Plural Inverters Patents (Class 363/71)
-
Publication number: 20150016161Abstract: A power converter includes inverters, AC sides of the inverters being connected in parallel, a power command value determiner configured to determine a first power command value and a second power command value, the first power command value being lower than a proportional division power value obtained by proportionally dividing a required power value required as total output power of the inverters based on respective rated outputs of the inverters, the second power command value being higher than the proportional division power value, and a controller configured to control output powers of the inverters at the first power command value and the second power command value determined by the power command value determiner.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems CorporationInventors: Tsuguhiro TANAKA, Naoki FUJIWARA
-
Publication number: 20150016159Abstract: A multiphase power converter circuit includes at least two single phase power converter circuits. Each single phase power converter circuit includes at least one converter series circuit with a number of converter units. The converter series circuit is configured to output a series circuit output current. A synchronization circuit is configured to generate at least one synchronization signal. At least one of the converter units is configured to generate an output current such that at least one of a frequency and a phase of the output current is dependent on the synchronization signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2013Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventor: Gerald Deboy
-
Patent number: 8929109Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-output half-bridge LLC serial resonant converter, comprising: a half-bridge rectifying unit, a first resonant unit, a first transformer unit, a first rectifying unit, a first output unit, a second resonant unit, a second transformer unit, a second rectifying unit, a second output unit, a voltage dividing unit, a voltage regulating unit, a light-coupling isolation unit, and a control unit. In the present invention, the double-output half-bridge LLC serial resonant converter has an inventive circuit framework, which can not only solve the unbalance load current and the output voltage cross regulation occurred in the conventional double-output convertor, but also normally modulate the no-load or light-load output voltage; therefore the output voltage deviation can be effectively controlled.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Inventors: Zen-Shan Chang, Ying-Sun Huang, Kuo-Sheng Fu, Kuo-Kuang Jen, Chien-Min Kao
-
Patent number: 8922062Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes solar cells and photovoltaic inverters configured to convert direct current generated by the solar cells to alternating current. Grid voltage at the point of interconnection (POI) of the photovoltaic system and the power grid is measured and compared to a setpoint. A control signal is generated based on the measured grid voltage. The control signal is provided to the photovoltaic inverters. The control signal is adjusted to cause the photovoltaic inverters to generate or absorb reactive power to respond to transient grid voltage changes.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Lars Johnson, Robert Johnson
-
Patent number: 8923024Abstract: A series-connected multi-level power conversion device according to an aspect of embodiments includes a multi-winding transformer and a power conversion unit. The multi-winding transformer has a relationship that n secondary windings respectively connected to n single-phase power converters in the same output phase have a voltage phase difference of 60/n degrees and a relationship that the m secondary windings respectively connected to the m single-phase power converters corresponding to the m output phases have a voltage phase difference of 60/m degrees.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Taisuke Katayama, Ryuji Suenaga, Kazuhiro Umeo, Eiji Yamamoto
-
Publication number: 20140376289Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems, computer program products, and devices for renewable energy site power limit control that address conditions of plant saturation and loop delay. In an exemplary embodiment, power limit control of the present invention is broken into two levels of control: a site-wide real power limit control that produces a single site-wide command, SitePlimCom, for all inverters, and inverter-level power limit control that outputs a command, Inv[x].PlimCom[k], for individual inverters. In some embodiments, the invention has one or more of the following features: an integrator with nonlinear gains, limit based anti-windup, a power limit control term based on the sum of both integrator and feed-forward terms, and an inverter-level controller designed to meet slew rate and site power overshoot constraints.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Paul S. Bixel, Benjamin D. Rudolph
-
