Abstract: A converter includes a DC bus, a first DC-DC converter, a second DC-DC converter, and a plurality of circulating current suppression circuits. The first DC-DC converter is coupled to the DC bus and includes a first plurality of switches. The second DC-DC converter is coupled to the DC bus in parallel with the first DC-DC converter. The second DC-DC converter includes a second plurality of switches. The plurality of circulating current suppression circuits are coupled to the DC bus and are further respectively coupled to the first DC-DC converter and the second DC-DC converter. Each of the plurality of circulating current suppression circuits has a resonant frequency at or around a switching frequency for the first and second pluralities of switches. The plurality of circulating current suppression circuits is configured to suppress current at or around the switching frequency and pass at least direct current.

Abstract: A multilevel converter system is provided. The multilevel converter system includes a multilevel converter and a short-circuit protection circuit. The multilevel converter includes a first segment and a second segment electrically connected to the first segment, wherein the first and second segments are each configured to convert a first current to a second current. The first segment includes a plurality of first switches. The second segment includes a plurality of second switches. The short-circuit protection circuit is electrically connected to the multilevel converter, wherein the short-circuit protection circuit includes at least one electrical component that is electrically connected in parallel with at least one of the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches. The short-circuit protection circuit is configured to protect the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches from a short-circuit current during a short-circuit condition.

Abstract: A battery system for storing electric energy on a grid system comprises a stationary energy storage facility comprising a first bank of batteries comprising a first plurality of batteries of a first type, wherein the first type comprises stationary storage batteries, a local power conversion system for receiving output of the first plurality of batteries and outputting power to the grid system, and a local controller for integrating and operating the local power conversion system with the first bank of batteries; an augmentation battery system comprising a second bank of batteries comprising a second plurality of batteries of a second type, wherein the second type of batteries comprises electric vehicle batteries, a secondary power conversion system for receiving output of the second plurality of batteries and outputting power to the local power conversion system, and a battery management system for operating the second bank of batteries, the battery management system comprising part of the electric vehicle b

Abstract: A converter includes a DC bus, a first DC-DC converter, a second DC-DC converter, and a plurality of circulating current suppression circuits. The first DC-DC converter is coupled to the DC bus and includes a first plurality of switches. The second DC-DC converter is coupled to the DC bus in parallel with the first DC-DC converter. The second DC-DC converter includes a second plurality of switches. The plurality of circulating current suppression circuits are coupled to the DC bus and are further respectively coupled to the first DC-DC converter and the second DC-DC converter. Each of the plurality of circulating current suppression circuits has a resonant frequency at or around a switching frequency for the first and second pluralities of switches. The plurality of circulating current suppression circuits is configured to suppress current at or around the switching frequency and pass at least direct current.

Abstract: A multilevel converter system is provided. The multilevel converter system includes a multilevel converter and a short-circuit protection circuit. The multilevel converter includes a first segment and a second segment electrically connected to the first segment, wherein the first and second segments are each configured to convert a first current to a second current. The first segment includes a plurality of first switches. The second segment includes a plurality of second switches. The short-circuit protection circuit is electrically connected to the multilevel converter, wherein the short-circuit protection circuit includes at least one electrical component that is electrically connected in parallel with at least one of the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches. The short-circuit protection circuit is configured to protect the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches from a short-circuit current during a short-circuit condition.

Abstract: A control circuit for a power converter is provided. The control circuit includes a pulse width modulator, a current feedback loop, a bus voltage feedforward path, and a logic circuit. The pulse width modulator generates a control signal for the power converter to regulate a load current. The current feedback loop controls the pulse width modulator to converge the load current to a demanded current. The bus voltage feedforward path measures a bus voltage supplied to the power converter at an input bus and, in combination with the current feedback loop, control the pulse width modulator to regulate the load current based on the bus voltage. The logic circuit collects load current measurements and determines, based at least partially thereon, a voltage variation event has occurred on the input bus, and disables the control signal for the power converter in response to determining the voltage variation event has occurred.

