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US 2013/0113293 A1Published application
Direct Current to Alternating Current Conversion Utilizing Intermediate Phase Modulation
AssigneeArray Power, Inc.
InventorMarc ELPEL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide a power converter that modulates the voltage to follow the envelope of the phase output such that the current may pass through to the line. The systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide a two phase power converter that modulates the voltage to follow the envelope of the two phase output. The systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide a three phase power converter that modulates the intermediate voltage to follow the envelope of the three phase output such that the current may pass through to the line without requiring intermediate storage.
Claims33
A device for generating three phase alternating electrical current from a direct electrical current, the device comprising:
- a first coil, wherein an input terminal of the first coil is configured to be connected to a positive electrical output terminal of a direct electrical current source;
- a first boost switch, wherein an input terminal of the first boost switch is connected to an output terminal of the first coil and an output terminal of the first boost switch is configured to be connected to a negative electrical output terminal of the direct electrical current source;
- a first diode, wherein an input terminal of the first diode is connected to the output terminal of the first coil and the first diode is configured to prevent the flow of current from the first diode to the output terminal of the first coil;
- a first capacitor, wherein an input terminal of the first capacitor is connected to an output terminal of the first diode and an output terminal of the first capacitor is configured to be connected to the negative electrical output terminal of the direct electrical current source;
- a first input terminal for receiving a positive pulse amplitude modulated electrical current, wherein the first input terminal is connected to the output terminal of the diode;
- a second input terminal for receiving a negative pulse amplitude modulated electrical current, wherein the second input terminal is connected to the output terminal of the first capacitor;
- a first, a second, and a third switch connected in parallel with the first input terminal;
- a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth switch connected in parallel with the second input terminal;
- a first output terminal connected to an output of the first switch and an output of the fourth switch;
- a second output terminal connected to an output of the second switch and an output of the fifth switch;
- a third output terminal connected to an output of the third switch and an output of the sixth switch;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first boost switch and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth switches, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of each switch to generate a first phase of power on the first output terminal, a second phase of power on the second output terminal, and a third phase of power on the third output terminal.
10 more elements
A system for generating three phase alternating electrical current from a plurality of direct electrical current sources, the system comprising:
- a plurality of direct current modulators, wherein each current modulator comprises:
- a positive input terminal configured to be connected to a positive electrical output terminal of a direct electrical current source;
- a negative input terminal configured to be connected to a negative electrical output terminal of the direct electrical current source;
- a positive output terminal;
- a negative output terminal;
- a first coil, wherein an input terminal of the first coil is connected to the positive input terminal;
- a first boost switch, wherein an input terminal of the first boost switch is connected to an output terminal of the first coil and an output terminal of the first boost switch is connected to the negative input terminal and the negative output terminal;
- a first diode, wherein an input terminal of the first diode is connected to the output terminal of the first coil, an output terminal of the first diode is connected to the positive output terminal, and the first diode is configured to prevent the flow of current from the first diode to the output terminal of the first coil;
- a first capacitor, wherein an input terminal of the first capacitor is connected to an output terminal of the first diode and the positive output terminal and wherein an output terminal of the first capacitor is connected to negative input terminal and the negative output terminal;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first boost switch, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the first boost switch to generate a positive modulated direct current output at the positive output terminal and a negative modulated direct current output at the negative output terminal;
- and
- a combiner box, comprising:
- a second positive input terminal connected to each of the positive output terminals of each of the plurality of direct current modulators, the second positive input terminal configured to receive the positive modulated direct current output from each of the plurality of direct current modulators;
- a second negative input terminal connected to each of the negative output terminals of each of the plurality of direct current modulators, the second negative input terminal configured to receive the negative modulated direct current output from each of the plurality of direct current modulators;
- a first, a second, and a third switch connected in parallel with the first positive input terminal;
- a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth switch connected in parallel with the second negative input terminal;
- a first line output terminal connected to an output of the first switch and an output of the fourth switch;
- a second line output terminal connected to an output of the second switch and an output of the fifth switch;
- a third line output terminal connected to an output of the third switch and an output of the sixth switch;
- and
- a second controller coupled to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth switches, wherein the second controller is configured to control the operation of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth switches to convert the positive and negative modulated direct current outputs from the plurality of direct current modulators into a three phase alternating current output thereby generating a first phase of power on the first output terminal, a second phase of power on the second output terminal, and a third phase of power on the third output terminal.
19 more elements
A method for generating three phase alternating current power, comprising:
- boosting the voltage output of a DC power source to the envelope of a desired three phase line;
- converting the boosted voltage output of the DC power source into a pulse width modulated DC output;
- and
- converting the pulse width modulated DC output into a three phase alternating current output by only applying high frequency switching to an intermediate phase of the three phase alternating current output.
