Method and apparatus for controlling providing of conditioned AC power

An apparatus for controlling application of a multi-phase conditioned alternating current (AC) voltage, comprising:

• a transverter for each phase of a multi-phase power system, each of the transverters having a power input and a power output, each of said transverter power inputs adapted for receiving an unconditioned AC voltage from a power source and each of said transverter power outputs having a conditioned AC output voltage therefrom, whereby said transverters convert the unconditioned AC voltage into the conditioned multi-phase AC output voltage, wherein each of said transverters comprise:
• a voltage regulator for converting the unconditioned AC voltage into a regulated direct current (DC) voltage;
• and
• a current control AC voltage source for converting the regulated DC voltage to the conditioned AC output voltage, wherein said current control AC voltage source comprises:
• a transformer responsive to a transverter control signal, said transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding and a magnetic flux monitoring sensor;
• a plurality of power switches, each of said plurality of power switches being responsive to said regulated DC voltage and controlled by a power switch controller, said power switch controller being coupled to said magnetic flux monitoring sensor;
• and
• an output voltage circuit coupled to said transformer secondary winding and each of said plurality of power switches wherein said output voltage circuit provides the conditioned AC output voltage in response to said transverter control signal, and to said power switch controller being responsive to said magnetic flux monitoring sensor so that magnetic flux in said transformer core is substantially reduced;
• a current voltage sensor having inputs connected to each of said transverter power outputs and adapted for monitoring voltage and current of each of the multi-phase conditioned AC output voltages, wherein a voltage sense signal and a current sense signal, respectively, are derived therefrom;
• and
• a system control module for controlling the operation of each of said transverters, said system control module having a voltage sense input for receiving the voltage sensing signal and a current sense input for receiving the current sensing signal, respectively, from said current voltage sensor, said system control module having a circuit for developing the transverter control signal in response to changes in the current sense and voltage sense signals in comparison with a reference signal, wherein the transverter control signal controls conversion of the regulated DC voltage into the conditioned AC output voltage.

A method for controlling application of a conditioned alternating current (AC) voltage, comprising the steps of:

• receiving an unconditioned AC voltage from a power source with a transverter having a power input and a power output, said transverter power input adapted for receiving the unconditioned AC voltage from the power source and said transverter power output having a conditioned AC output voltage therefrom, whereby said transverter converts the unconditioned AC voltage into the conditioned AC output voltage, wherein the method of operation of said transverter comprises the steps of:
• converting the unconditioned AC voltage into a regulated direct current (DC) voltage with a voltage regulator;
• and
• converting the regulated DC voltage to the conditioned AC output voltage with a current control AC voltage source, wherein operation of said current control AC voltage source comprises the steps of:
• providing a transformer responsive to a transverter control signal, said transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding and a magnetic flux monitoring sensor;
• providing a plurality of power switches, each of said plurality of power switches being responsive to said regulated DC voltage and controlled by a power switch controller, said power switch controller being coupled to said magnetic flux monitoring sensor;
• and
• coupling an output voltage circuit to said transformer secondary winding and each of said plurality of power switches wherein said output voltage circuit provides the conditioned AC output voltage in response to said transverter control signal, and to said power switch controller being responsive to said magnetic flux monitoring sensor so that magnetic flux in said transformer core is substantially reduced;
• monitoring voltage and current of the conditioned AC output voltage with a current voltage sensor having inputs connected to said transverter power output, wherein a voltage sense signal and a current sense signal are derived therefrom;
• and
• controlling the operation of said transverter with a system control module, wherein said system control module has a voltage sense input for receiving the voltage sensing signal and a current sense input for receiving the current sensing signal, respectively, from said current voltage sensor, said system control module having a circuit for developing the transverter control signal in response to changes in the current sense and voltage sense signals in comparison with a reference signal, wherein the transverter control signal controls conversion of the regulated DC voltage into the conditioned AC output voltage.