Modular scalable power conversion
AssigneesThe Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
InventorsDragan Maksimovic, Prasanta Achanta, Brian B. Johnson, Miguel Rodriguez, Vahan Gevorgian
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Abstract
A cascaded architecture composed of interconnected blocks that are each designed to process constant power and eliminate bulk energy storage are provided. Further, local controls within each block natively achieve both block- and system-level aims, making the system modular and scalable. Further methods of providing power conversion using such interconnected clocks are also provided.
Claims20
A modular dc-ac converter module comprising:
- at least one dc port fed by a dc source;
- three ac inverters, wherein each ac inverter of the three ac inverters receives a dc input from the at least one dc port and generates three single-phase ac outputs at different phases with respect to each other;
- at least three ac ports, wherein each ac port of the at least three ac ports is coupled to a different corresponding one of the three ac inverters, respectively;
- a converter, wherein the converter isolates the at least one dc port from the at least three ac ports;
- a timing reference unit, wherein the timing reference unit communicates a timing signal, responsive to one of the three single-phase ac outputs, to each of the three inverters;
- and
- a local controller coupled with at least the timing reference unit, the dc port, and the three ac inverters and configured to provide output control.
A system comprising a plurality of modular dc-ac converters wherein each of the plurality of modular dc-ac converters comprises:
- at least one dc port fed by a dc source;
- three ac inverters, wherein each ac inverter of the three ac inverters receives a dc input from the at least one dc port and generates three single-phase ac outputs at different phases with respect to each other;
- at least three ac ports, wherein each ac port of the at least three ac ports is coupled to a different corresponding one of the three ac inverters, respectively;
- a converter, wherein the converter isolates the at least one dc port from the at least three ac ports;
- a timing reference unit, wherein the timing reference unit communicates a timing signal, responsive to one of the three single-phase ac outputs, to each of the three inverters;
- and
- a local controller coupled with at least the timing reference unit, the dc port,
- and the three ac inverters and configured to provide output control.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.