US 2022/0278602 A1 · HIGH DENSITY INTERLEAVED INVERTER

Abstract

Inverters that interface dc and ac power sources and loads are provided. An example application is solar power systems, in which a dc source of power is an array of solar panels; the inverter converts the dc power supplied by these panels to ac power that is fed into the utility grid. Another example is battery energy storage; the inverter changes the dc power of the batteries into ac power that is fed into the grid, and also can convert (rectify) ac power from the grid for charging the batteries. In one embodiment, for example, an inverter comprises slow switches that generate a three-level ac voltage, followed by a plurality of fast-switching half-bridges that introduce high-frequency pulse-width modulation into a plurality of ac output voltages.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A dc-ac inverter phase module comprising:

a neutral terminal;
a first dc input terminal;
a second dc input terminal;
a slow switch module coupled across the neutral terminal, first dc input terminal and the second dc input terminal, the slow switch module comprising a plurality of switches that switch at a first frequency;
a plurality of fast switch modules arranged in a parallel configuration and coupled to an output of the slow switch module;
each of the plurality of fast switch modules comprising a pair of transistors switching at a second switching frequency greater than the first frequency, each of the plurality of fast switch modules coupled to a respective ac output terminal;
and
an inverter controller configured to provide logic signals to control an operation of the pair of transistors of each of the plurality of fast switch modules.

5 more elements

A multi-phase interleaved ac-dc inverter comprising:

a neutral terminal;
a first dc input terminal;
a second dc input terminal;
a first phase module stage coupled to the first and second dc input terminals and configured to provide a first phase output of the multi-phase interleaved ac-dc inverter, the first phase module comprising:
a first slow switch module coupled across the neutral terminal, first dc input terminal and the second dc input terminal, the slow switch module comprising a plurality of switches that switch at a first frequency, and a first plurality of fast switch modules arranged in a parallel configuration and coupled to an output of the slow switch module;
each of the plurality of fast switch modules comprising a pair of transistors switching at a second switching frequency greater than the first frequency;
a second phase module stage coupled to the first and second dc input terminals and configured to provide a second phase output of the multi-phase interleaved ac-dc inverter, the second phase module comprising:
a second slow switch module coupled across the neutral terminal, first dc input terminal and the second dc input terminal, the slow switch module comprising a plurality of switches that switch at a third frequency;
and a second plurality of fast switch modules arranged in a parallel configuration and coupled to an output of the slow switch module;
each of the plurality of fast switch modules comprising a pair of transistors switching at a fourth switching frequency greater than the third frequency;
and
a controller configured to provide logic signals to control an operation of transistors of each of the first and second pluralities of fast switch modules.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

High density interleaved inverter

Life of this patent

High density interleaved inverter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23