Patent number: 8916811Abstract: An integrated electronics housing contains both system electronics and power generation circuits for a two-axis tracker assembly having a CPV solar array. The housing contains at least a communication bus, motion control circuits, and inverter circuits, and acts as the local system control point for that tracker mechanism. The inverter circuits generate three-phase AC voltage that is supplied to a grid interface transformer. Each inverter receives a bipolar DC voltage supplied from its own set of CPV cells. The motion control circuits move the CPV cells of the tracker mechanism to angular coordinates resulting from a solar tracking algorithm. The communication bus connects to the motion control circuits and the inverter circuits to facilitate communications of information, including parameters of power being generated by the inverter circuits, between the motion control circuits and the AC inverter circuits to fine tune the AC power generated out of the tracker mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Western Gas and Electric CompanyInventors: Wayne Miller, Hossein Kazemi, Brian Hinman
-
Patent number: 8912765Abstract: A generator system includes a generator having a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The generator includes a permanent magnet based exciter with permanent magnets disposed on the stationary portion. A first channel includes a first main field winding and a first main field power converter disposed on a rotating portion. The first main field power converter selectively delivers voltage from the exciter winding to the first main field winding. A second channel includes a second main field winding and a second main field power converter disposed on the rotating portion. The second main field power converter selectively delivers voltage from the exciter winding to the second main field winding. A generator control unit is connected to the first channel and the second channel. The generator control unit monitors an output voltage at each of the first channel and the second channel and generates the first and second control signals based on the output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Jacek F. Gieras, Steven J. Moss
-
Patent number: 8908402Abstract: A modular high-frequency converter includes submodules, each having an input-side half bridge and a DC link circuit with a DC link capacitance connected in parallel to the half bridge. A DC link circuit voltage drop across the DC link capacitance of each submodule is controlled to a target voltage by adjusting a duty cycle with a closed-loop control structure having a pilot control and a downstream closed-loop error control. Within the framework of the pilot control, a target value for each duty cycle and a target value for the supply current are determined, using a mathematical model of the converter, based on the load-side output currents flowing out of the DC link voltage circuits and on target values of the DC link circuit voltages. Switch position parameters, which map the effect of the switch positions of the input-side half bridges, are each replaced by an associated duty cycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Michael Kopf, Marcel Lutze, Mirjam Mantel, Markus Reinhard, Stefan Völkel
-
Patent number: 8908401Abstract: A high-frequency DC to DC converter comprising n transient converter circuits (1, 2 . . . n) operating in parallel. The converter has constant transfer characteristics, and the transient converter circuits are operated phase-shifted by 360°/n and with interleaved duty cycles, which results in a continuous energy transfer through the circuit. The circuit is also soft-switched, with very low switching losses. In particular, the active semiconductors only switch off a relatively small magnetization current, during a recovery phase which can last as long as (n?1)/n of the switching phase period.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: APS Elctronic AGInventors: Max Hiltbrunner, Urs Christen, Hans-Rudolf Riniker
-
Patent number: 8901411Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) control system generates a power output rate control signal based on a monitored rate of change of collective power output generated via a plurality of PV subsystems and a desired collective output power change rate for the plurality of PV subsystems and communicates the power output rate control signal to the plurality of PV subsystems to control a rate of change of one or more operating parameters of individual PV subsystems in order to control a rate of change of collective output power of the plurality of solar PV subsystems.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2008Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Yan Liu, Luis Jose Garces, Sumit Bose
-
Patent number: 8896260Abstract: A power supply unit for a press machine having a converter (converter circuit) connected to a commercial AC power supply, and an inverter (inverter circuit) connected to a press motor, includes an electrical energy bank, an inrush prevention circuit, an inrush prevention instruction signal generation section, and a contactor switch section, wherein contactors of the inrush prevention circuit are switched from on ON state to an OFF state and inrush prevention resistors of the inrush prevention circuit are connected to AC phase current paths on condition that the inrush prevention instruction signal generation section has generated and output an inrush prevention instruction signal (Sres) during press operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Aida Engineering, Ltd.Inventor: Kazuhiro Kuboe
-