1 more element
A method for generating three phase alternating current power, comprising:
- determining the voltage relationship between each of the three phases of the three phase alternating current output waveform;
- calculating a duty cycle for modulating an intermediate phase of the three phase alternating current output;
- and
- modulating the intermediate phase of the three phase alternating current output based on the calculated duty cycle.
1 more element
A device for generating two phase alternating electrical current from a direct electrical current, the device comprising:
- a first coil having an output terminal and an input terminal, wherein the input terminal of the first coil is configured to be connected to a positive electrical output terminal of a direct electrical current source;
- a first boost switch having an output terminal and an input terminal, wherein the input terminal of the first boost switch is connected to the output terminal of the first coil and an output terminal of the first boost switch is configured to be connected to a negative electrical output terminal of the direct electrical current source;
- a first diode having an output terminal and an input terminal, wherein the input terminal of the first diode is connected to the output terminal of the first coil and the first diode is configured to prevent the flow of current from the first diode to the output terminal of the first coil;
- a first capacitor having an output terminal and an input terminal, wherein the input terminal of the first capacitor is connected to an output terminal of the first diode and the output terminal of the first capacitor is configured to be connected to the negative electrical output terminal of the direct electrical current source;
- a first input terminal for receiving a positive pulse amplitude modulated electrical current, wherein the first input terminal is connected to the output terminal of the first diode;
- a second input terminal for receiving a negative pulse amplitude modulated electrical current, wherein the second input terminal is connected to the output terminal of the first capacitor;
- a first and a second switch connected in parallel with the first input terminal;
- a third and a fourth switch connected in parallel with the second input terminal;
- a first output terminal connected to an output of the first switch and an output of the third switch;
- a second output terminal connected to an output of the second switch and an output of the fourth switch;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first boost switch and the first, second, third, and fourth switches,
- wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of each switch to generate a first phase of power on the first output terminal and a second phase of power on the second output terminal.
10 more elements
A system for generating two phase alternating electrical current from a plurality of direct electrical current sources, the system comprising:
- a plurality of direct current modulators, wherein each current modulator comprises:
- a positive input terminal configured to be connected to a positive electrical output terminal of a direct electrical current source;
- a negative input terminal configured to be connected to a negative electrical output terminal of the direct electrical current source;
- a positive output terminal;
- a negative output terminal;
- a first coil, wherein an input terminal of the first coil is connected to the positive input terminal;
- a first boost switch, wherein an input terminal of the first boost switch is connected to an output terminal of the first coil and an output terminal of the first boost switch is connected to the negative input terminal and the negative output terminal;
- a first diode, wherein an input terminal of the first diode is connected to the output terminal of the first coil, an output terminal of the first diode is connected to the positive output terminal, and the first diode is configured to prevent the flow of current from the first diode to the output terminal of the first coil;
- a first capacitor, wherein an input terminal of the first capacitor is connected to an output terminal of the first diode and the positive output terminal and wherein an output terminal of the first capacitor is connected to negative input terminal and the negative output terminal;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first boost switch, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the first boost switch to generate a positive modulated direct current output at the positive output terminal and a negative modulated direct current output at the negative output terminal;
- and
- a combiner box, comprising:
- a second positive input terminal connected to each of the positive output terminals of each of the plurality of direct current modulators, the second positive input terminal configured to receive the positive modulated direct current output from each of the plurality of direct current modulators;
- a second negative input terminal connected to each of the negative output terminals of each of the plurality of direct current modulators, the second negative input terminal configured to receive the negative modulated direct current output from each of the plurality of direct current modulators;
- a first and a second switch connected in parallel with the first positive input terminal;
- a third and a fourth switch connected in parallel with the second negative input terminal;
- a first line output terminal connected to an output of the first switch and an output of the third switch;
- a second line output terminal connected to an output of the second switch and an output of the fourth switch;
- and
- a second controller coupled to the first, second, third, and fourth switches, wherein the second controller is configured to control the operation of the first, second, third, and fourth switches to convert the positive and negative modulated direct current outputs from the plurality of direct current modulators into a two phase alternating current output thereby generating a first phase of power on the first output terminal and a second phase of power on the second output terminal.
18 more elements
A method for generating two phase alternating current power, comprising:
- boosting the voltage output of a DC power source to an envelope of a desired two phase line;
- converting the boosted voltage output of the DC power source into a pulse width modulated DC output;
- and
- converting the pulse width modulated DC output into a two phase alternating current output by only applying high frequency switching to a maximum phase of the two phase alternating current output.
1 more element
A method for generating two phase alternating current power, comprising:
- determining a voltage relationship between each of two phases of a two phase alternating current output waveform;
- calculating a duty cycle for modulating a maximum phase of the two phase alternating current output;
- and
- modulating the maximum phase of the two phase alternating current output based on the calculated duty cycle.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.