Abstract: A floating solar power generation system includes a photovoltaic (“PV”) array. The PV array includes a plurality of PV modules mechanically bound together. Each of the PV modules includes solar cells for generating solar power that are embedded within a laminated structure which is compliant to folding or bending in response to wave action on a surface of a waterbody. The laminated structure of each of the PV modules floats in or on the waterbody in intimate contact with the waterbody to cool the solar cells.

Abstract: A photovoltaic (“PV”) macro-module for solar power generation includes a plurality of solar cell strings disposed within a laminated support structure. The solar cell strings generate solar power in response to light incident upon a frontside of the solar cell strings. Each of the solar cell strings includes a plurality of solar cells electrically connected in series. The laminated support includes a substrate layer to provide physical environmental protection to a back side of the solar cell strings, a backside encapsulant layer disposed between the substrate layer and the solar cell strings, and a frontside encapsulant layer. The backside encapsulant layer conforms to and molds around the back side of the solar cell strings while the frontside encapsulant layer conforms to and molds around the frontside of the solar cell strings. The laminated support structure is compliant to rolling or folding.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating a photovoltaic (“PV”) macro-module for solar power generation are described. The methods form a PV macro-module that includes solar cells embedded into a laminated support structure. The PV macro-module is compliant to folding or rolling.

Abstract: A method of deploying floating photovoltaic (“PV”) modules on water includes attaching first and second sections of a tensioning frame between a first group of mooring buoys. In a first embodiment, the first and second sections are adjoining sections attached to a common one of the mooring buoys and a plurality of PV modules are unrolled from positions adjacent to the first section of the tensioning frame and the PV modules are extended out from the first section. In a second embodiment, the PV modules are unrolled and extended out between two floating platforms. The PV modules are mechanically attached into a contiguous PV array. Third and fourth sections of the tensioning frame are attached between a second group of the mooring buoys to at least partially surround the PV array with the tensioning frame. Tension on the tensioning frame is adjusted to place the PV array under tension.

Abstract: A system for automatically regulating voltage on a distribution-level AC bus having an actual voltage and a nominal voltage includes an electronic power converter connected to the distribution-level AC bus. The system generates a feedback signal representative of the actual voltage of the distribution-level AC bus and produces an input control signal in response to the feedback signal. The input control signal is representative of a commanded level of reactive power. The electronic power converter is responsive to the input control signal to deliver a commanded reactive power output to the distribution-level AC bus, and the commanded reactive power output pushes the actual voltage towards the nominal voltage.

Abstract: A system for automatically regulating voltage on a distribution-level AC bus having an actual voltage and a nominal voltage includes an electronic power converter connected to the distribution-level AC bus. The system generates a feedback signal representative of the actual voltage of the distribution-level AC bus and produces an input control signal in response to the feedback signal. The input control signal is representative of a commanded level of reactive power. The electronic power converter is responsive to the input control signal to deliver a commanded reactive power output to the distribution-level AC bus, and the commanded reactive power output pushes the actual voltage towards the nominal voltage.

Abstract: A system for automatically regulating voltage on a distribution-level AC bus having an actual voltage and a nominal voltage includes an electronic power converter connected to the distribution-level AC bus. The system generates a feedback signal representative of the actual voltage of the distribution-level AC bus and produces an input control signal in response to the feedback signal. The input control signal is representative of a commanded level of reactive power. The electronic power converter is responsive to the input control signal to deliver a commanded reactive power output to the distribution-level AC bus, and the commanded reactive power output pushes the actual voltage towards the nominal voltage.

Abstract: A direct current to alternating current converter method and apparatus is disclosed that may comprise a direct current (DC) input source; an alternating current (AC) output inverter circuit, having an input connected across the DC input source; a partial power DC-DC boosting circuit intermediate to the DC input source and the DC input of the inverter stage, configured to increase the input voltage of the DC input source whenever the input voltage falls below a minimum required to synthesize an output waveform of a selected shape and a partial power DC-DC boosting circuit intermediate to the DC input source and the DC input of the inverter stage, configured to increase the input voltage of the DC input source during higher amplitude portions of inverter circuit output voltage waveform.

Abstract: A system for automatically regulating voltage on a distribution-level AC bus having an actual voltage and a nominal voltage includes an electronic power converter connected to the distribution-level AC bus. The system generates a feedback signal representative of the actual voltage of the distribution-level AC bus and produces an input control signal in response to the feedback signal. The input control signal is representative of a commanded level of reactive power. The electronic power converter is responsive to the input control signal to deliver a commanded reactive power output to the distribution-level AC bus, and the commanded reactive power output pushes the actual voltage towards the nominal voltage.

Abstract: Devices and systems that use an adaptively limited PWM duty-cycle to control a circuit and methods and control programs to operate and to control the devices and systems to adaptively limit the PWM duty-cycle are disclosed. The devices and systems are capable of adjusting the duty-cycle such that the actual inductor current in the next cycle is precisely limited. Specifically, a maximum allowable duty-cycle for time interval N+1 is estimated during time interval N. When the duty-cycle is applied to the circuit at time interval N+1, the peak inductor current is kept below a maximum allowable inductor current level.

Abstract: The combination of a fluorescent lamp with a grid between its electrodes and control equipment for operating the lamp in an on condition and an off condition by the application of pulses to the grid.

Abstract: A resonant forward converter at a switching frequency of 10 MHz provides a small volume point-of-load converter for distributed power systems. The leakage inductance of a transformer is made negligibly small relative to the magnetizing inductance of the transformer. This enables a resonant controllable switch on the primary side of a transformer and a secondary side rectified diode to be switched either on or off at the same time. The capacitance across the primary side switch and the secondary side diode rings with a resonant inductor connected in parallel with the transformer. Both the switch and diode, therefore, have zero voltage switching transitions. Further, the resonant inductor being connected in parallel with the transformer provides a resonant ring that is independent of load.