Publication number: 20140334204Abstract: To perform an anti-windup control without interference with a cross current compensating function even in case of voltage saturation. There is provided a feedback value calculating section to calculate an average of voltage commands V1_cmd, V2_cmd after output limitation, as a feedback value. As a deviation used for an integral calculation of a current control section 6a, 6b, a sum obtained by adding a product to a deviation between a current command value Id_cmd, Iq_cmd and a current detection value Id_det, Iq_det is used. The product is a quantity obtained by multiplying a saturation quantity by a feedback gain Kfb. The saturation quantity is a saturation quantity of an operation quantity limited by a voltage command limiting section 3a, 3b, and the saturation quantity is a deviation or difference between a feedback value V_fb (Vd_fb, Vq_fb) and the voltage command Vd_cmd.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2012Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: Meidensha CorporationInventors: Shizunori Hamada, Toshimichi Takahashi
-
Patent number: 8885373Abstract: An energy conversion system and method perform active control of leakage current in multi-level grounded inverters. First and second subsystems each include positive and negative DC source terminals, at least first and second capacitors coupled between the positive and negative terminals to define a common bulk node for the respective subsystem, a DC/DC converter for regulating voltages across the capacitors, and an inverter. The inverters are coupled in parallel to an AC load. First and second grounding branches are homogenously coupled to terminals in the first and second subsystems, respectively, and to the same ground terminal. Control circuitry detects a leakage current value through the ground terminal, generates leakage current control signals for the respective DC/DC converters based at least in part on the detected leakage current value and a reference current value, and communicates the control signals to the DC/DC converters.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Power-One Italy S.pA.Inventors: Massimo Valiani, David Martini, Andrea Marcianesi
-
Patent number: 8879293Abstract: A cooling system of a server with an AC power source and a DC power source includes an AC input subsystem, a DC input subsystem, and a driving control subsystem. The AC input subsystem receives an external AC power source and provides a first DC voltage and a second DC voltage. The DC input subsystem receives an external DC power source and provides a third DC voltage and a fourth DC voltage. When the external AC power source normally works, the driving control subsystem controls the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage to supply a high-voltage cooling apparatus and a low-voltage cooling apparatus, respectively. When the external DC power source normally works, the driving control subsystem controls the fourth DC voltage and the third DC voltage to supply the high-voltage cooling apparatus and the low-voltage cooling apparatus, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Yen-Chang Chen, Chien-Chung Lee, Chen-Yu Huang, Yu-Chieh Tseng
-
Patent number: 8880229Abstract: Disclosed here is a grid-interactive photovoltaic generation system having power quality improvement and power saving functions. The grid-interactive photovoltaic generation system includes a solar cell array, a first inverter, and a second inverter. The solar cell array receives solar light and generates predetermined power. The first inverter converts the power, generated by the solar cell array, into power required by a grid line. The second inverter is connected to the first inverter, and steps down power, which will be supplied to a load, to an appropriate voltage.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2008Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Kunsan National University Industry-Academy Cooperation FoundationInventor: Seong Ryong Lee
-
Publication number: 20140306544Abstract: A photovoltaic system for converting a DC voltage from a photovoltaic generator into an AC voltage, includes a transformerless power inverter which comprises high-frequency-clocked switching units, the DC voltage input of which is connected to the photovoltaic generator, and the AC voltage output of which is connected to a series circuit consisting of a bias generating device and an inductive HF decoupling device. The bias generating device is used to apply a bias potential to the AC voltage output of the power inverter, said bias potential also indirectly influencing the voltage potential at the DC voltage input of the power inverter. The inductive HF decoupling device is used for the HF decoupling of the AC voltage side from the DC voltage side of the power inverter in order to prevent capacitive discharge currents to the photovoltaic generator due to the use of the bias generating device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2012Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: REFUSOL GMBHInventors: Jochen Hantschel, Steffen Notz
-
Patent number: 8861235Abstract: A power converting apparatus includes a main inverter having a high-voltage DC power supply that operates at a low frequency employing SiC MOSFETs having a high withstand voltage exceeding 600 V and a sub-inverter having a low-voltage capacitor that operates through high-frequency PWM employing Si MOSFETs having a low withstand voltage. With AC sides of the main inverter and the sub-inverter connected in series, the power converting apparatus outputs AC power having a prescribed voltage waveform by adding voltages individually generated by the main inverter and the sub-inverter. Specifically, the SiC MOSFETs are used only in the main inverter of which devices are required to have a high withstand voltage and the Si MOSFETs are used in the sub-inverter of which devices may have a relatively low withstand voltage, whereby conduction loss is reduced with an inexpensive circuit configuration.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Satoshi Azuma, Takeshi Oi, Akihiko Iwata
