DC bus or electrically isolate the respective power converter from the DC bus. The power conversion system may also include one or more power supplies that can be connected to the DC bus to provide backup power in the event a power converter or the power grid malfunctions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods related to electric power transfer between an aerial vehicle of an airborne wind turbine and a power grid. An example power conversion system may include power converters, a DC bus connecting the power converters to the aerial vehicle, and an AC bus connecting the power converters to the power grid. The power converters may be configured to provide AC/DC power conversion between the aerial vehicle and the power grid. The power conversion system may also include switches operable to either (i) electrically connect a respective power converter to the DC bus or electrically isolate the respective power converter from the DC bus. The power conversion system may also include one or more power supplies that can be connected to the DC bus to provide backup power in the event a power converter or the power grid malfunctions.

Abstract: This disclosure discusses systems and methods related to the following example scenarios. When an aerial vehicle of an airborne wind turbine is functioning normally in motoring mode, a voltage converter may receive a nominal voltage from a power conversion system and provide the nominal voltage to the aerial vehicle. When the aerial vehicle is experiencing a fault in motoring mode, the voltage converter may receive the nominal voltage and provide a reduced fault voltage to the aerial vehicle. When the aerial vehicle is functioning normally in power-generating mode, the voltage converter may receive the nominal voltage from the aerial vehicle and provide the nominal voltage to the power conversion system. When the aerial vehicle is experiencing a fault in power-generating mode, the voltage converter may receive a reduced fault voltage from the aerial vehicle, boost the fault voltage, and provide the boosted fault voltage to the power conversion system.