Abstract: Controlling an energy storage system includes providing one or more constraints to an optimization problem algorithm, determining by the optimization problem algorithm a DC bus voltage value that results in an minimum total power dissipation for the plurality of power converters, calculating a respective control variable for each of the respective plurality of power converters based on the determined DC bus voltage value, and generating control processor executable instructions to implement control of each of the plurality of power converters to achieve the calculated respective control variable. A system for implementing the method and a non-transitory computer-readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: Controlling an energy storage system includes providing one or more constraints to an optimization problem algorithm, determining by the optimization problem algorithm a DC bus voltage value that results in an minimum total power dissipation for the plurality of power converters, calculating a respective control variable for each of the respective plurality of power converters based on the determined DC bus voltage value, and generating control processor executable instructions to implement control of each of the plurality of power converters to achieve the calculated respective control variable. A system for implementing the method and a non-transitory computer-readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: Controlling an energy storage system includes accessing monitored sensor data and component data, if the DC bus voltage is less than the renewable energy power module (REPM) output voltage then selecting battery modules in combination with a power-network inverter to source power to the bus, else if greater than the REPM voltage then selecting battery modules in combination with the inverter to sink power from the bus, instructing respective control processors of the selected battery modules and a control processor of the inverter to either source/sink power respectively to/from the DC bus, accessing updated DC bus voltage and updated REPM output voltage, and if the DC bus voltage and the REPM output voltage are about equal, then periodically accessing sensor data and component data, else reselecting and reinstructing the battery modules in combination with the inverter. A system for implementing the method and a non-transitory computer-readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: An energy storage module includes a module housing, a positive polarity module terminal and a negative polarity module terminal accessible via an external surface of the housing, and a plurality of battery cells contained within the housing and coupled in series between the positive polarity terminal and a negative polarity terminal to form a battery cell string. A removable manual service disconnect (MSD) unit is physically coupled to the external surface of the housing and electrically coupled between at least one battery cell in the battery cell string and one of the module terminals. The MSD unit has at least a first MSD operating state to allow current conduction between the positive polarity module terminal and the negative polarity module terminal, and a second MSD operating state to prevent current conduction between the positive polarity module terminal and the negative polarity module terminal.

Abstract: Controlling an energy storage system includes accessing monitored sensor data and component data, if the DC bus voltage is less than the renewable energy power module (REPM) output voltage then selecting battery modules in combination with a power-network inverter to source power to the bus, else if greater than the REPM voltage then selecting battery modules in combination with the inverter to sink power from the bus, instructing respective control processors of the selected battery modules and a control processor of the inverter to either source/sink power respectively to/from the DC bus, accessing updated DC bus voltage and updated REPM output voltage, and if the DC bus voltage and the REPM output voltage are about equal, then periodically accessing sensor data and component data, else reselecting and reinstructing the battery modules in combination with the inverter. A system for implementing the method and a non-transitory computer-readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: An energy storage module includes a module housing, a positive polarity module terminal and a negative polarity module terminal accessible via an external surface of the housing, and a plurality of battery cells contained within the housing and coupled in series between the positive polarity terminal and a negative polarity terminal to form a battery cell string. A removable manual service disconnect (MSD) unit is physically coupled to the external surface of the housing and electrically coupled between at least one battery cell in the battery cell string and one of the module terminals. The MSD unit has at least a first MSD operating state to allow current conduction between the positive polarity module terminal and the negative polarity module terminal, and a second MSD operating state to prevent current conduction between the positive polarity module terminal and the negative polarity module terminal.

Abstract: A reservoir includes power generation sources and energy storage systems. Some of the energy storage systems have a housing and energy storage devices. The energy storage systems are electrically connected to selected ones of the power generation sources. A system level combiner is in each of the energy storage systems, and the system level combiner combines power from the energy storage devices and selected ones of the power generation sources to provide system level combined power as a first output. A reservoir level combiner combines the system level combined power from a plurality of system level combiners into a reservoir level combined power. A power conditioning system receives, combines, and conditions the reservoir level combined power from the energy storage systems for supply to a power network. The energy storage devices are electrically connected to each other through the system level combiner and the reservoir level combiner.