-
Publication number: 20140293668Abstract: A power electronic converter, for connecting AC and DC networks and transferring power therebetween, comprises: first and second DC terminals for connection in use to a DC network; at least one primary converter limb extending between the first and second DC terminals and having first and second primary limb portions separated by a primary AC terminal for connection in use to a respective phase of a multi-phase AC network, at least one of the first and second primary limb portions including at least one primary active switching module to selectively allow current to flow through the corresponding primary converter limb in a first direction from the corresponding primary AC terminal to the DC terminals and in a second direction from the DC terminals to the corresponding primary AC terminal; and at least one secondary converter limb extending between the first and second DC terminals and having first and second secondary limb portions separated by a secondary AC terminal for connection in use to a further respeType: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2011Publication date: October 2, 2014Inventor: David Reginald Trainer
-
Patent number: 8848405Abstract: The invention relates to a DC to AC converter circuit. In particular, the invention relates to a half-bridge inverter for converting a DC to an AC voltage. The half-bridge inverter for converting a DC input voltage to provide an AC output voltage at an output terminal, comprising a first switching circuit connected to at least one input terminal and to the output terminal and configured to provide a high or a low voltage level at the output terminal; a second switching circuit connected to the output terminal and configured to provide a connection to an intermediate voltage level, the intermediate voltage level being between the high and the low voltage level; and wherein the second switching circuit is further connected to the at least one input terminal allowing the second switching circuit to provide the high or the low voltage level at the output terminal.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2011Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Vincotech Holdings S.A.R.L.Inventors: Ernö Temesi, Michael Frisch
-
Patent number: 8841787Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of gensets during a failsafe condition is provided. The method may include operating one or more of the gensets according to a modified isochronous control scheme, and operating a remainder of the gensets according an adaptive droop control scheme. The modified isochronous control scheme may include varying the frequency of each isochronous genset with respect to load for lower-range loads and upper-range loads, and maintaining the frequency of each isochronous genset at nominal frequencies for mid-range loads. The adaptive droop control scheme may include adjusting the frequency of each droop genset to match the frequency of the isochronous gensets, and varying the load of each droop genset with respect to frequency for lower-range loads and upper-range loads.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Keith Folken, Matthew Joseph Meinhart, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Andrew William Black
-
Patent number: 8842454Abstract: An apparatus for delivering AC power to an AC load may include a plurality of inverters to receive direct current (DC) power from a respective DC power source and respectively provide AC power to an AC load. The apparatus may further include a first controller to generate a first control signal based on total AC current and total AC voltage being delivered to the AC load by the plurality of inverters. The apparatus may further include a plurality of secondary controllers to each receive the first control signal and each produce a respective secondary control signal based on the first control signal. The respective secondary control signal for each of the plurality of secondary controllers is configured to control a corresponding one of the plurality of inverters to provide a portion of the AC power.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Brian Johnson, Philip Krein, Alexander Gray, Patrick L. Chapman
-
Publication number: 20140268948Abstract: A power converter system includes an interleaved power converter having a plurality of parallel-connected phase legs between DC terminals and an AC terminal. A plurality of parallel-connected inductors are each connected to one of the plurality of parallel-connected phase legs to provide a summed output of the parallel-connected phase legs to the AC terminal. A controller generates PWM signals used to control the state of each of the plurality of phase legs by comparing a carrier signal to a reference signal, wherein a period of the carrier signal is randomly varied from a nominal period.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Adam Michael White, Mustansir Kheraluwala, Steven A. Davidson
-
Patent number: 8837179Abstract: An alternating current power supply device comprises a DC power supply for generating direct current power, a plurality of, e.g., three first DC/AC inverter to third DC/AC inverter which are arranged in parallel and electrically connected to the DC power supply, for converting the direct current power generated by the DC power supply into alternating current power and supplying the alternating current power to a load, and a control unit for controlling the driving of the first DC/AC inverter to the third DC/AC inverter. The capacitance A of the first DC/AC inverter is set to W/6, the capacitance A of the second DC/AC inverter is set to W/3, and the capacitance A of the third DC/AC inverter is set to W/2.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Atsushi Ishioka
