Abstract: An apparatus, such as a power converter, includes first, second and third core bus plates arranged in parallel. The apparatus also includes a first bus extension plate joined to the first core bus plate and extending therefrom at a first angle and a second bus extension plate joined to the second core bus plate and extending therefrom at a second angle. The apparatus further includes a third bus extension plated joined with the third core bus plate and disposed parallel to the first bus extension plate and a fourth bus extension plate joined with the third core bus plate and disposed parallel to the second bus extension plate.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a core and a helical frame coaxial with a segment of the core and having first and second major surfaces on opposite sides of the helical frame and each normal to a surface of the segment. At least one helical coil conforms to at least one of the first and second major surfaces. In some embodiments, the at least one helical coil may include first and second helical coils conforming to respective ones of the first and second major surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of DC buses and a plurality of inverter circuits, respective ones of which are coupled to respective ones of the plurality of DC buses. The apparatus further includes a control circuit configured to generate a representative DC voltage signal based on DC voltage signals for respective ones of the DC buses, to generate a first modulation control signal from the representative DC voltage signal, to generate second modulation control signals for the respective inverter circuits from the representative DC voltage signal and the first modulation control signal that are normalized based on the DC voltage signals for the buses and the representative DC voltage signal, and to modulate the inverter circuits responsive to respective ones of the second modulation control signals. The representative DC voltage signal may represent a maximum of the DC voltages for the respective DC buses.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical switch and a solid-state switch, such as a diamond switch or antiparallel-connected thyristor pair, coupled in series between an AC source and the load, such as a substation input transformer. The control circuit may be configured to connect the AC power source to the load by closing the mechanical switch and turning on the solid-state switch thereafter. The control circuit may be configured to interrupt a connection of the AC source to the load by turning off the solid-state switch and closing the mechanical switch thereafter. Operations of the switches may be coordinated with a fuse coupled in series with the solid-state switch to address different types of fault conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical switch and a solid-state switch, such as a diamond switch or antiparallel-connected thyristor pair, coupled in series between an AC source and the load, such as a substation input transformer. The control circuit may be configured to connect the AC power source to the load by closing the mechanical switch and turning on the solid-state switch thereafter. The control circuit may be configured to interrupt a connection of the AC source to the load by turning off the solid-state switch and closing the mechanical switch thereafter. Operations of the switches may be coordinated with a fuse coupled in series with the solid-state switch to address different types of fault conditions.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor circuit configured to sense a parameter of a power system having an operating voltage greater than a voltage rating of the sensor circuit, an optical communications circuit configured to receive a sensor signal from the sensor circuit and to generate an optical communications signal therefrom, and an optical power supply circuit configured to receive an optical input, to generate electrical power from the received optical input and to supply the generated electrical power to the sensor circuit and the optical communications circuit. A driver circuit may be configured to generate a first control signal applied to a control terminal of the power semiconductor switch, and the optical power supply circuit may be configured to supply the generated electrical power to the sensor circuit, the optical communications circuit and the driver circuit.

Abstract: A system for high-voltage interconnecting and interfacing can include: a package for a circuit, wherein the package comprises a housing for the circuit; and a gate connector located centrally on a face of an exterior surface of the housing, wherein the gate connector enables wiring outside the package to couple to the gate connector from any of a plurality of directions. In certain embodiments, the package for the housing further comprises a pressure applicator about an exterior surface of the housing; and the system further comprises a leadline that extends from the circuit within the housing and beyond the exterior surface through an aperture in the housing, wherein the leadline can be deformed over the pressure applicator at the exterior surface such that the pressure applicator can apply pressure to the leadline against a contact surface of a second structure.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor circuit configured to sense a parameter of a power system having an operating voltage greater than a voltage rating of the sensor circuit, an optical communications circuit configured to receive a sensor signal from the sensor circuit and to generate an optical communications signal therefrom, and an optical power supply circuit configured to receive an optical input, to generate electrical power from the received optical input and to supply the generated electrical power to the sensor circuit and the optical communications circuit. A driver circuit may be configured to generate a first control signal applied to a control terminal of the power semiconductor switch, and the optical power supply circuit may be configured to supply the generated electrical power to the sensor circuit, the optical communications circuit and the driver circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a power semiconductor switch, a driver circuit configured to drive a control terminal of the power semiconductor switch, and a control circuit configured to apply a control signal to the driver circuit responsive to a comparison of a reference voltage to a voltage at the control terminal of the semiconductor switch. In some embodiments, the power semiconductor switch may include a field effect transistor (FET), such as a wide bandgap silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET. The control terminal may include a gate terminal of the FET, and the voltage at the control terminal may include a gate voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of parallel-connected semiconductor switches (e.g., silicon carbide (SiC) metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) or other wide-bandgap semiconductor switches) and a plurality of driver circuits having outputs configured to be coupled to control terminals of respective ones of the plurality of semiconductor switches and configured to drive the parallel-connected semiconductor switches responsive to a common switch state control signal. The driver circuits may have respective different power supplies, which may be adjustable. Respective output resistors may couple respective ones of the driver circuits to respective ones of the semiconductor switches. The output resistors may be adjustable.

