Methods and systems for operating a wind turbine power converter

A power generation system for providing an output power to a load, said power generation system comprising:

• a generator configured to generate an alternating current (AC) input power;
• a power converter system coupled to said generator, said power converter system comprising a plurality of converter threads configured to convert the AC input power to an output power and to provide the output power to the load;
• and,
• a converter control system coupled to said power converter system, said converter control system configured to provide said power converter system with one of a first switching pattern and a second switching pattern based at least partially on a monitored operating characteristic of said generator.

A method for increasing an efficiency of a multi-thread power converter system, said method comprising:

• positioning a common mode inductor within at least one thread of a multi-thread power converter system, the common mode inductor including at least one air gap;
• determining a flux density of the common mode inductor;
• determining a maximum common mode inductance value for the common mode inductor that maintains the flux density of the common mode inductor within a predetermined range;
• and,
• configuring the common mode inductor to provide the determined common mode inductance value.