-
Publication number: 20140254219Abstract: A power conversion system comprising a plurality of modules each having an input and an output and being connected in series. Each module is connected to at least one DC power source that supplies power to the module. Voltage control circuitry provided within each of the modules to vary the voltage supplied between the input and the output between a maximum module voltage and a minimum module voltage. A control unit in communication with the voltage control circuitry of each of the modules varies the voltage supplied across the input and output of each of the modules such that the total voltage across the series connected modules forms an AC signal or a rectified version of an AC signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2012Publication date: September 11, 2014Inventor: Kevin Stephen Davies
-
Patent number: 8829713Abstract: A power conversion circuit system comprises a primary conversion circuit, a secondary conversion circuit, and a control circuit for controlling the primary and secondary conversion circuits. The primary conversion circuit comprises a primary full bridge circuit, which includes a bridge section composed of both a primary coil in a transformer and a primary magnetic coupling reactor in which two reactors are magnetically coupled, a first input/output port disposed between a positive bus bar and a negative bus bar of the primary full bridge circuit, and a second input/output port disposed between the negative bus bar of the primary full bridge circuit and a center tap of the primary coil in the transformer. The secondary conversion circuit has a configuration similar to that of the primary conversion circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masanori Ishigaki, Shuji Tomura, Takaji Umeno, Kenji Kimura
-
Patent number: 8824179Abstract: In a general aspect, a charge transfer includes a transformer including a plurality of primary windings and a plurality of galvanically isolated secondary windings, a first plurality of resonant converters having input terminals connected in series to an input power terminal and having output terminals connected to different primary windings of the plurality of primary windings, a second plurality of resonant converters having input terminals connected to different secondary windings of the plurality of secondary windings and having output terminals connected to a galvanically isolated power terminal, and a control system for controlling a transfer of electric charge between the input power terminal and the galvanically isolated output power terminal including controlling a first plurality of switches of the first plurality of resonant converters and a second plurality of switches of the second plurality of resonant converters in a zero current soft switching mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Inventor: Rudolf Limpaecher
-
Patent number: 8824178Abstract: A power converter may include a first power path having no energy storage and a second power path having substantial energy storage. The first and second power paths have first and second input waveforms that are complementary with respect to a source waveform. The first power path, which may be more efficient than the second path, may transfer as much power as possible from the input to the output. The energy storage enables the second power path to make up the difference between the power available from the source and the power drawn by the first power path, and to make up the difference between the power demanded by a load and the power supplied by the first path.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: SolarBridge Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gary B. Baker, Robert Batten, Keith Slavin, Triet Tu Le, Vincenzo DiTommaso, Ravindranath Naiknaware
-
Patent number: 8817504Abstract: A multilevel converter includes at least one phase each including several cascaded basic units each including a first switching element, a second switching element, and a separate and electrically isolated DC source (SDCS). The SDCS is electrically coupled between the first switching element and the second switching element in each basic unit. Each of the adjacent pairs of the basic units are electrically crosswise coupled together by electrical coupling of the first switching element of a first basic unit of the two adjacent basic units to the second switching element of a second basic unit of the two adjacent basic units, and electrically coupling the second switching element of the first basic unit to the first switching element of the second basic unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Di Zhang, Luis José Garcés Rivera
-
Patent number: 8811049Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating AC power. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a DC/AC inversion stage capable of generating at least one of a single-phase output power, a two-phase output power, or a three-phase output power; and a conversion control module, coupled to the DC/AC inversion stage, for driving the DC/AC inversion stage to selectively generate the single-phase output power, the two-phase output power, or the three-phase output power based on an input power to the DC/AC inversion stage.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventor: Martin Fornage
