Abstract: A multilevel power converter includes a plurality of switches, a first DC link capacitor, a second DC link capacitor, and one or more processors configured to: generate, for a duty cycle of the multilevel power converter, a pulse width modulated pulse pattern in accordance with a reduced common mode voltage scheme; modify the pulse width modulated pulse pattern to render a modified pulse pattern; and cause the plurality of switches to implement the duty cycle based at least in part on the modified pulse pattern to render a common mode voltage pulse to balance voltages at the first DC link capacitor and the second DC link capacitor.

Abstract: This invention pertains to reliable, lightweight and efficient hybrid electric powertrain and components thereof to power hybrid electric aircraft from one or more sources of electrical energy. In particular, a novel architecture is proposed for power panels that receive, condition and distribute high levels of electrical power to and from the propulsion electric motors and the one or several sources of electrical energy. Systems and methods for architecting the power panels using efficient, reusable and modular power electronics building blocks (PEBBs) is described, along with additional systems and methods for the optimal control of the power panels and components thereof. In addition, novel systems and methods are described for the efficient and lightweight thermal management for hybrid electric powertrain components, ranging from distribution manifolds for the powertrain or power panels, to micro fluid channels for cooling electronics with extreme heat flux.

Abstract: An electric power system for a vehicle includes at least one electric machine, one or more power rectifiers, and a plurality of DC channels. The at least one electric machine includes a plurality of tooth-wound multi-phase windings that are substantially magnetically decoupled, and the at least one electric machine is mechanically balanced even if one of the plurality of windings is de-energized. The one or more power rectifiers are configured to produce rectified power from the power generated by the at least one electric machine. The plurality of DC channels are formed after the at least one power rectifier and are configured to provide DC power to one or more loads within a vehicle.

Abstract: A multilevel power converter includes a plurality of switches, a first DC link capacitor, a second DC link capacitor, and one or more processors configured to: generate, for a duty cycle of the multilevel power converter, a pulse width modulated pulse pattern in accordance with a reduced common mode voltage scheme; modify the pulse width modulated pulse pattern to render a modified pulse pattern; and cause the plurality of switches to implement the duty cycle based at least in part on the modified pulse pattern to render a common mode voltage pulse to balance voltages at the first DC link capacitor and the second DC link capacitor.

Abstract: A power converter is provided. In one aspect, the power converter has a first inverter and a second inverter electrically coupled with one another and with a power bus. First switches of the first inverter are arranged symmetrically with second switches of the second inverter so that, when switched in a pulse width modulated switching scheme, the first switches generate a first common mode signal and the second switches generate a second common mode signal that is one hundred eighty degrees out of phase with the first common mode signal. In another aspect, the power converter includes a buck stage having one or more pairs of symmetrically arranged buck switches that can be controlled to reduce or eliminate common mode electromagnetic interference in the buck stage. The power converter can also include one or more pairs of symmetrically arranged inductors.

Abstract: An electric power conversion system comprising: an alternating current (AC) source comprising a plurality of AC terminals for conducting AC power; a voltage source electrically coupled to the AC terminals; and a controller operably coupled to the voltage source, the controller being configured to: operate the voltage source to apply a fault reducing voltage at the AC terminals that reduces an AC line-to-line fault current (If).

Abstract: A power system including a power converter system and an electric machine is provided. In one aspect, the power converter system has first and second switching elements. The electric machine includes a first multiphase winding electrically coupled with the first switching elements and a second multiphase winding electrically coupled with the second switching elements. The first and second multiphase windings are arranged and configured to operate electrically opposite in phase with respect to one another. One or more processors control the first switching elements to generate first pulse width modulated (PWM) signals based on received voltage commands to render a first common mode signal and also control the second switching elements to generate second PWM signals based on received voltage commands to render a second common mode signal. The rendered first and second common mode signals have the same or similar waveform with opposite polarity with respect to one another.

Abstract: A power converter assembly includes a housing, a cold plate in the housing, and a set of power converter components on the cold plate. The cold plate is configured to receive a coolant. A first medium in the housing surrounds the cold plate and components. An expandable heat transfer structure is attached to one of the cold plate and the housing.

Abstract: An electric power system for a vehicle includes at least one electric machine, one or more power rectifiers, and a plurality of DC channels. The at least one electric machine includes a plurality of tooth-wound multi-phase windings that are substantially magnetically decoupled, and the at least one electric machine is mechanically balanced even if one of the plurality of windings is de-energized. The one or more power rectifiers are configured to produce rectified power from the power generated by the at least one electric machine. The plurality of DC channels are formed after the at least one power rectifier and are configured to provide DC power to one or more loads within a vehicle.

Abstract: A power system including a power converter system and an electric machine is provided. In one aspect, the power converter system has first and second switching elements. The electric machine includes a first multiphase winding electrically coupled with the first switching elements and a second multiphase winding electrically coupled with the second switching elements. The first and second multiphase windings are arranged and configured to operate electrically opposite in phase with respect to one another. One or more processors control the first switching elements to generate first pulse width modulated (PWM) signals based on received voltage commands to render a first common mode signal and also control the second switching elements to generate second PWM signals based on received voltage commands to render a second common mode signal. The rendered first and second common mode signals have the same or similar waveform with opposite polarity with respect to one another.

Abstract: A power system including a power converter system and an electric machine is provided. In one aspect, the power converter system has first and second switching elements. The electric machine includes a first multiphase winding electrically coupled with the first switching elements and a second multiphase winding electrically coupled with the second switching elements. The first and second multiphase windings are arranged and configured to operate electrically opposite in phase with respect to one another. One or more processors control the first switching elements to generate first pulse width modulated (PWM) signals based on received voltage commands to render a first common mode signal and also control the second switching elements to generate second PWM signals based on received voltage commands to render a second common mode signal. The rendered first and second common mode signals have the same or similar waveform with opposite polarity with respect to one another.

