Coordinated power converters for increased efficiency and power electronics lifetime

Abstract

A method of controlling a plurality of power converters in a power system includes controlling switching times on the plurality of power converters receiving an input using a master controller, such that at least one of the plurality of power converters switches at a different time than at least one other of the plurality of power converters to provide a summation of outputs at a coupling point, and adjusting control signals from the master controller to each power converter to control the summation of the outputs to a desired output. A method of controlling a plurality of power converters in a power system includes determining a base frequency, assigning an operating frequency to the power converters, wherein the operating frequency is a multiple of the base frequency, to each of the power converters, operating the plurality of power converters at the assigned frequencies, and summing the individual outputs of the power converters to produce an output. A method, of tuning a set of power converters includes assigning switch times to each of the power converters so that at least one of the power converters switches at a different time than at least one other power converter, wherein updates to the switching times do not require additional communications.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.