-
Publication number: 20140226379Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for operating a power converter of a plurality of serially connected power converters coupled using chaotic democratic control includes: a DC voltage module generating a set current value for the power converter to bias a DC source at a set point voltage and a switching controller. The switching controller determining an upper threshold and lower threshold based on the set current value, and comparing a system current value to the upper and lower thresholds to determine an operating state of the power converter, where the system current is generated by the plurality of converters.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventor: Michael J. Harrison
-
Patent number: 8797772Abstract: A low noise voltage regulator generally includes an output switching stage and an amplifier, both of which contribute current to produce an output voltage at a substantially constant level. The amplifier produces a current that is based on a difference between a reference voltage and a feedback of the output voltage. The current from the amplifier (and optionally also from a current ramp generator) counterbalances the current from the output switching stage to maintain the output voltage at the substantially constant level. The output switching stage is controlled in response to a level of the counterbalancing current.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Teddy D. Thomas, Gregory Stewart Waterfall
-
Publication number: 20140211521Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a scalable single stage differential power converter. The inverter can be implemented in signal, split and multi-phases. A multiphase converter can be achieved with only three modules. Integrated magnetics used in preferred embodiments of the invention mitigate the DC component of the steady-state dynamics and can be extended to AC ripple mitigation. Control architectures in preferred embodiments can mitigate higher order harmonics in steady state dynamics. Embodiments of the invention also provide scalability for voltage and current source topologies.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2012Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventor: Sudip K. Mazumder
-
Control method for converting power, and electronic power converter adapted to carry out said method
Patent number: 8787049Abstract: A control method and apparatus are provided to convert a DC voltage into alternating voltage. The apparatus includes a first inverter and a second inverter to generate a first alternating voltage and a second alternating voltage, respectively. Also included is an interphase transformer to combine these alternating voltages in parallel to obtain a first resulting alternating voltage. The apparatus also includes a third inverter and a fourth inverter to generate a third and fourth alternating voltage, respectively. These are combined to form a second resulting alternating voltage. The second resulting alternating voltage is displaced in phase approximately 180° in relation to the first resulting alternating voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Ingeteam Power Technology, S.A.Inventors: Francisco Javier Chivite Zabalza, Miguel Angel Rodriguez Vidal, Danel Madariaga Zubimendi, Pedro Izurza Moreno, Gorka Calvo Olalla -
Patent number: 8779716Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi output inverter that is adapted to supply mains powered appliances 47-49 and/or poly-phase motors 50, 51.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Power Concepts NZ LimitedInventor: Christopher William Fotherby
-
Patent number: 8780594Abstract: Proposed is a parallel inverter drive system including includes a plurality of inverter drives connected in parallel with each other, in which each inverter drive includes a switch; a PWM controller connected to the switch for controlling switching operations of the switch device according to a duty cycle signal; and a circulating current suppressor for collecting current information associated with the current of each inverter drive and a summation current, and generating an index according to the collected current information and the desired circulating current quantity. A zero-sequence voltage is generated for each phase of a three-phase voltage command according to the index and the voltage command and the operating mode of the inverter drive, thereby injecting the zero-sequence voltage into the voltage command with a feed-forward configuration so as to fix the voltage command. The PWM controller can generate the duty cycle signal according to the fixed voltage command.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Chien-Yu Chi, Lon-Jay Cheng
-
Patent number: 8780593Abstract: A power compensation apparatus for a renewable energy system includes a plurality of converter modules positioned between any two phases of a three-phase AC electrical grid, each converter module including a plurality of inverter circuits connected in series. Each inverter circuit includes an energy storage unit for providing a direct current (DC) voltage; a capacitor connected to the energy storage unit; and an H-bridge circuit converting the DC voltage into an alternating current (AC) voltage. The converter modules perform reactive power compensation and active power regulation on the electrical grid in a delta connection. A plurality of converter modules are respectively positioned between any two phases of the electrical grid in a delta connection, so as to keep the voltage of the electrical grid continuously stable when the voltage of the electrical grid fluctuates, and also compensate load current when system load is not balanced.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chang-Yong Wang, Qing Chen
