Abstract: In a system composed of at least two components joined by a common DC bus, a method to regulate the common DC bus and share the regulation of the DC bus between two or more elements connected to the DC bus through power converters by: implementing a first controller on each converter to introduce a virtual resistance or droop at the terminals of the converter that are connected to the bus being regulated; and implementing a second controller to regulate a second variable different from the common DC bus voltage where the output of the controller is used to shift the virtual resistance curve up and down.

Abstract: In a system composed of at least two components joined by a common DC bus, a method to regulate the common DC bus and share the regulation of the DC bus between two or more elements connected to the DC bus through power converters by: implementing a first controller on each converter to introduce a virtual resistance or droop at the terminals of the converter that are connected to the bus being regulated; and implementing a second controller to regulate a second variable different from the common DC bus voltage where the output of the controller is used to shift the virtual resistance curve up and down.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of providing a common DC bus to interconnect power elements to a DC distribution system using power converters. A first group of one or more of the elements (main element) is used to execute the primary function by automatically maintaining the DC bus voltage following a set point. The DC bus voltage set point is intentionally changed with slow dynamics according to a secondary function executed by the main element such that the average DC bus voltage regulated by the main element changes. A local logic is used on each of the power elements connected to the DC bus but different from the main element to modify their power generation or consumption as a result of changes in the measured average DC bus voltage such that they contribute to the fulfillment of the secondary level of control.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of providing a common DC bus to interconnect power elements to a DC distribution system using power converters. A first group of one or more of the elements (main element) is used to execute the primary function by automatically maintaining the DC bus voltage following a set point. The DC bus voltage set point is intentionally changed with slow dynamics according to a secondary function executed by the main element such that the average DC bus voltage regulated by the main element changes. A local logic is used on each of the power elements connected to the DC bus but different from the main element to modify their power generation or consumption as a result of changes in the measured average DC bus voltage such that they contribute to the fulfillment of the secondary level of control.

Abstract: A method for transferring power between two DC circuits, each circuit being bipolar or connected at the midpoint thereof, involves: coupling the high voltage bus across a pair of inductors, arranged in parallel; coupling the low voltage bus across the pair of inductors; coupling the high voltage bus, the low voltage bus and the inductors by active switches and diodes, to provide for: (i) a storage configuration, wherein energy is transferred from one of the buses and stored in the inductors; and (ii) a release configuration, wherein energy is released from the inductors and transferred to the other of the buses.

Abstract: An improved method for controlling an electrical distribution system of the type having a plurality of electrical sources, a load, a DC link coupling the electrical sources to the load and a control means for controlling the output of at least one of the plurality of electrical sources so that the plurality of sources deliver to the load an amount of power appropriate to the load. The improvement comprises an adaptation in respect of the load that provides for the DC link voltage to vary; and an adaptation of the control means resulting in the output being controlled as a direct function of the DC link voltage.

Abstract: A system and method to interconnect several conventional or alternative power generators, loads, and/or energy storage elements physically separated from each other in a DC distribution system. The method includes the steps of providing a common DC bus to interconnect all of the elements in the DC distributed system using power converters. A first group of one or more of the elements (main element) is used to automatically maintain the voltage of the DC link following a set a set point to provide for the load matching. The average DC link voltage (set point) maintained by the main element is intentionally changed in order to indicate all of the other elements connected to the DC bus how they need to modify their power generation or consumption.

Abstract: The present invention provides a series of DC-DC converter circuit designs, and DC-DC converters based on such circuit design, that provide high input-to-output voltage conversion. The converters include a resonant tank and a means for interrupting the tank current to produce a near zero-loss “hold” state wherein zero current and/or zero voltage switching is provided, while providing control over the amount of power transfer. A resonant DC-DC converter for high voltage step-up ratio in accordance with the circuit design includes: (a) a low voltage DC-AC converter, (b) a resonant tank, (c) a high voltage AC-DC converter, (d) a (i) common ground on an input and an output without use of a transformer and/or (ii) a single high voltage controllable switch within the resonant tank.

Abstract: A method for transferring power between two DC circuits, each circuit being bipolar or connected at the midpoint thereof, involves: coupling the high voltage bus across a pair of inductors, arranged in parallel; coupling the low voltage bus across the pair of inductors; coupling the high voltage bus, the low voltage bus and the inductors by active switches and diodes, to provide for: (i) a storage configuration, wherein energy is transferred from one of the buses and stored in the inductors; and (ii) a release configuration, wherein energy is released from the inductors and transferred to the other of the buses.

Abstract: An improved method for controlling an electrical distribution system of the type having a plurality of electrical sources, a load, a DC link coupling the electrical sources to the load and a control means for controlling the output of at least one of the plurality of electrical sources so that the plurality of sources deliver to the load an amount of power appropriate to the load. The improvement comprises an adaptation in respect of the load that provides for the DC link voltage to vary; and an adaptation of the control means resulting in the output being controlled as a direct function of the DC link voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a series of DC-DC converter circuit designs, and DC-DC converters based on such circuit design, that provide high input-to-output voltage conversion. The converters include a resonant tank and a means for interrupting the tank current to produce a near zero-loss “hold” state wherein zero current and/or zero voltage switching is provided, while providing control over the amount of power transfer. A resonant DC-DC converter for high voltage step-up ratio in accordance with the circuit design includes: (a) a low voltage DC-AC converter, (b) a resonant tank, (c) a high voltage AC-DC converter, (d) a (i) common ground on an input and an output without use of a transformer and/or (ii) a single high voltage controllable switch within the resonant tank.

Abstract: A ground fault detector interrupter (GFDI) is described. The GFDI configured for use with a DC power supply and comprises the following elements. A ground current path is provided for coupling a ground terminal of the DC power supply and a system ground. A grounding switch is placed in the ground current path. A current detector is configured to detect a ground current in the ground current path. A controller is configured to compare the ground current with a predefined current set point and output a fault indication signal if the ground current exceeds the predefined current set point. The fault indication signal results in the grounding switch being open.

Abstract: A DC to two-phase AC inverter that includes three one-leg switch mode inverters circuits or a three-phase bridge circuit and a controller/driver circuit. The controller/driver circuit includes a triangular waveform generator and two sinusoidal reference waveform generators out of phase with each other, the sinusoidal waveforms generated at the desired AC output frequency, and the triangular waveform generated at a higher frequency. The controller/driver circuit is configured to drive one leg of the bridge circuit with a 50% duty cycle at the triangular waveform frequency and the other two legs at the triangular waveform frequency with pulse width modulated signals, the pulse widths of each signal varying with a discrete one of the sinusoidal waveforms. Each phase of two-phase AC is provided by the inverter between the leg driven at the 50% duty cycle and a discrete one of the other legs.

Abstract: A DC to two-phase AC inverter that includes three one-leg switch mode inverters circuits or a three-phase bridge circuit and a controller/driver circuit. The controller/driver circuit includes a triangular waveform generator and two sinusoidal reference waveform generators out of phase with each other, the sinusoidal waveforms generated at the desired AC output frequency, and the triangular waveform generated at a higher frequency. The controller/driver circuit is configured to drive one leg of the bridge circuit with a 50% duty cycle at the triangular waveform frequency and the other two legs at the triangular waveform frequency with pulse width modulated signals, the pulse widths of each signal varying with a discrete one of the sinusoidal waveforms. Each phase of two-phase AC is provided by the inverter between the leg driven at the 50% duty cycle and a discrete one of the other legs.