DC/AC power converter

A method of transferring power between a DC port and an AC port, the method including:

• a) selectively operating a DC to DC converter in at least one of a current fed transformer isolated boost mode and a voltage fed transformer isolated buck mode to transfer energy between said DC port and a DC bus;
• b) selectively operating a DC to AC converter in at least one of an invert mode and a charge mode to transfer energy between said DC bus and said AC port;
• and
• c) supplying energy to said DC bus from a load balancing energy storage element when a voltage at said DC bus is tending to decrease and storing energy from said DC bus in said energy storage element when a voltage at said DC bus is tending to increase.

A power converter apparatus comprising:

• a) first and second simultaneously operable DC to DC converters connectable to a common DC source, said first and second DC to DC converters each having first and second DC ports, said second DC ports being connected together;
• b) a DC bus connected to said second DC ports;
• c) a first DC to AC converter having a third DC port connected to said DC bus and a first AC port connectable to an AC source, said first DC to AC converter being bi-directional and operable in an AC to DC conversion mode;
• d) a second DC to AC converter having a fourth DC port and a second AC port, said fourth DC port being connected to said DC bus and said second AC port being connected to an AC load;
• and
• e) a load balancing energy storage element connected to said DC bus for decoupling said first and second DC to DC converters and said second DC to AC converter from said first DC to AC converter by supplying energy to said DC bus when a voltage at said DC bus is tending to decrease and for storing energy received from said DC bus when a voltage at said DC bus is tending to increase.

A power converter apparatus comprising:

• a) first and second simultaneously operable DC to DC converters connectable to a common DC source, said first and second DC to DC converters each having first and second DC ports, said second DC ports being connected together;
• b) a DC bus connected to said second DC ports;
• c) first and second DC to AC converters each having third DC ports connected to said DC bus respectively and respective first AC ports for supplying power to first and second AC loads respectively;
• and
• d) a load balancing energy storage element connected to said DC bus for decoupling said first and second DC to DC converters from said first and second DC to AC converters by supplying energy to said DC bus when a voltage at said DC bus is tending to decrease and for storing energy received from said DC bus when a voltage at said DC bus is tending to increase.

A power converter apparatus comprising:

• a) first and second simultaneously operable DC to DC converters connectable to first and second DC sources respectively, said first and second DC to DC converters each having first and second DC ports, said second DC ports being connected together;
• b) a DC bus connected to said second DC ports;
• c) first and second DC to AC converters each having a third DC ports connected to said DC bus respectively and respective first AC ports for supplying power to first and second AC loads respectively;
• and
• d) a load balancing energy storage element connected to said DC bus for decoupling said first and second DC to DC converters from said first and second DC to AC converters by supplying energy to said DC bus when a voltage at said DC bus is tending to decrease and for storing energy received from said DC bus when a voltage at said DC bus is tending to increase.