-
Patent number: 8773874Abstract: Between a direct-current power source and a connection point where a resonance current flowing in an opposite direction from a main current joins the main current from the direct-current power source in a resonant converter, there is provided a current blocking circuit which blocks the resonance current toward the direct-current power source. In consequence, it is possible to prevent the reverse charging of the direct-current power source with the resonance current which realizes soft switching in the resonant converter.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Toshihiko Minamii
-
Publication number: 20140185341Abstract: A DC-to-AC power conversion method is provided, including: generating an AC reference signal and an AC zero crossing detection signal; generating an error signal based on the AC reference signal and an output current or an output voltage at an AC output terminal; generating a turn-off signal based on the error signal and an input current at a DC input terminal; detecting or predicting a valley voltage of a resonance voltage to generate a turn-on signal; generating first, second, third and fourth switching signals based on the AC zero crossing detection signal, the turn-off signal and the turn-on signal; and controlling first, second, third and fourth switching elements of power conversion modules with the first, second, third and fourth switching signals, to enable the first and second power conversion modules to convert the input current of the DC input terminal to the output current of the AC output terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Inventors: Chau-Chun WEN, Ming-Hung YU
-
Patent number: 8766474Abstract: Presented is a system and method for providing reconfigurable AC interfaces for AC power systems. The method comprises embedding a reconfigurable AC interface for transferring power between power sources and loads, monitoring the voltage and current of the interfaces of the reconfigurable AC interface, and switching between power sources based on the monitoring. The system comprises a reconfigurable AC interface further comprising an inverter for converting DC power to AC, transfer switches with interfaces for connecting to the inverter, other transfer switches, and AC busses, and a controller that dynamically configures the transfer switches to transfer power between the inverter, and AC busses.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael A. Carralero, Jimmy M. Quiambao, Sang H. Nguyen
-
Publication number: 20140177300Abstract: An electric power supply system, comprising: a main switching cell (6) comprising a first main branch (14) and a second main branch (16) each including a main switch (T1, T2), and an auxiliary switching cell (10) connected to the main switching cell (6) and comprising a first secondary branch (20) and a second secondary branch (22) on the one hand, each including a secondary switch (T3, T4) and a connection branch (24) for connecting the auxiliary switching cell (10) to the main switching cell (6) on the other hand, the connection branch (24) including a switching inductor (L1), the main switching cell (6) and the auxiliary switching cell (10) being connected, cascaded from each other. The auxiliary switching cell (10) comprises at least two switching capacitors (C1, C2) positioned parallel to one of the secondary switches (T3, T4) for one of them and parallel to one of the main switches (T1, T2) for the other one. An aircraft comprising at least such a power supply system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2013Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: THALESInventors: Vivien Lagorce, Christophe Taurand, François Klein
-
Patent number: 8760895Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating AC power. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a DC/AC inversion stage capable of generating at least one of a single-phase output power, a two-phase output power, or a three-phase output power; and a conversion control module, coupled to the DC/AC inversion stage, for driving the DC/AC inversion stage to selectively generate the single-phase output power, the two-phase output power, or the three-phase output power based on an input power to the DC/AC inversion stage.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventor: Martin Fornage
-
Patent number: 8750000Abstract: A method of adapting a configuration of a voltage converting device is provided. The voltage converting device includes a plurality of voltage converting units in parallel electrical connection to one another, and a plurality of inter-bridge transforming units. Each of the inter-bridge transforming units has a primary coil and a secondary coil. Each of the voltage converting units is electrically connected to a primary coil of a different one of the inter-bridge transforming units. The method includes detecting a status of at least one element of the group consisting of the voltage converting units and the inter-bridge transforming units. The method further includes adapting an activity state of the element based on the detected status of the element by moving the element from a first position to a second position.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Rodney Jones