Abstract: This invention pertains to reliable, lightweight and efficient hybrid electric powertrain and components thereof to power hybrid electric aircraft from one or more sources of electrical energy. In particular, a novel architecture is proposed for power panels that receive, condition and distribute high levels of electrical power to and from the propulsion electric motors and the one or several sources of electrical energy. Systems and methods for architecting the power panels using efficient, reusable and modular power electronics building blocks (PEBBs) is described, along with additional systems and methods for the optimal control of the power panels and components thereof. In addition, novel systems and methods are described for the efficient and lightweight thermal management for hybrid electric powertrain components, ranging from distribution manifolds for the powertrain or power panels, to micro fluid channels for cooling electronics with extreme heat flux.

Abstract: An electric power system for a vehicle includes at least one electric machine, one or more power rectifiers, and a plurality of DC channels. The at least one electric machine includes a plurality of tooth-wound multi-phase windings that are substantially magnetically decoupled, and the at least one electric machine is mechanically balanced even if one of the plurality of windings is de-energized. The one or more power rectifiers are configured to produce rectified power from the power generated by the at least one electric machine. The plurality of DC channels are formed after the at least one power rectifier and are configured to provide DC power to one or more loads within a vehicle.

Abstract: An electric power system for a vehicle includes at least one electric machine, one or more power rectifiers, and a plurality of DC channels. The at least one electric machine includes a plurality of tooth-wound multi-phase windings that are substantially magnetically decoupled, and the at least one electric machine is mechanically balanced even if one of the plurality of windings is de-energized. The one or more power rectifiers are configured to produce rectified power from the power generated by the at least one electric machine. The plurality of DC channels are formed after the at least one power rectifier and are configured to provide DC power to one or more loads within a vehicle.

Abstract: This invention pertains to reliable, lightweight and efficient hybrid electric powertrain and components thereof to power hybrid electric aircraft from one or more sources of electrical energy. In particular, a novel architecture is proposed for power panels that receive, condition and distribute high levels of electrical power to and from the propulsion electric motors and the one or several sources of electrical energy. Systems and methods for architecting the power panels using efficient, reusable and modular power electronics building blocks (PEBBs) is described, along with additional systems and methods for the optimal control of the power panels and components thereof. In addition, novel systems and methods are described for the efficient and lightweight thermal management for hybrid electric powertrain components, ranging from distribution manifolds for the powertrain or power panels, to micro fluid channels for cooling electronics with extreme heat flux.

Abstract: An electric power system for a vehicle includes at least one electric machine, one or more power rectifiers, and a plurality of DC channels. The at least one electric machine includes a plurality of tooth-wound multi-phase windings that are substantially magnetically decoupled, and the at least one electric machine is mechanically balanced even if one of the plurality of windings is de-energized. The one or more power rectifiers are configured to produce rectified power from the power generated by the at least one electric machine. The plurality of DC channels are formed after the at least one power rectifier and are configured to provide DC power to one or more loads within a vehicle.

Abstract: A wind farm is presented. The wind farm includes a plurality of wind turbine stations, where each wind turbine station includes a wind turbine and a generator sub-system. The generator sub-system includes a doubly-fed induction generator configured to generate an alternating current voltage and a wind turbine station power converter. The wind farm further includes a power collection sub-system that includes a power bus and a sub-station power converter. The wind farm also includes a control system configured to determine a wind speed metric, estimate a corresponding frequency metric, calculate a desirable frequency based on the wind speed metric and frequency compensation ranges of the wind turbine station power converters, and generate and communicate control commands to the sub-station power converter based on the desirable frequency to allow the sub-station power converter to update a line frequency of a power bus voltage based on the desirable frequency.

Abstract: An electrical system includes a power electronics system and a bus bar coupled to the power electronic system. The power electronics system includes a switching device configured to selectively connect and disconnect. The bus bar includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The first conductive layer is disposed directly adjacent a first insulation layer, wherein the first conductive layer is configured to conduct a first polarity of electrical power to, from, or both the power electronics system. The second conductive layer is disposed directly adjacent the first insulation layer, and is configured to conduct a second polarity of electrical power opposite the first polarity to, from, or both the power electronics system. The first conductive layer comprises a first thickness half a second thickness of the second conductive layer.

Abstract: An electrical system includes a power electronics system and a bus bar coupled to the power electronic system. The power electronics system includes a switching device configured to selectively connect and disconnect. The bus bar includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The first conductive layer is disposed directly adjacent a first insulation layer, wherein the first conductive layer is configured to conduct a first polarity of electrical power to, from, or both the power electronics system. The second conductive layer is disposed directly adjacent the first insulation layer, and is configured to conduct a second polarity of electrical power opposite the first polarity to, from, or both the power electronics system. The first conductive layer comprises a first thickness half a second thickness of the second conductive layer.

Abstract: Power converters for use in wind turbine systems are included. For instance, a wind turbine system can include a full power generator having a stator and a rotor. The generator is configured to provide a low voltage alternating current power on a stator bus of the wind turbine system. The wind turbine system includes a power converter configured to convert the low voltage alternating current power provided on the stator bus to a medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power suitable for provision to the electrical grid. The power converter includes a plurality of conversion modules, each conversion module comprising a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices coupled in series. Each conversion module is configured to provide a single phase of the medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power on a line bus of the wind turbine system.