Patents by Inventor Martin Putz

Martin Putz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230393179
    Abstract: To measure an insulation resistance of a DC voltage source connected to a split intermediate circuit, a midpoint potential of the DC voltage source is shifted by different operation of two voltage converters by way of which two poles of the DC voltage source are each connected to one of two parts of the split intermediate circuit. A change in a residual current across all lines that carry a current flowing across the intermediate circuit from the DC voltage source, resulting from the shifting of the midpoint potential of the DC voltage source, is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventor: Martin Putz
  • Publication number: 20230198247
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for electrolysis from photovoltaically generated DC power, including an electrolyzer and a DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter is configured to feed DC power to the electrolyzer via a DC bus, wherein: the DC power is generated by a photovoltaic (PV) sub-generator connected to the DC/DC converter. The PV sub-generator is connected to the DC/DC converter via a first disconnector that is coupled to an isolation monitoring structure in such a way that closure of the first disconnector requires a successful check for sufficient isolation of the PV sub-generator. The PV sub-generator has a main string and a second disconnector arranged between the main string and the first disconnector. The second disconnector is coupled to a fault current monitoring circuit of the main string in such a way that the second disconnector is opened in the event that a predefinable limit value of the fault current is exceeded. The disclosure also relates to a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Putz, Andreas Falk
  • Publication number: 20220373613
    Abstract: A fail-safe operating method for a decentralized power generation plant DG includes determining a leakage capacitance of a generator of the DG before connecting the DG. The method also includes comparing the determined leakage capacitance with a predetermined first limit value, and connecting the DG to a grid only if the determined leakage capacitance is smaller than the predetermined first limit value. A decentralized power generation plant is configured to perform the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Viotto, Martin Putz, Christian Tschendel
  • Patent number: 11360157
    Abstract: A fail-safe operating method for a decentralized power generation plant DG includes determining a leakage capacitance of a generator of the DG before connecting the DG. The method also includes comparing the determined leakage capacitance with a predetermined first limit value, and connecting the DG to a grid only if the determined leakage capacitance is smaller than the predetermined first limit value. A decentralized power generation plant is configured to perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Michael Viotto, Martin Putz, Christian Tschendel
  • Patent number: 11221356
    Abstract: A method for a single-fault-tolerant determination of an isolation resistance of a photovoltaic system including an inverter and a solar generator connected thereto is disclosed. The isolation resistance is determined as a function of a test voltage drop in a resistor network, wherein the resistor network is connected to a variable voltage source by way of a first terminal, to a first pole of the solar generator by way of a second terminal and to a ground terminal of the inverter via an isolation relay by way of a third terminal. A capacitor is disposed between the ground terminal and the first pole of the solar generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventor: Martin Putz
  • Publication number: 20210231735
    Abstract: A method for measuring insulation resistance in an inverter that has a DC link circuit and a bridge circuit, connected to the DC link circuit, for driving an AC current via a bridge center tap is disclosed. The method includes connecting the bridge center tap to a grounding point, successively connecting, by way of the bridge circuit, the bridge center tap that is connected to the grounding point to two points of the ungrounded DC link circuit that differ in terms of voltage, and measuring the current flowing from the two points that differ in terms of voltage to the grounding point. The two points of the ungrounded DC link circuit that differ in terms of voltage are selected from a group of points that includes at least one intermediate voltage point of the DC link circuit in addition to two end points of the DC link circuit, such that the voltages present between the two points that differ in terms of voltage and the grounding point do not exceed a predefined voltage limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Steffen Aust, Martin Putz
  • Publication number: 20200300924
    Abstract: A fail-safe operating method for a decentralized power generation plant DG includes determining a leakage capacitance of a generator of the DG before connecting the DG. The method also includes comparing the determined leakage capacitance with a predetermined first limit value, and connecting the DG to a grid only if the determined leakage capacitance is smaller than the predetermined first limit value. A decentralized power generation plant is configured to perform the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Viotto, Martin Putz, Christian Tschendel
  • Patent number: 10734944
    Abstract: An inverter including a circuit arrangement configured to measure an insulation resistance is disclosed. The inverter includes at least one half-bridge including at least two switching elements extending between respective end points, and a grid disconnection point comprising a series circuit comprised of two disconnection devices. The series circuit is arranged between a center point of the half-bridge and an AC voltage terminal of the inverter, which AC voltage terminal is configured to connect to a phase conductor or a neutral conductor of an AC voltage grid. The circuit arrangement includes a resistor and a voltage measurement apparatus. The resistor is arranged electrically in parallel with one of the disconnection devices and the voltage measurement apparatus is arranged electrically between the output-side terminal of the resistor and one of the end points of the half-bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Jens Friebe, Burkard Mueller, Martin Putz
  • Publication number: 20200116770
    Abstract: A method for a single-fault-tolerant determination of an isolation resistance of a photovoltaic system including an inverter and a solar generator connected thereto is disclosed. The isolation resistance is determined as a function of a test voltage drop in a resistor network, wherein the resistor network is connected to a variable voltage source by way of a first terminal, to a first pole of the solar generator by way of a second terminal and to a ground terminal of the inverter via an isolation relay by way of a third terminal. A capacitor is disposed between the ground terminal and the first pole of the solar generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventor: Martin Putz
  • Patent number: 10502778
    Abstract: A method for detecting high-frequency AC currents in a DC circuit including a common mode choke with two partial windings includes tapping voltages dropping across the two partial windings due to the AC current, superposing the tapped voltages, and obtaining a superposed AC voltage wherein differential mode portions of the tapped voltages are summed constructively and common mode portions of the voltages are summed destructively; and measuring the superposed AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventor: Martin Putz
  • Publication number: 20180302030
    Abstract: An inverter including a circuit arrangement configured to measure an insulation resistance is disclosed. The inverter includes at least one half-bridge including at least two switching elements extending between respective end points, and a grid disconnection point comprising a series circuit comprised of two disconnection devices. The series circuit is arranged between a center point of the half-bridge and an AC voltage terminal of the inverter, which AC voltage terminal is configured to connect to a phase conductor or a neutral conductor of an AC voltage grid. The circuit arrangement includes a resistor and a voltage measurement apparatus. The resistor is arranged electrically in parallel with one of the disconnection devices and the voltage measurement apparatus is arranged electrically between the output-side terminal of the resistor and one of the end points of the half-bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Jens Friebe, Burkard Mueller, Martin Putz
  • Publication number: 20160116524
    Abstract: A method for detecting high-frequency AC currents in a DC circuit including a common mode choke with two partial windings includes tapping voltages dropping across the two partial windings due to the AC current, superposing the tapped voltages, and obtaining a superposed AC voltage wherein differential mode portions of the tapped voltages are summed constructively and common mode portions of the voltages are summed destructively; and measuring the superposed AC voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: Martin Putz