-
Patent number: 8743573Abstract: A voltage inverter capable of operating in the event of a short-circuit or open-circuit fault. The voltage inverter includes: a load having three phases, each phase having a first terminal and a second terminal; first and second cells each including three branches connected together in parallel, each branch including two switches connected in series and a mid-point positioned between the two switches, each first terminal of each of the phases being connected to one of the mid-points of the first cell and each second terminal of each of the phases being connected to one of the mid-points of the second cell; and a DC voltage source, the first and second cells each being connected to the DC voltage source via two electrical isolators.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Hispano SuizaInventor: Cédric Balpe
-
Patent number: 8743570Abstract: A device for converting direct voltage from an electrochemical store or a fuel cell to alternating voltage, includes a two-stage design having a single DC/DC converter stage for generating an intermediate circuit voltage from the output voltage of the electrochemical store or the fuel cell, which converter stage converts, in particular raises, the direct voltage in a wide input voltage range directly to an intermediate circuit voltage with which a DC/AC converter stage can be operated to generate the alternating voltage. The single DC/AC converter stage generates the alternating voltage from the intermediate circuit voltage. The invention further relates to a method for actuating a device for converting direct voltage from a store or energy generator into alternating voltage for feeding into a supply network.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AGInventors: Jens-Uwe Mueller, Peter Witsch, Christian Ruehling, Andreas Falk, Torsten Leifert
-
Patent number: 8736861Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a power storage unit. The power storage unit includes a constant voltage generation part configured to generate a constant voltage from a commercial power supply, the constant voltage generation part being connected to an external apparatus operating by consuming power; a voltage increasing circuit configured to increase the constant voltage generated by the constant voltage generation part; a capacitor configured to store an electric charge supplied from the voltage increasing circuit; a circuit control part configured to control charging of the capacitor; and an output part configured to output power stored in the capacitor, the power having a voltage different from the constant voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2006Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Sato, Hideo Kikuchi, Masahide Nakaya
-
Patent number: 8736102Abstract: The multifunctional power converter apparatus and method includes an input power stage configured to receive a DC input voltage from a DC power source and convert the DC input voltage to an AC or DC output voltage. At least one electrical power conversion electronic circuit is connected to an output of the input power stage, a DC output circuit; an AC output circuit; and a controller configured to control the input power stage, the DC output circuit and the AC output circuit. The controller is configured to automatically control the power converter output voltage based on a preselected user input.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Lijun Gao, Shengyi Liu, Kamiar J. Karimi
-
Patent number: 8737098Abstract: A high voltage inverter is provided which includes a plurality of k-level flying capacitor H bridge modules, k being greater than 2, each having a positive dc terminal, a negative dc terminal, and two ac terminals, a connecting unit for connecting said ac terminals of said plurality of k-level flying capacitor H bridge modules in series to form a cascading set of modules, and a dc source connected to an ac source and having a transformer, a rectifier rectifying an output voltage of said transformer, and a capacitor connected between the positive and negative dc terminals.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: DRS Power & Control Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ashish R. Bendre, Slobadan Krstic
-
Patent number: 8730696Abstract: A multi-level voltage converter includes a multi-point converter circuit and at least one full bridge inverter circuit. The multi-point converter circuit is configured for converting a DC voltage into an intermediate multi-level voltage. The full bridge inverter circuit is electrically connected in series with the multi-point converter circuit and configured for receiving the intermediate multi-level voltage to generate a multi-level output voltage corresponding to a single phase output.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Peter Barbosa
-
Patent number: 8717788Abstract: A method and system for controlling a power converter system with a direct current (DC)-bus capacitor connected to at least a first converter and a second converter. The first converter is with associated first current and the second converter is with associated second current. Switching states of the first and second converters are determined. The switching states of the second converter are sequenced relative to the first converter to reduce a difference of sums of the associated first and second currents between adjacent time intervals.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chingchi Chen, Michael W. Degner, Satish Thuta