Abstract: A rotary switch includes a housing having an interior and an exterior, a plurality of moving contacts entirely disposed within the interior of the housing, a plurality of stationary contacts disposed partially within the interior of the housing and extending to an exterior of the housing, and a rotary element coupled to the plurality of moving contacts and being structured to rotate between a closed state where at least one of the plurality moving contacts contact a corresponding one of the plurality of stationary contacts and an open state where the plurality of moving contacts and the plurality of stationary contacts are separated.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical switch and a solid-state switch, such as a diamond switch or antiparallel-connected thyristor pair, coupled in series between an AC source and the load, such as a substation input transformer. The control circuit may be configured to connect the AC power source to the load by closing the mechanical switch and turning on the solid-state switch thereafter. The control circuit may be configured to interrupt a connection of the AC source to the load by turning off the solid-state switch and closing the mechanical switch thereafter. Operations of the switches may be coordinated with a fuse coupled in series with the solid-state switch to address different types of fault conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a power semiconductor switch, a driver circuit configured to drive a control terminal of the power semiconductor switch, and a control circuit configured to apply a control signal to the driver circuit responsive to a comparison of a reference voltage to a voltage at the control terminal of the semiconductor switch. In some embodiments, the power semiconductor switch may include a field effect transistor (FET), such as a wide bandgap silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET. The control terminal may include a gate terminal of the FET, and the voltage at the control terminal may include a gate voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a power converter, includes first, second and third core bus plates arranged in parallel. The apparatus also includes a first bus extension plate joined to the first core bus plate and extending therefrom at a first angle and a second bus extension plate joined to the second core bus plate and extending therefrom at a second angle. The apparatus further includes a third bus extension plated joined with the third core bus plate and disposed parallel to the first bus extension plate and a fourth bus extension plate joined with the third core bus plate and disposed parallel to the second bus extension plate.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of parallel-connected semiconductor switches (e.g., silicon carbide (SiC) metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) or other wide-bandgap semiconductor switches) and a plurality of driver circuits having outputs configured to be coupled to control terminals of respective ones of the plurality of semiconductor switches and configured to drive the parallel-connected semiconductor switches responsive to a common switch state control signal. The driver circuits may have respective different power supplies, which may be adjustable. Respective output resistors may couple respective ones of the driver circuits to respective ones of the semiconductor switches. The output resistors may be adjustable.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a power converter, includes first, second and third core bus plates arranged in parallel. The apparatus also includes a first bus extension plate joined to the first core bus plate and extending therefrom at a first angle and a second bus extension plate joined to the second core bus plate and extending therefrom at a second angle. The apparatus further includes a third bus extension plated joined with the third core bus plate and disposed parallel to the first bus extension plate and a fourth bus extension plate joined with the third core bus plate and disposed parallel to the second bus extension plate.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of parallel-connected semiconductor switches (e.g., wide bandgap transistors) and a plurality of driver circuits having outputs configured to be coupled to control terminals of respective ones of the plurality of semiconductor switches and configured to drive the parallel-connected semiconductor switches responsive to a common switch state control signal. The apparatus further includes a control circuit configured to sense respective states of respective ones of the parallel-connected semiconductor switches and to control respective ones of the driver circuits responsive to respective ones of the sensed states.

Abstract: A system includes a controller circuit configured to provide control inputs to at least one component of a subsea electrical system, a simulator circuit coupled to the controller circuit and configured to maintain a model of the subsea electrical system and apply the control inputs to the model concurrent with provision of the control inputs to the at least one component and a monitor circuit coupled to the simulator circuit and configured to identify a status of the subsea electrical system responsive to the model. The simulator circuit may be configured to modify the model responsive to feedback signals received from the subsea electrical system and the monitor circuit may be configured to identify the status of the subsea electrical system responsive to a modification of the model.

Abstract: A rotary switch includes a housing having an interior and an exterior, a plurality of moving contacts entirely disposed within the interior of the housing, a plurality of stationary contacts disposed partially within the interior of the housing and extending to an exterior of the housing, and a rotary element coupled to the plurality of moving contacts and being structured to rotate between a closed state where at least one of the plurality moving contacts contact a corresponding one of the plurality of stationary contacts and an open state where the plurality of moving contacts and the plurality of stationary contacts are separated.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current between a power source and a load, an inductor coupled in series with the semiconductor switch, and a capacitor coupled to a node between the inductor and the load. The apparatus further includes a current sensor configured to sense a current provided to the load and a control circuit coupled to the current sensor and configured to control the semiconductor switch responsive to the sensed current.