Multi-layer software-defined system and method for high performance energy conversion

A method of converting power, the method comprising:

• determining, by at least one electronic processor, operational data for a power converter system including a plurality of elementary power converter modules, each elementary power converter module including, respectively, power switching elements and an LC filter;
• configuring, by the at least one electronic processor based on the operational data, a power conversion function of the plurality of elementary power converter modules, the power conversion function defining one or more of the elementary power converter modules as active elementary power converter modules for implementing the power conversion function;
• determining, by the at least one electronic processor, electrical operating characteristics including an electrical operating characteristic for each of the one or more active elementary power converter modules;
• generating, by the at least one electronic processor, a control reference target, respectively, for each of the one or more active elementary power converter modules, each control reference target generated based on the electrical operating characteristics;
• and
• controlling, by the at least one electronic processor, the power switching elements, of each of the one or more active elementary power converter modules, based on the electrical operating characteristic and the control reference target for the active elementary power converter module.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the instructions for causing at least one electronic processor:

• determine operational data for a power converter system including a plurality of elementary power converter modules, each elementary power converter module including, respectively, power switching elements and an LC filter;
• configure, based on the operational data, a power conversion function of the plurality of elementary power converter modules, the power conversion function defining one or more of the elementary power converter modules as active elementary power converter modules for implementing the power conversion function;
• determine electrical operating characteristics including an electrical operating characteristic for each of the one or more active elementary power converter modules;
• generate a control reference target, respectively, for each of the one or more active elementary power converter modules, each control reference target generated based on the electrical operating characteristics;
• and
• control the power switching elements, of each of the one or more active elementary power converter modules, based on the electrical operating characteristic and the control reference target for the active elementary power converter module.