Scalable single-stage differential power converter
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorSudip K. Mazumder
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Abstract
An embodiment of the invention is a scalable single stage differential power converter. The inverter can be implemented in signal, split and multi-phases. A multiphase converter can be achieved with only three modules. Integrated magnetics used in preferred embodiments of the invention mitigate the DC component of the steady-state dynamics and can be extended to AC ripple mitigation. Control architectures in preferred embodiments can mitigate higher order harmonics in steady state dynamics. Embodiments of the invention also provide scalability for voltage and current source topologies.
Claims21
A single-stage DC/AC power converter, comprising:
- at least two bi-directional converter modules connected in differential configuration, each converter module having primary and secondary sides separated by transformers and including inductors for current flow and energy storage, wherein each of the converter modules comprises transformers and inductors that are integrated on one or more cores;
- switches controlling current flow in the primary and secondary sides to create positive and negative half cycle AC current to an output on said secondary side from a DC power source on said primary side or controlling current flow in the primary and secondary sides to create AC output on said primary/secondary side from a AC power source on said secondary/primary side;
- a loop controller having an outer voltage loop and an inner current loop with a modulator that controls modulation of said switches via a modulator referenced by said inner current loop, wherein one or both of said outer voltage loop and said inner current loop include a fundamental frequency compensator and a plurality of harmonic frequency compensators, and further including different fundamental and harmonic voltage loop references for outer loop control.
A method of converting power, the method comprising:
- inputting power to a plurality of separate converter modules from a power source;
- generating an output across each of the plurality of separate converter modules, wherein one of the input and the output has a DC component and an AC component;
- and
- controlling switching of the plurality of separate converter modules to be out of phase such that a difference of the outputs eliminates DC harmonics and retains a desired AC signal.
A power converter, comprising:
- converter module means for converting a power input to a differential AC power output or a differential DC power output through magnetic up-conversion and/or without transformer isolation;
- switch means for controlling current flow in converter module means;
- control means for controlling modulation of said switches.
A power converter, comprising:
- converter module means for converting a power input to a differential AC power output without transformer isolation and/or through magnetic up-conversion;
- switch means for controlling current flow in converter module means;
- control means for controlling modulation of said switches.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.