High efficiency adaptive power conversion system and method of operation thereof
AssigneeAtieva, Inc.
InventorsCharles Chuang, Hsien-His Juan, David YuanJei Tse
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Abstract
A power conversion system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of power conversion modules and a controller that turns on/off each power conversion module separately based on changing load conditions, and manages to keep each power conversion module running at its peak efficient state.
Claims14
A power conversion system for receiving an input electric power and converting the input electric power into an output electric power which is to be output to a load, the power conversion system comprising:
- a plurality of power conversion modules operating in a cooperative manner, each having a maximum output power level, wherein each of power conversion modules has a non-activated state and an activated state where the corresponding power conversion module has a conversion efficiency varying according to a ratio of a practical output power level that is to be supplied to the load over the maximum output power level;
- a detector and controller module for detecting a total output power level needed by the load and determining a number of power conversion modules placed in the respective activated states thereof according to the detected total output power level, so that when the total output power level needed by the load is lower than a sum of the maximum output power levels of all the power conversion modules placed in the activated states beyond a predetermined level, the power conversion modules supply electric power to the load in a cooperative manner that at least one of the power conversion modules placed in the activated states is switched to the non-activated state thereof.
A power conversion method for use in a power conversion system for receiving an input electric power and converting the input electric power into an output electric power which is to be output to a load, wherein the power conversion system comprises a plurality of power conversion modules operating in a cooperative manner and a detector controller module;
- wherein each of the power conversion modules has a maximum output power level and has a non-activated state and an activated state where the corresponding power conversion module has a conversion efficiency varying according to a ratio of a practical output power level that is to be supplied to the load over the maximum output power level;
- the power conversion method comprising the steps of:
- a) transmitting the output electric power to the load and using the detector and controller module to detect a total output power level needed by the load;
- b) enabling the detector and controller module to determine an output setting according to the total output power level, wherein the output setting is determined such that the power conversion modules supply electric power to the load in a cooperative manner that at least one of the power conversion modules is placed in the non-activated state thereof;
- and
- c) controlling the respective states of the power conversion modules according to the output setting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.