Power conversion apparatus and method, computer readable storage medium storing program for performing the method

A power conversion apparatus for converting input power input from a first power source and providing the converted input power to a second power source, the power conversion apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of power converters connected in parallel with each other between the first power source and the second power source, each of the plurality of power converters configured to convert the input power input from the first power source;
• and
• a controller configured to control the plurality of power converters,
• wherein the controller is configured to selectively drive at least one of the plurality of power converters depending on a ratio of the input power input from the first power source to maximum available input power capable of being input from the first power source,
• wherein the controller is configured to, if one or some, not all, of the plurality of power converters are required to be selectively driven, drive one or more power converters having a lowest accumulated driving time among the plurality of power converters, and
• wherein the controller is configured to, if two or more of the plurality of power converters have the lowest accumulated driving time and a number of the two or more of the plurality of power converters having the lowest accumulated driving time is greater than a number of the power converters required to be selectively driven, randomly select one or more power converters corresponding to the number of the power converters required to be selectively driven among the two or more of the plurality of power converters having the lowest accumulated driving time.

A power conversion method for converting input power input from a first power source and providing the converted input power to a second power source, the power conversion method comprising:

• computing, by a controller, the input power input from the first power source;
• determining, by the controller, a number of one or more power converters required to be selectively driven among a plurality of power converters connected in parallel with each other between the first power source and the second power source, wherein each of the plurality of power converters is configured to convert the input power and the controller is configured to selectively drive at least one of the plurality of the power converters depending on a ratio of the input power input from the first power source to a maximum available input power capable of being input from the first power source;
• driving, by the controller, the one or more power converters among the plurality of power converters according to the determined number of one or more power converters;
• accumulating, by the controller, a driving time of each of the plurality of power converters;
• and
• if one or more predetermined conditions are satisfied, initializing, by the controller, the accumulated driving time for each of the power converters,
• wherein the driving of the one or more power converters comprises, if one or some, not all, of the plurality of power converters are required to be selectively driven, driving one or more power converters having a lowest accumulated driving time among the plurality of power converters.