Power converter and method of operating
AssigneeGE Aviation Systems LLC
InventorNezar Abou Qamar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power converter includes a first and a second set of switching elements communicatively coupled with a first capacitor and a second capacitor. A controller is configured to cyclically command a first operation of the first set of switches to supply an electrical current to the first capacitor for a first duration, followed by a first interval to terminate the electrical current to the first capacitor. The controller is further configured to cyclically command a second operation of the second set of switches to provide the electrical current to the second capacitor for a second duration followed by a second interval to terminate the electrical current to the second capacitor.
Claims20
A power converter comprising:
- a first set of switches coupled in series with a second set of switches;
- a first capacitor arranged to receive an electrical current from the first set of switches;
- a second capacitor arranged to receive the electrical current from the second set of switches;
- a controller communicatively coupled to the first set of switches and the second set of switches, and configured to command a first operation of the first set of switches to supply the electrical current to the first capacitor for a first duration, the controller further configured to command a second operation of the second set of switches to provide the electrical current to the second capacitor for a second duration, the controller further configured to determine an imbalance condition exists based on a first voltage across the first capacitor and a second voltage across the second capacitor;
- and
- wherein the controller commands the first operation based at least in part on a first carrier signal and a respective duty cycle of the first set of switches, and further commands the second operation based at least in part on a second carrier signal and a respective duty cycle of the second set of switches;
- wherein, when the imbalance condition exists, the controller is configured to vary a phase shift between the first carrier signal and the second carrier signal.
A method of operating a power converter including a first set of switches coupled in series with a second set of switches, a first capacitor arranged to receive an electrical current from the first set of switches, a second capacitor arranged to receive the electrical current from the second set of switches;
- the first set of switches and the second set of switches communicatively coupled to a controller, the method comprising:
- commanding, by the controller, a first operation of the first set of switches to supply the electrical current to the first capacitor for a first duration;
- commanding, by the controller, a second operation of the second set of switches to provide the electrical current to the second capacitor for a second duration;
- determining, by the controller, an imbalance condition exits based on a comparison of a first voltage across the first capacitor with a second voltage across the second capacitor;
- wherein the controller commands the first operation based at least in part on a first carrier signal and a respective duty cycle of the first set of switches, and further commands the second operation based at least in part on a second carrier signal and a respective duty cycle of the second set of switches;
- and
- wherein, when the imbalance condition exists, the controller is configured to vary a phase shift between the first carrier signal and the second carrier signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.